No. 1838 ISSN 1023 / 6996
4
MONDAY 28th - THURSDAY 31st MAY 2012
FAIRVIEW
12:25pm (Monday) p.4
VAAL SAND
12:15pm (Tuesday) p.12
SCOTTSVILLE
11:50am (Wednesday) p.24
VAAL TURF
12:25pm (Thursday) p.32
6yo Tic Tak Toe - In the form of his life
Yesterday’s Heroes MR104 HANDICAP over 1200m at Fairview on Monday
It’s a story of the lethal locals versus a few of the major centres’ yesterday’s heroes at Fairview on Monday. The topliner on the popular Eastern Cape eight-race programme poses a difficult puzzle, with dollops of class and ability evident in the references of many of the runners.
H
orseracing is one of life’s great levellers and a game that tames lions. One only needs to reflect back on the dreams, hopes and promise of the likes of the classy Villandry and Casey Cool, to realise that cliché to be true. The Computaform Express MR104 Handicap to be run over the straight 1200m has all the ingredients of an entertaining contest and a race where exotic punters may want to go wide. The couplings will assist in the Pick6.
Coupled The Steenkamp-Sham training partnership is proving an unqualified success and have hit the winning notes with regularity of late. They send out a powerful coupling of the four year old Bob‘N Weave and the gallant six year old Tic
Tak Toe, who both deserve inclusion. The former Sabine Plattner Racing-owned Tic Tak Toe won the Arlington 1400 last Friday under an inspired ride by top jockey Chris Taylor, who deputised for the suspended Wayne Agrella. The National Assembly gelding is a 1400-1600m specialist who inevitably puts his best foot forward. He has won 8 of his 29 starts and would probably ideally prefer a further 200m. He does love the give in the ground though, as he showed in the mud and slush on Friday, and should be watched if the weather plays ball. Stable rider Barend Vlooh replaces Taylor. The Shams’ first-choice jockey Wayne Agrella has opted to ride Bob ‘N Weave who suits his aggressive riding style. He was a well beaten 1,75 length second to Tic Tak Toe
Main Aim Oasis Dream – Orford Miss by Selkirk
Timeform 123
last Friday at level weights, and now receives 1 kg from his stablemate. While probably at his best over 1000m, he is a real fighter and can run both handy and from off them.
Villain He? After the thrill of this weekend’s jackpot of Gr1 sprints at Scottsville, it is sobering to note that Yvette Bremner’s Villandry, formerly with Vaughan Marshall, won the Gr1 Gold Medallion in 2009 to record his fourth win from his first six starts. It took him a full two years to win his next race. That was in his third start after relocating to the Eastern Cape! And while he has won three of his seven starts down here, he has too many medical issues to be fancied with any confidence. He was recorded as lame in his last outing over the Arlington
1000m. Top-class stallion Var’s first ever Gr1 winner jumps from an 11 draw, and has the services of 4kg claiming apprentice Stallone Naidoo, who has won two races on him, to help his cause. Yvette Bremner’s four-way coupling includes Hassen Adams’ faithful servant Casey Cool,who like Villandry, is all class and big heart, and has his sixth outing in PE. Now rising nine years of age, the former Gr2 Post Merchants winner has earned a few rand short of R1 million and once raced off an MR of 110. Casey Cool ran on well when shunting through late at the end of April for a 0,80 length fourth to the solid Snaith sprinter Apolo Grey over the Arlington 1000m,and could earn here.
Banker Celtic Fire is something of an ATM machine and this twelve time winner seldom goes home penniless. He did not appear to have enjoyed the soft going last Friday and failed to produce his customary kick when plodding into a 3,35 lengths sixth position. He is versatile and has won from 1000m to a mile and, while he carries a welter 61,5kgs and would probably prefer the turn, he could
bounce back if the going comes up on top. The fourth of the Bremner runners is the optimistically named Copperbelt gelding Take Over Target, who did very well with Tony Rivalland in KZN. He has only had the one run in this centre, but appears to have lost his best form. Justin Snaith’s two runners Icemberg and Bois De Var have won eleven races between them and the latter is preferred as a powerful front-running sort who goes for a genuine hattrick over the course and distance. The relentless galloping son of Var has previously served both Glen Kotzen and Mike Stewart in Cape Town, but has looked very happy in the Eastern Cape. He appears to prefer the going firm and while he steps up in class, he enjoys the services of Richard Fourie and has the gatespeed to get away from this speedy lot. Icemberg started his career with Dean Kannemeyer in Cape Town where he was very promising but soundness and breathing issues have hindered his career progress. That said, the Argentinian bred son of Hennessy has won seven races and twice over the course and distance, and is another that
could come up trumps if fit and well.
Cramps Grant Paddock’s seven-time winning Captain Al gelding, Three Captain’s ‘tied up’ in his last start, when running a rare bad race, finishing last and 17,80 lengths behind Castlethorpe in the East Cape Sprint. He has won seven from 29 starts and if he is over his muscular issues, he could revert to his winning ways. Top Cape jockey Grant Van Niekerk replaces Muzi Yeni. The rest look rather tired and pressed to make their presence felt. Class and serious ability, versus match fitness and suitability to the prevailing underfoot conditions, are some of the factors at play. The Snaith’s Bois De Var looks fit and ready to record his hattrick and he could hold on from Tic Tak Toe and Bob ‘N Weave. But an upset result looks a real possibility.
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