R25.00 No. 1690
MONDAY 27th - THURSDAY 30th DECEMBER 2010
ISSN 1023 / 6996
5
TURFFONTEIN
12:40pm (Monday) p.2
VAAL SAND 1:00pm (Tuesday) p.12
KENILWORTH 1:30pm (Wednesday) p.19
GREYVILLE NIGHT 5:20pm (Wednesday) p.30
VAAL TURF 12:20pm (Thursday) p.38
Pinnacle Stakes over 3000m at Turffontein(inner) on Monday As we all prepare to celebrate what has been a momentous year for South Africa, the racing fraternity are set for another very busy week. A Pinnacle Stakes over 3000m tops the bill at Turffontein’s inner track on Monday, where, as per usual in these types of events, it is those at the top of the weights who are most favoured, writes STEVE FURNISH.
T
he horse with the highest official merit rating in the race, and indeed best in at the weights is the Mike De Kock trained Frozen Fire. This well bred son of Montjer (Ire) won the Gr1 Irish Derby in 2008. He failed to get his head in front in eight starts after winning that prestigious event, but then he was taking on very strong fields in both England and Dubai. He’s performed with credit in his two outings since relocating to our shores and he did catch the eye running on stoutly late when fourth to the useful Galileo’s Galaxy in a graduation event over 1800m last time out. Frozen Fire now has his third run since his release from quarantine and should now be at his peak.
Stable Companion As well as the likely favourite, trainer Mike De Kock is also represented by Nudge Nudge. He could well see out the trip having gained his last win over 2450m in soft going, but that latest success was over a year ago. He’s not been able to finish better than fifth on more favourable terms with his opposition in each of his last five outings though, and on that is not easy to fancy.
Gold Bowl Winner Second best in at the weights is the 4yo Labeeb gelding Winning Leap. Dominic Zaki’s charge improved quickly after shedding his maiden tag last January and fully deserved his gutsy win in the Gr2 Gold Bowl over 3200m on the stand side track just four months later. He lost his form after finishing down field in the Natal Gold Cup, but did then run his best rating to date in our book when only picked off late by Ilsanpietro in the Gr3 Racing Association Handicap over 3200m last time out. Winning Leap has plenty of scope
for further improvement and looks sure to be right there when the race begins in earnest.
Vertical Takeoff Sean Tarry’s charge lost his way after winning his first two career starts, but after being put over ground in February he found a new lease of life. Indeed, he won three of his next four starts and went on to run a very creditable second to Ancestral Fore in the prestigious Gr1 Canon Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville. He’s been racing over trips which clearly now are well short of his best since returning from a break in October and this is the first time in this campaign that he gets the test of stamina that he enjoys. His stable has come to hand nicely in recent meetings and although on paper he has a bit to find with his fellow top weights, he could win.
Mirage Drive After finishing fourth some fifteen lengths behind Irish Flame in the Gauteng Derby in just his second career start, the 4yo Mirage Drive suddenly found himself racing off a merit rating of 100. It doesn’t come as too big a surprise then to note that he has been unable to find the winner’s enclosure in nine starts since. Despite that though, he is in good form at the moment and he was finishing the stronger when only a length behind Winning Leap in his penultimate start. He should be thereabouts again.
e wish our clients all the best over the festive season and thank them for their support throughout the year.
W
Frozen Fire won the Gr1 Irish Derby in 2008.
Fenerbahce
Valor Nativo
About The Pace
In terms of ratings, Fenerbahce is as consistent as they come. Indeed, it is seldom that he fails to make the Quartet. He’s yet to race over a trip this far, but he did run a good third over 2450m in the 2009 Gauteng Derby. Gary Alexander’s charge has not managed to get his head in front since winning the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes almost two years ago though, and out at the weights here, a place, once again, looks the more likely.
At his best on sand where he has failed to get within ten lengths of a winner since returning from a seven month break in June, Valor Nativo has never won on turf!
Somewhat unusually for a race over this distance, we have a number of candidates for the role of frontrunner, so at least a fair pace can be expected. In all probability it is the five at the top of the weights who will fight out the finish here. The former Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire has run two good races since arriving on our shores and with both Smanjemanje and Havasha having put in good efforts in strong company since, the form of his latest effort has been franked. He gets the vote.
African Giant The 5yo African Giant has failed to make his presence felt in moderate handicaps since shedding his maiden tag in August and is badly out at the weights here.
Volatile
Clamenco As with Fenerbahce, Clamenco is very consistent. He’s in good form at the moment and is proven over the distance. He is taking a big step up in class here though and badly out at the weights with most, he’ll do well to make the frame.
Rated some 25kg behind Frozen Fire by the official handicapper, Volatile has failed to get within ten lengths of a winner since returning from a fifteen month break in November and cannot be seriously considered
WINDRUSH DYNASTY
JALLAD
Gr3 VICTRESS STAKES
Gr1 CAPE GUINEAS
Gr2 DIADEM STAKES
1st
2nd
2 nd
SOLO TRAVELLER
PAST MASTER
A DAUGHTERS LEGACY