No. 1810 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 20th - THURSDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2012
5
FLAMINGO PARK
12:20pm (Monday) p.4
VAAL TURF
12:30pm (Tuesday) p.13
GREYVILLE NIGHT
5:35pm (Tuesday) p.27
KENILWORTH
1:00pm (Wednesday) p.34
VAAL TURF
12:15pm (Thursday) p.40
MR94 HANDICAP over 1200m at Vaal (turf) on Thursday Competitive Handicaps are the order of the day in midweek with the highest rated being a MR94 affair at the Vaal on Thursday. Sprinters from the stable of Dominic Zaki have been showing good improvement of late and represented by Paella here, he could be on the mark again, writes STEVE FURNISH.
M
ainly campaigned over further in his earlier outings, it took Paella nine starts to shed his maiden tag, but since reverting to sprinting in August he’s won three from eight. Although consistency has not as yet proven to be his forte, this son of Toreador has shown flashes of real ability and he couldn’t have been more impressive when winning in slightly stronger company over today’s course and distance last time out.
Oh Driscoll Stable companion Oh Driscoll was thought good enough to contest the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe as a juvenile, but since returning from a break in April last year, he has only managed to find the winner’s enclosure once in thirteen outings.
Veto
weights with that one here and Sharing top weight with Pa- that must make him a runner. ella is the Caesour colt Veto. Legislature Equally effective on sand, Brett Also representing the stable Webber’s charge has rarely failed of Michael Azzie is Legislature. to fill a place in the Trifecta, and This son of National Assembly he did gain his latest win on had the likes of Magico behind today’s surface in similar com- him when a runner up in the pany over today’s course and Gr3 Protea Stakes as a Juvenile, distance. He can be forgiven but since returning from a break his latest effort when up in class of thirteen months, he’s failed over shorter on sand. Expect a to finish better than fifth and bold effort. having been well beaten in that
Valor
race won by Paella last time out, The highest rated of trainer he is perhaps best just watched Michael Azzie’s two runners is for now. Valor, and with Anthony Hors D’oeuvre Delpech on board one would One of three runners from expect him to be the stable elect. the stable of Sean Tarry, Hors Usually one to race up with the D’oeuvre has a nice turn of pace, this speedy son of Var has foot and I feel sure that we come to hand nicely in recent haven’t seen the best of him starts. He was beaten fair and yet. This lightly raced son of square when third four lengths Labeeb has not previously raced behind Paella last time out, but over a trip this short though, he is now 4kg better off at the and coming off a six month
break here, he is in all probabil- gained three of his six career ity just having a run. victories over today’s course and distance. He was only Mr Top beaten a neck after being More often than not seen baulked for a run 300m out racing on sand these days, the last time out and clearly still on veteran Mr Top is without a the up, should be involved win in nineteen starts now and again. still racing off a mark higher Hidden Rave than when gaining his latest success way back in Jan ’10 he As with Legislature, Hidden is not easy to fancy. Rave was close to the best of his generation as a youngster. He Always Al too has since been laid off for The best of Sean’s runners over a year though. He has on the day then will probably nonetheless shown flashes of be Always Al and he does have his old ability, most notably Robbie Fradd in the irons. As when fourth in the listed with Hors D’oeuvre, this lightly Golden Loom Handicap in raced son of Al Mufti has given November. the impression that there is Prime Mover more to come and he has gained two of his three career wins Rated some 20 points higher thus far over today’s distance. on sand than he is on turf, Equally effective in soft going, Leon Erasmus’ charge has not Always Al showed good speed won on today’s surface since when third over further last May ’10. He’s in fair form at the time out and with plenty of moment, but a win here does rain forecast in the lead up to look unlikely. this event he has to be a serious Made Of Magic runner whatever the condiAfter a spell in the wildertions. ness, St John Gray’s charge won Edict two in a row earlier in the seaThe 5yo Edict has shown son, but since then he’s failed good improvement during the to finish better than ninth in course of this season and he has four starts.
7yo’s The two seven year olds Strike Paradise and Regal Runner had some very useful form to their names a couple of seasons ago, but both have had over twenty outings now since last gracing the winner’s enclosure.
On The Bench The sole reserve runner is Acrisius. He was only a length behind Edict last time out, but he is yet to score over a trip shorter than 1400m and he hasn’t found the winner’s enclosure over any distance in his last 18 outings.
About The Pace With plenty of speed amongst the fourteen going to post a good pace looks assured. Paella impressed when winning last time out and if repeating that effort he will not be easy to beat. There is a chance that the going will turn up soft here though and with Paella having failed to finish better than third in five starts in those conditions, it may pay to side with Always Al should that be the case.