No. 1806 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 6th - THURSDAY 9th FEBRUARY 2012
where! y n A e lu a V The Best centre per race Worth R6.00 EST BET! YOUR B
5
Kavanagh - won 3 of his 4 starts over 1400m
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.5
VAAL TURF
12:55pm (Tuesday) p.14
GREYVILLE NIGHT
5:20pm (Tuesday) p.22
KENILWORTH
1:00pm (Wednesday) p.33
TURFFONTEIN
12:15pm (Thursday) p.40
CONDITIONS PLATE over 1400m at Vaal (turf) on Tuesday The highest purse on offer in midweek is that put aside for the winner of a conditions plate at the Vaal on Tuesday. Six of the runners have a merit rating in excess of 100 and that is probably why the original 26 entries have whittled down to just seven, writes STEVE FURNISH.
T
he highest rated of the septet, and indeed best in at the weights in the official handicapper’s book, is the Gary Alexander trained Rebel Knight. Despite being sparingly raced, and not finding the winner’s enclosure since March, this son of Jet Master has seen his merit rating rise some seventeen points since getting the better of Snowdon by a neck on 2kg less favourable terms than they meet here. Equally effective over 1000m, Rebel Knight ran a very creditable fifth to Val De Ra in the Computaform Sprint last season and he was only beaten a length and a half by the July runner up Pierre
Jourdan in a conditions event over 1450m at Turffontein’s inner track on his seasonal debut back in September. Rebel Knight comes off a four month break here, but he should be right there if ready.
sonal debut in November and he again showed his well being when a very creditable fourth to Antious in the Gauteng Merchants later in that month. He comes off a three month break here, but he does go particularly well when racing fresh, Snowdon and he did win his only previThe only coupling in the race ous start over today’s course is that of Ormond Ferraris. He and distance. saddles both Snowdon and Straw Market Straw Market. Another very flexible character in terms of A winner of three of his six distance, Snowdon was fourth starts to date, the only 3yo in in the Gauteng Guineas last the race Straw Market is very season and he too has proven close to the best of his generato be equally effective in sprints. tion, as he showed when third In our book he ran up to his to the subsequent Gr1 Cape best rating when second to the Guineas runner up Silver Flyer talented Link Man on his sea- in the Gr2 Dingaans last time
out. This son of Windrush also comes off a bit of a break here and taking into account the weight for age deficit, he is not well treated at the weights. He does have an enormous amount of scope for further improvement though and having already done well over today’s distance, he is not without a chance.
Zorba’s Tale
The veteran Zorba’s Tale is yet to miss the frame in eight starts at this circuit and he has won two of his four outings over today’s distance. Without a win in ten starts now though, Lucky Houdalakis’s charge has been laid off twice during the course of the past twelve months and having failed to finish better than seventh in his Kavanagh Racing for the first time at last three outings (albeit in good this circuit is Sporting Post’s company), he is not easy to best handicapped runner fancy at the weights here. Kavanagh. As well as finishing Wittenberg third in the Dingaans last seaOne of four runners in the son, Mike De Kock’s charge field to be returning from a break was also placed in both the of over three months here, Cape and Gauteng Guineas. Wittenberg has shown flashes Those three events were all over of real ability and he did gain his further than they race here, but current mark in the handicap interestingly, Kavanagh has when winning over 1600m at gained four of his five career Turffontein last time out. This successes around today’s dis- son of Silvano is now undoubttance. He’s in good form at the edly taking on stronger, but he moment having found the win- is unbeaten in two starts over ner’s enclosure in two of his last today’s distance and taking into three outings and having won account his rider’s apprentice on him previously, Randal allowance, he is not without a Simons knows him well. chance at the weights.
Master Blaster The only runner with a merit rating below 100 in the field is the 6yo son of Al Mufti Master Blaster. Equally effective on sand, Dominic Zaki’s charge has gained his latest three wins around today’s distance. He has his third run after the rest here and should now be at his peak. He has been comfortably beaten in both starts since returning from a four month break in December though and worst in at the weights here, he does seem unlikely.
About The Pace Although just seven runners go to post here, two of them usually make the running so at least a fair pace should be forthcoming. Rebel Knight, Straw Market and in particular Snowdon are all capable of making a bold effort here and I wouldn’t be surprised if either popped up. Whereas those three are all returning from a bit of a break here though, the very talented Kavanagh is currently fighting fit and best weighed in our book, he’s taken to get the verdict.