No. 2068 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 11th - THURSDAY 14th AUGUST 2014
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.3
VAAL 1:05pm (Tuesday) p.10
SCOTTSVILLE 12:45pm (Wednesday) p.22
VAAL SAND 12:55pm (Thursday) p.29
S
MR 90 DIVIDED HANDICAP at Vaal on Thursday Who would want to bet against anything that Piere Strydom is throwing his leg over at the moment? The brilliant multiple champion jockey has made a flying start to the season and he rides the Australian-bred Samogan for Sean Tarry in the topliner on the Vaal sand on Thursday. The combination looks very hard to oppose. ean Tarry’s Flying Spur 4yo has won 3 of his last 4 starts on the Vaal sand and while stepping up considerably in class in the MR 90 Divided Handicap,
he has the best of the draw and the best of the jockeys to aid his cause. Strydom has publicly declared his hunger to boost his career winning tally this season to the magical 5000 mark and he reduced his ‘shortfall’ to 63 after the second meeting of the new
season on the Highveld last Monday. That was after four winners at Turffontein last Sunday and then riding a genuine hat-trick of winners on the Vaal sand on Monday. There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching Striker in top form. But Gavin
Lerena won’t be sleeping on the job either.
Emerald Cup?
Samogan has won his last two starts by a collective 11,25 lengths and looks an upwardly mobile sort who could be on the fringes of a potential Emerald Cup berth. That said, he has not beaten a lot of note, but one can only enjoy his dashing style of racing. He would ideally need to win a race of this nature to establish himself as a serious candidate.
Threat
His major opponent could prove to be the topweight, Geoff Woodruff ’s classy 4yo gelding Shadow Ofhis Smile. He has run two fair races over Thursday’s course and distance but is yet to open his sand account after two resounding earlier victories on the turf. He was caught a touch flatfooted last time by the lighter weighted Precursor (another Jooste runner) when beaten 2,25 lengths, but has his
third run after a break and will strip fitter on Thursday. Gavin Lerena rides him again. Cont. p.2
Our Best Adverts Aren't Written They Are Running!
Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682 www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za