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No. 1754 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 8th - THURSDAY 11th AUGUST 2011 Earl Of Surrey - Gr1 winner on turf, tries the sand for the first time.
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.6
TURFFONTEIN 1:00pm (Tuesday) p.15
VAAL SAND 12:00pm (Wednesday) p.26
CLAIRWOOD 12:10pm (Thursday) p.35
PINNACLE STAKES over 1450m at Vaal (sand) on Wednesday With the Emerald Cup festival now just over a month away, plate races are the order of the day at the Vaal’s sand track on Wednesday. The Three most recent winners of the Emerald Cup are amongst the ten contesting the Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m and with some interesting new recruits to the sand also in the field, the race should be viewed with interest, writes STEVE FURNISH. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
C
omfortably the best in at the weights on turf form is the Geoff Woodruff trained Earl Of Surrey. A winner of the Zimbabwe Guineas and Zim Derby before crossing the Limpopo in 2007, this son of Century Stand went on to win both the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint in 2009. In our book, he had been running up to his best ratings before being laid off in May, and as his impressive win in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes in February, and his earlier success in the Drill Hall will attest, he is very effective around today’s distance. A crack at the prestigious Emerald Cup looks on the
cards for Earl Of Surrey if all goes well here. He’s drawn well and if ready has to rate the one to beat.
Wittenberg Formerly with Gavin Van Zyl, Wittenberg has always been very highly regarded and he has shown good improvement with each outing since returning from a layoff in January. He too tries the sand for the first time and although he might really prefer a tad further, he has won twice over 1400m. Wittenberg has also been allotted a very nice barrier position here and usually one to race up with the speed, he could prove to be a surprise package if taking to the surface.
Gr1
Iron Curtain Robbie Sage’s charge showed tremendous improvement at this stage of the season last year and in what proved to be a real thriller he went on to beat Alimony in the Gr2 Emerald Cup. He’s not been seen out on the sand since then though, and he has been well beaten in each of his three starts on turf. He returns from a five month break here and although he is the best in at the weights of those already proven on the surface, one has to have concerns. Stable companion Draw Bridge was well thought of early on in his career, but since shedding his maiden tag at just the second attempt, he’s failed to find the winner’s enclosure in
Highlands Bred
POTALA PALACE Singspiel (IRE) - Alignment (IRE) by Alzao
Premier's Champion Stakes
2nd Top Rated 2yo Colt
eleven starts. He did perform with credit when trying the sand for the first time last time out, but he does now jump considerably in class, and is badly out at the weights.
Master Blaster Also nicely treated at the weights with most is the Dominic Zaki trained Master Blaster, and he is at the top of his game right now. He’s yet to miss the frame in seven starts on sand and his two recent wins were both achieved over today’s course and distance. This son of Al Mufti beat the subsequent winner Art Wish when winning with authority last time out and even though he’s not particularly well drawn, completion of the hat trick must be a possibility here.
Incomodo Sean Tarry’s charge took on a new lease of life when switched to the sand and after very quickly picking up four races, three of which were over today’s course and distance, he ran a very creditable fifth in the Emerald Cup. He will no doubt have needed the outing
when well beaten in a similar Bouquet-Garni event on his return from a nine A former winner of the month break last time out, and Gauteng Derby, Gavin Van if now ready must hold some Zyl’s charge would really prekind of a chance. fer much further. He’s only raced over a trip shorter than Alimony Although the 9yo Alimony 1600m in four of his 28 starts is without a win in 25 starts and is yet to fill a place in the since landing the Emerald Cup Trifecta. He returns from a two way back in 2008, he does still month break here and trying nonetheless retain a very high the sand for the first time is level of ability, as he showed perhaps best just watched. when running on stoutly in Kruger Gold last season’s running of the Having only managed one sand’s most prestigious event. The widest draw will not be a win from 26 outings and worst problem for Alimony as he usu- in at weights here, Kruger Gold ally races at the back. He’s is clearly out of his depth. weighted to be thereabouts and About The Pace if having one of his better days, They usually go a fair clip he could pop up. over 1450m on the sand and there is enough speed in the Phunyuka Roy Magner’s 2009 winner race to ensure at least a decent of the Emerald Cup Phunyuka gallop. Master Blaster and Aliwas once rated 8 points higher mony seem the most likely of in the handicap than he is to- the usual suspects to be inday and were he to find his best volved on the day, but Earl Of form he would certainly have a Surrey and Wittenberg must shout. His most recent efforts also have serious claims if reon sand have been disappoint- producing their turf form. Earl ing in comparison and al- Of Surrey is the class horse in though he has shown some the field and he is distance signs of life in his latest outings suited. He gets the vote. on turf, others are preferred.
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