No. 1756
MONDAY 15th - THURSDAY 18th AUGUST 2011
4
ISSN 1023 / 6996
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.4
SCOTTSVILLE
12:35pm (Tuesday) p.12
DURBANVILLE 1:00pm (Wednesday) p.21
VAAL SAND 12:50pm (Thursday) p.29 Maliyakhe - should be flying at the finish.
MR96 HANDICAP over 1400m at Scottsville on Tuesday The best of the early season action in midweek takes place at Scottsville on Tuesday. A MR96 Handicap tops the bill and with most battling to find their form or returning from a break, question marks are aplenty, writes STEVE FURNISH.
H
Extra Cover After shedding his maiden tag in Apr’10 this son of Dynasty went on to complete a hat trick and at that time looked to be a very good sort in the making. He was laid off for six months after finishing fourth in his next start, but did then win over today’s distance on his return in April of this year. If finding his best form Alec Laird’s charge would have a shout, but having been well beaten after having held every chance in each of his last two outings, he is perhaps best just watched here.
eading the weights is the 6yo son of Muhtafal, Maliyakhe. He’s gained three of his six wins over 1400m and he did run a good second in his only previous start at this circuit. Yogis Govender’s charge is without a win in eight outings now, but he did run up to his very best rating when only Jet Man failing to reel in Wild Type by the narrowest of margins over today’s distance at Greyville last time out. With just The veteran Jet Man has nine going to post the widest draw should not be too much of won twice at this sharp inside a problem for Maliyakhe. He should be right there. track. His three most recent wins have all been gained over Wild Type A winner of his only previous start over today’s course and 1600m though, and he is redistance, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was produced with a well timed turning from a six month break run when picking up his fourth career victory last time out. He here. He would no doubt have gave the impression in that latest outing that there was more to a shout if ready, but as with come and very nicely drawn here, completion of the hat trick Extra Cover, he is perhaps best just watched for now. must be a possibility.
Gr1
Saint Pierre
and he did partner this son of Cape Town Strike Smartly on all four previThe 7yo Cape Town ous occasions that he has found showed flashes of real ability the winner’s enclosure. earlier in his career and although not managing to make Miss Filly The Modern Day mare Miss the frame, he has contested Filly won two of her first four both the July and Summer career starts, but amazingly, she’s Cup. He’s without a win since not managed to get her head in 2008 and he has been battling front in eighteen starts since. She to find his best form since reis in good form at the moment turning from a six month laythough, having placed behind off in April. He is certainly both Coffee Sheik and First ‘n capable of winning a race like Fast in recent starts, and although this on earlier form, but as a win against the boys here seems with most here question marks Forecastle unlikely, she should be therea- are aplenty. A powerful frontrunner on bouts again. About The Pace his day, the gutsy front runner Omega Warrior Forecastle reeled off four in a With just nine runners goWhen hitting form Sean Tar- ing to post and no couplings row after shedding his maiden tag. Since gaining the latest of ry’s charge does it in style. Indeed, in the field, there has to be a those successes in Jun’10 either side of some very indiffer- chance that the race will dethough, Craig Eudey’s charge ent performances, he’s completed velop into a sprint. Plenty has been sparingly raced. His a hat trick. He’s been below best would have chances if at their best effort since those wins came since gaining the latest of those best. Maliyakhe, Wild Type over today’s course and dis- wins and most of his successes and Omega Warrior look the tance in his penultimate start in have been achieved over further. most likely to fight it out on January. There has to be con- Omega Warrior has won twice current form though, with my cerns with him having been off over 1400m though, and racing preference being for the track for six months, but off a nice galloping weight of Maliyakhe. Felix Coetzee takes the ride here, 53kg here, should be involved. Formerly with Paul Matchett in Gauteng, Saint Pierre is yet to race over a trip this far. He’s gained three of his four wins on sand, but interestingly, his better ratings in our book have been achieved on turf. Thought good enough to contest the Gr1 Gold Medallion earlier in his career, Saint Pierre has clearly been below best in his most recent starts. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Highlands Bred
POTALA PALACE
2yo Colt of the Year at the
2010/2011 Cape Awards
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HIGHLANDS Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682 www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za