MONDAY 18th - THURSDAY 21st MAY 2015
No. 2148 ISSN 1023 / 6996
The 8yo Across The Ice is enjoying a new lease on life and is the class runner
FLAMINGO PARK 12:20pm (Monday) p.5
VAAL 12:10pm (Tuesday) p.12
GREYVILLE POLY 12:35pm (Wednesday) p.25 VAAL SAND 12:35pm (Thursday) p.31
R120 000 PINNACLE STAKES at Vaal on Thursday
T
Our multiple champion jockey Piere Strydom broke through the 5000 winner on SA soil stratosphere at the Vaal on Thursday. The legend of the saddle returns to the same venue, but on his less favoured sand surface this Thursday, where he partners the equine stalwart, Across The Ice.
he two veterans could team up to win the day’s topliner, a R120 000 Pinnacle Stakes over the Emerald Cup trip. Strydom broke the 5000 winner ice on Allegorical for Lucky Houdalakis in the first race last Thursday and now that he has that psychological hurdle behind him, he will no doubt be riding with his characteristic flair and self confidence. Across The Ice has his 66th run, but at 8
years of age is showing the kind of enthusiasm and zest reserved for those half his age. The full brother to exciting new sire prospect Cape Town Noir has run three excellent seconds at his last three outings, including a brave level weights effort when narrowly toppled by Louis Goosen’s top-class speedster Trip Tease at his penultimate start. Across The Ice has won eleven times, and with Striker having been aboard at seven of those, they know each other well enough to overcome another courageous soldier.
Our Uncle
He is the joint topweighted Weiho Marwing-trained 7yo Uncle Tommy, who comes out at the top of our SP ratings. That despite feeling the aches and pains at his last two starts, where he failed to bank a cheque. He was reported not striding out at his last start when running close on ten lengths behind Stavinsky in the Listed Highveld Sand Challenge. Uncle Tommy was out at the weights that day and drifted ominously in the betting - a sign that he may
be showing some wear and tear. Uncle Tommy and Across The Ice last clashed in the Emerald Cup where the former ran second and three lengths ahead of the Tarry runner. With apprentice Wesley Marwing’s claim, Uncle Tommy enjoys a 5,5kg swing in his favour – but Across The Ice looks the more appealing on the wellbeing front.
the first time (at his 57th career start) and stormed home to beat The Royal Rumba by 3,50 lengths. He beat an unsound Uncle Tommy by 9,80 lengths there and the old man is 3,5kgs better off on Thursday. Cont. p.2
Longshot
Trainer Leon Erasmus caused something of a stir in the Listed Highveld Sand Challenge when the 40-1 Stavinsky tried the mile for
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PHOTO: TRACY ROBERTSON
Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682 www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za