No. 1764
MONDAY 12th - THURSDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2011
4
ISSN 1023 / 6996
ARLINGTON
12:45pm (Monday) p.4
VAAL SAND
1:15pm (Tuesday) p.12
CLAIRWOOD 12:25pm (Wednesday) p.24
VAAL TURF 12:55pm (Thursday) p.32
The highest purse on offer in midweek is that put aside for the winner of the MR90 Handicap at the Vaal’s sand track on Thursday. Thirteen go to post and with all running off their true marks in the handicap plenty have chances, writes STEVE FURNISH.
S
Ryan’s A Lion - has the form to fight out the finish
MR90 HANDICAP over 1450m at Vaal (sand) on Thursday
houldering top weight is one of two runners from the Mike De Kock stable Boylan Blaze. This son of Parade Leader has won three of his six starts at this circuit, one of which was over today’s course and distance. He’s drawn well and with Denise Lee’s 4kg allowance, he would be a serious runner if at best. He was reported as lame on the near fore in his penultimate start though, and having been well beaten on his return to action last week one has to have concerns.
Internal Audit
Fearless Gun The 7yo Fearless Gun was a runner up in the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup over today’s course and distance back in 2009. Amazingly though, he hasn’t found the winner’s enclosure since landing a MR75 Handicap on turf in May of that year. His better efforts have been few and far between in the last two seasons, but if he were to repeat his last run when finishing strongly to take third position in a similar event, he could win.
Sparingly raced since making his debut back in Feb ’10, lightly raced stable companion Internal Audit has also clearly had his problems. Internal Audit has won two of his seven outings though, and it could well be that we haven’t seen the best of him yet. Either side of those two successes though, he’s Are We There Yet been unable to finish better than eighth and yet to race on sand, Another to make her sand question marks are aplenty. debut here, the Dynasty mare Are We There Yet would cerFollow The Piper Yet to race on sand, the filly Follow The Piper is a powerful tainly be involved if finding her front runner on her day and she has proven to be at her best best form. She’s without a win around today’s distance on turf. She’s been below best since in 18 starts now, but she has in returning from a short break in June, but she does have a nice the main been racing against stronger, and she is at her best draw here and would have a shout if taking to the surface. around today’s distance. A dark horse. Bold Al Gavin Van Zyl’s charge has come to hand nicely in recent Calanish starts and is clearly better than his current record of just one win A winner of three from nine at from 14 starts would suggest. Those recent outings have all been this circuit, Stuart Pettigrew’s over much further though, and having developed a tendency to be slow into stride, he could find himself with a mountain charge is in good form at the moment and he did bump a to climb in this his first try on sand.
• Top class son of DANZIG out of unbeaten Gr1 winner • top class pedigree • $1.5 million yearling • Timeform 123
good sort when stepping up in class to contest a similar event in his penultimate start. He has a fair draw here and one of the few who look sure to give of their best here, he should be thereabouts.
White Tie A bit of an enigma, White Tie has done well on the sand and he did gain his latest success on this surface over today’s trip. He could upset if reproducing his best form, but his latest efforts have been well below par.
Game Over
Ryan’s A Lion Prior to narrowly getting the verdict over the Emerald Cup hopeful Sayadaw over today’s course and distance last week, the veteran Ryan’s A Lion had been well beaten in each of his previous three starts. Those efforts were on turf though and in his penultimate outing on today’s surface he was only beaten 3,25 lengths by the very useful sand performer Master Blaster. A serious runner.
Kruger Gold
As with Bold Al, the 5yo Kahal gelding Kruger Gold is much better than his current win ratio would suggest. He was finishing as well as anything when only beaten a half length last time out and although he is usually seen out in Sermon Stephen Moffat’s charge has weaker company, he has perwon two from seven at this cir- formed with credit at this level cuit and interestingly, today’s on sand earlier in his career. pilot Piere Strydom was in the About The Pace saddle on both occasions. The pace is usually on over Strictly by the book he is held by 1450m at this circuit and with both Ryan’s A Lion and Calanish a fair proportion of the thiron recent efforts. He does have teen usually found up with, or a better draw than both of those close to the speed, that should two here though and that could certainly be the case again here. make the difference. The veteran Ryan’s A Lion has
The most lightly raced runner in the field, Game Over couldn’t have been more impressive when winning his maiden by eight in March. His form since has looked nothing out of the ordinary, but then he has been racing in similar events on turf and his ratings have been pretty conEnza Plan sistent. He could still improve Usually one to run on stoutly if taking to the sand and on from well off the pace, Enza Plan that alone he is not without a will not be too put out by his chance. wide draw here. He does more
lings r a e Y e r a p o r C t s ir F
often than not arrive on the scene too late though and with his three previous successes having been gained against much weaker, others are preferred.
ANTONIUS PIUS
shown enough in his last two starts to suggest that he could go in again here, and although plenty of the others have chances, he has to get the vote.
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