Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Bank on Directorate

Brendan Pather

Dylan Cunha has done reasonably well with the small string that he had taken to the Western Cape this summer and the young trainer sends out one of his better four-year-olds, Directorate, at Kenilworth today.

Directorate was shot up to a 92 rating after finishing fifth to Dan De Lago in the KZN Derby last term. The Jallad gelding confirmed the improvement with a win in his next start over a mile at Greyville.

Both of those runs were with blinkers on and the head gear is back on when he lines-up in the second today, a Graduation Plate run over 1600m where he looks hard to oppose at the weights.

Directorate has run twice since getting to Cape Town. He needed his first start over 1400m but bounced back to close to his best in his last outing when just 3,55 lengths behind Fort Vogue in the Peninsular Handicap.

Cunha confirms that the four-year-old is doing well at home and he is confident of a ‘big run’ today. “Fortune will not be riding though, so I’m busy looking for a jockey right now. But he is well and ready for this run. He should do well there,” said Cunha.

If Directorate puts in a similar performance to his Peninsular run, he should win the second today.

His main danger could be the consistent miler National Play who has done reasonably well lately setting the pace. Ignoring two below par efforts in soft going, National Play has either won or finished within a length of the winner in four outings over a mile.

He should ensure a decent tempo today and could be a danger if allowed too much of a lead at the top of the straight. But it in a true run race, Directorate should have his measure.

Unbeaten and impressive in three starts to date, Bravura should be all the rage in the sixth today, an MR 95 Handicap run over 1400m. But caution should be exercised as this one took a while to get going over 2000m last time and he bumps a few course and distance specialists today.

There have been few that could match Master Landing over this track and trip in the last month and he completed a quick double over the course and distance at the end of December. Amazingly, he has only been penalised three points in the ratings for both wins and it would not surprise to see him complete the hat-trick.

Malcolmino was one of those unable to match strides with Master Landing in December but he is now a full 6kg better off with Master Landing and warrants consideration at the weights.

This looks more like a preparation run for Bravura, with the Investec Cape Derby on J&B Met day in mind. But his amazing acceleration at the end of a race always makes him a danger, no matter the trip, and it will be another feather in his cap if he can pull this one off.

If the parade ring at Kenilworth racecourse seems busier than usual at around noon today it’s due to the announcement of the J&B Met final field and the draw for barrier positions taking place. The event will be televised live on TellyTrack.

\| All information on these pages are (©) Copyright Gold Circle Pty (Ltd) 2002 \| site map
(This site is best viewed at 1024 X 768)