5
No. 1820 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 26th - THURSDAY 29th MARCH 2012
Hidden Beauty - won the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Nursery last season
FLAMINGO PARK
12:20pm (Monday) p.5
VAAL SAND
12:40pm (Tuesday) p.13
GREYVILLE NIGHT
5:05pm (Tuesday) p.21
KENILWORTH
1:00pm (Wednesday) p.32
VAAL TURF
12:15pm (Thursday) p.40
PINNACLE STAKES OVER 1000m at Vaal (sand) on Tuesday
F
also not found winning easy of late, but what is interesting here is that she’s not raced on sand since finishing sixth in the Lightning Stakes thirteen months ago. She’s won three from six over today’s course and distance and although she would look to have little chance at the weights, we could well see an improved performance.
With two listed events taking place at the Vaal in midweek, the main focus of attention switches to the sand. As was the case at the big “T” just a week ago though, the highest rated horses on the card will be contesting a conditions event for lower stakes and no prestige, writes STEVE FURNISH.
our of the eleven runners taking part in the Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m have a merit rating in excess of 100, and with the conditions of these types of events usually favouring those at the top of the weights, they are all very well in here.
Secret Life
Shouldering top weight is the highest rated runner in the race Secret Life. Paul Matchett’s charge has won four from seven on sand and although three of those successes were gained over further, he has won over today’s trip. He’s not the soundest of characters, as his two most recent outings will attest. He has given the impression though that we might not have seen the best of him, and if anywhere near ready on this his return from a seven month break, he should be thereabouts.
Mannequin As well as Secret Life, trainer Paul Matchett is also represented by all of
Renegade
Gold Game, Saint Pierre and Mannequin, and with Martinus Mienie aboard the latter, one would expect her to be the stable elect. Equally effective on turf, Mannequin has won nine times over 1000m, three of which came from just nine starts on sand. She’s in good form at the moment having run the up and coming Deliver The Power to three lengths in the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap last time out and should run her usual honest race.
Gold Game Although Gold Game is more often than not seen out over further, she has won two from eight over 1000m on sand and when last trying the trip was only beaten 2,5 lengths by the useful Furious Dancer. She’s without a win in fifteen outings, but she was running on stoutly when fourth in the Autumn Stakes last time out, and on that alone she should be thereabouts here.
Saint Pierre Stable companion Saint Pierre has
question marks against their names though, she is clearly still improving.
Carlito Brigante Another with serious question marks against his name is Carlito Brigante. Runner up to Midnight Serenade in the Storm Bird Stakes, Paul Peter’s charge was close to the best of his generation as a juvenile last season. Since then though he’s been battling with soundness and was reported as blowing (usually a sign of pain or fright) when trying the sand for the first time in his latest outing. Pierre Strydom does stay with him though and were he to find his best form he would have a shout at the weights.
Taking into account apprentice Olwagen’s 4kg allowance, the best in at the weights here is the old man of the party Renegade. His better efforts have been few and far between of late and he’s not managed to get his head in front in seventeen outings. He was only beaten a length when a runner up to Furious Dancer in the Hampton Blingle Bells Handicap in September though and The winner of the 2011 Summer a reproduction of that effort would Sand Sprint, the Parade Leader mare put him right there at today’s weights. Blingle Bells is as honest as they come. Hidden Beauty She’s fairly treated at the weights with Representing class in the field is most taking into account apprentice Hidden Beauty, and she is undoubt- Lembethe’s 2,5kg allowance, but even edly also the form horse. Formerly with that she will need considerable with Paul Matchett this daughter of improvement in order to turn around Victory Moon won the Gr2 Gauteng the form of her two recent beatings by Fillies Nursery last season and went on Hidden Beauty. to run a very creditable third to the Key Ridge champion filly Princess Victoria in the Stable companion Key Ridge Gr1 Allan Robertson. She’s taken to the sand like a duck to water, winning showed promise when winning first each of her last two outings on the time out over today’s course and dissurface in very good style. She has a tance back in April. He lost his way pull at the weights with all except after that, but he has run on strongly Secret Life and Renegade here. in each of his last two outings over Whereas those two both have serious today’s trip. One gets the impression
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that Key Ridge could still improve plenty, but even with Robbie Fradd in the saddle it would be a major surprise if he got in a blow here.
Kwaaiwater The 3yo Kwaaiwater gained back to back victories over today’s course and distance at the end of last season and he gave the impression at that stage of his career that there was further improvement to come. He’s come to hand nicely in his latest two starts, but he does look held by others in this race on those efforts and he is badly out at the weights with what should be the principal runners.
Rodeo Dandy Dominic Zaki’s charge has won four of his last six starts, all over today’s distance. Three of those successes were gained on turf though and he does seem to be at his very best on that surface. Rodeo Dandy is worst in at the weights here, but he is clearly still improving and should finish much further up the field than his rating would suggest.
About The Pace With most preferring to race up with, or very close to the speed, the pace should definitely be on here. Hidden Beauty has impressed in winning her latest two outings on the sand. She’s very well treated at the weights with most here and with further improvement likely to be forthcoming, she won’t be easy to beat.
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