No. 1792 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 19th - THURSDAY 22nd DECEMBER 2011
5 ARLINGTON
1:00pm (Monday) p.3
CLAIRWOOD
12:55pm (Tuesday) p.11
TURFFONTEIN NIGHT .. 4:55pm (Tuesday) p.19
KENILWORTH
1:05pm (Wednesday) p.31
VAAL TURF
The Apache – won his only previous start over 1600m at Turffontein
11:50am (Thursday) p.38
PINNACLE STAKES over 1600m at Turffontein (stand side) on Tuesday night
T
Heading up the card at the big T on Tuesday night is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m and with one of the six runners with a merit rating in excess of 100 having raced in the Gr1 Dubai World Cup last season, the event would be worthy of graded status, writes STEVE FURNISH.
he runner with the highest merit rating in the field and indeed of the most interest, is the Mike De Kock trained Golden Sword. Campaigned in Dubai last season, this son of High Chaparral (IRE) won two in a row going into the Gr1 Dubai World Cup in his latest outing and beaten just 7,5 lengths, he was far from disgraced. Golden Sword did win over 1400m back in 2008, but his three other successes, along with his best form has been shown between 2000m and 2400m. His most recent efforts on turf have been rated 7 points lower than that of his mark on the Tapeta surface, and he will more than likely need the run here. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Link Man As well as Golden Sword, trainer Mike De Kock is also represented by the Toreador colt Link Man. A winner of six of his twelve starts to date, Link Man has gained most of his successes over sprint distances. During the course of what was a very memorable campaign for this son of Toreador last season though, he did win the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas over today’s course and distance, and that was his only effort to date over
1600m. He’s come to hand when tailed off in the Summer nicely in his two outings thus Cup last time out, he cannot far this season and now hav- be seriously fancied here. ing his third run after the rest, Two Tone he should be at his peak. An interesting runner here The Apache is the Strike Smartly gelding The runner to have achieved Two Tone. Michael Azzie’s the highest rating locally is the charge has been mainly kept to Mogok colt The Apache. sprinting, but he does run on Gavin Van Zyl’s charge com- nicely on his day and one mands a very powerful turn of would expect the extra to suit. foot on his day, as he showed Amongst others, Two Tone when winning the Gr2 had both Dancewiththedevil Dingaans, his only previous and Rudra behind him when start over today’s course and a 2,8 lengths third to Pierre distance. He was running on Jourdan in the Charity Mile nicely when only beaten 2,5 over today’s course and dislengths to the champion mare tance last time out, and on a Dancewiththedevil in the line through those two he must Summer Cup last time out hold some kind of a chance and he too will be having his here. third run of the campaign Smanjemanje here. The 5yo Smanjemanje has Seal never been far off the best Also representing the stable horses we have in this country, of Gavin Van Zyl is the 4yo but it was still a bit of a surprise Seal. A bit of an enigma, Seal when he landed the Gr2 Vicsuddenly improved out of all tory Moon Stakes after a proportion when winning the drought of some 18 outings Gauteng Derby over 2400m without a win in his penultihere last season. He was disap- mate start. He is racing off pointing in his next two out- levels with the best here ings around today’s distance though, and although a bold though and having been re- effort can be expected, a place ported as not striding out is perhaps his best hope.
Regal Ransom
The Plunderer
Sean Tarry’s charge found the form of his life during 2010 and in particular caught everyone’s attention when finishing best of all to win the Gr1 Champions Challenge over 2000m at this circuit. His form since picking up a pinnacle event over today’s course and distance in December last year had clearly been below best, but he did then appear to be coming right back to himself when running on strongly from the rear to finish just 3,2 lengths off Dancewiththedevil in the Summer Cup last time out. Once rated 112 by the official handicapper, Regal Ransom has his third run after the rest here. He could be a surprise package.
Another to find the going a bit tough since departing Port Elizabeth is the former Eastern Cape Champion Juvenile Stakes winner The Plunderer. He’s been unable to get within twelve lengths of the winner in his two outings to date this season and is best just watched for now.
D J Detzky Before leaving the Eastern Cape, D J Detzky had won seven of his twenty starts. Since arriving in Gauteng though, he’s been unable to find the winner’s enclosure in nine outings and although he has been running up to his best rating on occasions, he cannot be fancied now out at the weights here.
Belmonte Clearly worst in at the weights here, Belmonte is usually seen out over further, and returning from a lengthy break, after being beaten by more than fourteen lengths in each of his last three outings, they are clearly just testing the water so as to speak.
About The Pace With the better ones here preferring to run on from off the pace, there has to be a chance that this will be a false run affair. There is some speed amongst the lower rated runners though, so hopefully one of those will take the bull by the horns. Golden Sword and Regal Ransom are both very talented horses and it will be interesting to see how they go. Link Man and The Apache look the most likely to fight this out on current local form, with preference being for the latter.