No. 1796 ISSN 1023 / 6996
4
TUESDAY 3rd - THURSDAY 5th JANUARY 2012
Hat-trick seeking Polar Bound has plenty of scope for further improvement.
SCOTTSVILLE
1:00pm (Tuesday) p.5
TURFFONTEIN NIGHT
4:40pm (Tuesday) p.10
KENILWORTH
1:00pm (Wednesday) p.22
VAAL TURF
12:15pm (Thursday) p.28
course of last season. His four wins have all been gained over 1600m, but he was only beaten a short head by Super Storm in the Gr3 Cup Trial over 1800m The highlight in midweek is the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap last season and he was running run over 1800m at Kenilworth on Wednesday. Just eleven on strongly when only beaten of the original 28 entries have stood their ground and with two lengths by Lion In Winter three of those in under sufferance, there doesn’t look to in a conditions event on the old course over today’s disbe too many that can win it, writes STEVE FURNISH. tance on his seasonal debut last although he is now 1,5kg worse time out. Brown Penny was even of today’s runSaluki only a length and three quarners ran behind Also representing the stable of off at the weights with that one Chesalon in the Gr2 Stephen Page is the 6yo son of here, I wouldn’t be surprised if ters behind Run For It in that latest outing and he is now 7kg Premier Trophy last Dubai Destination Saluki. He too he turned the tables. better off at the weights with time out, but that was a con- commands a fair turn of foot and Super Storm that one here! ditions event and now run- many will remember his latest sucThe highest rated of Mike ning off their true marks in cess when passing all in the short Caymen Island the handicap the weights are home straight at Greyville to win Bass’ two runners is Super The 6yo Caymen Island is Storm. This son of Rakeen very different here. the July consolation. That latest showed good improvement more often than not seen out win over 2200m was back in during the course of last season over further than they race here, Cask The one who finished clos- July’ 10 though and having only and he did gain the latest of his but his latest win was achieved est to the winner in the Pre- made the frame once in his last five career successes over to- over 1600m and he was finishmier Trophy was Cask who eleven outings and having fin- day’s distance. He’s been stead- ing best of all when only failing had won the event in 2010. ished tailed off in the Premier ily coming to hand in his three to reel in the improving Taipan Stephen Page’s charge has Trophy last time out, he cannot starts in this campaign and he by the narrowest of margins over was making very good head- today’s distance on the old gone ten outings without a be seriously fancied. way from the rear when only course in his penultimate start. win since that eye catching Run For It He was running on strongly in success, but he does command Placed in three Gr1 events in- 2,5 lengths behind second a very nice turn of foot on his cluding the prestigious J&B Met placed Cask in the Premier Tro- the latter stages of the Premier day and he has run on stoutly last season, Justin Snaith’s charge, phy last time out. Super Storm Trophy last time out and he is down field on several occa- amazingly, is without a win in meets Cask on 1kg better terms now a minimum of 2kg better sions. Cask raced much closer eleven starts now. He does un- here and with Karl Neisius in off at the weights with the three to the pace in the Premier doubtedly have some impecca- the saddle a big run can be here that finished ahead of him in that race. Trophy and it was that change ble form to his name though and expected. of tactics as much as anything he does appear to be coming right Hawk’s Eye Brown Penny that enabled him to put up a back to best. He was fairly flying This son of Hawk Wing came Stable companion Brown fight. He goes particularly well from towards the backend of to hand nicely at the start of last Penny is as consistent as they over this 1800m trip and if midfield when only finishing half adopting similar tactics here, a length behind Cask in the Pre- come and he too showed steady season and very quickly won he should be right there again. mier Trophy last time out and improvement during the three from four. His form since then has been a little in and out
Gr2 PENINSULA HANDICAP over 1800m at Kenilworth (new course) on Wednesday
S
though, and it is worth noting that those most recent successes were all achieved over further than he races here.
Azeroth Trainer Joey Ramsden is also represented by the Western Winter gelding Azeroth. He won three times during the latter half of last season and was progressing nicely prior to being not persevered with when reported as coughing in the Winter Classic in his final start of the campaign. He’s clearly been coming to hand in his two starts since returning from a six month layoff in December and now having his third run after the rest he should be cherry ripe.
League Of Honour Although his latest two successes have been achieved over a mile, League Of Honour has gained the majority of his wins over today’s course and distance. He’s been ultra consistent in recent months and looks sure to give of his best. He races off much better terms than when finishing behind a number of these in the Premier Trophy last time out, but he has found the going a bit tough when stepping up to graded company previously and a place is perhaps his best hope here.
and Polar Bound his sole representative here is progressing very nicely. Indeed, he’s run on particularly well when winning his latest two outings and he is already proven over today’s distance. The long new course straight is sure to suit here and having plenty of scope for further improvement, he has to be a serious runner off just 54,5kg.
Astro News The only 3yo in the race is the former Gauteng and Durban campaigner Astro News. He’s shown promise from day one and he was far from disgraced when eighth beaten 8,7 lengths by Variety Club in the Gr1 Cape Guineas on his local debut. His best form to date has all been shown over distances up to 1400m though and he was also well beaten, albeit again in Gr1 company, in his only other outing over further. It will be interesting to see how he performs.
About The Pace
With just eleven runners going to post, and very little natural speed in the race, there has to be a serious chance that we will get a falsely run race here. All things being equal though, the two I like best on the day are Polar Bound and Run For It. Polar Bound in particular looks fairly weighted and with plenty Polar Bound of scope for further improveThe stable of Brett Crawford ment, it is he who gets the vote. is in good form at the moment