Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Superfederation to enhance July Credentials

Chad Cooke
With the kick off of the Soccer World Cup taking place on Friday, June 11)racing is likely to fly under the radar this weekend but don’t be too hasty in ignoring the thoroughbreds, particularly in Gauteng where the nine-race card at Turffontein is headed by the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1 800m on Sunday afternoon.
This R200 000 race has drawn a full field of 16 runners and is not only very competitive, but has the added interest of being a stepping stone for some of the runners into the country’s premier race, the Vodacom Durban July.
One of these is the Gary Alexander-trained Superfederation, a four-year-old son of Kahal.
This gelding has won four of 16 outings and his current form suggests that he is getting better and better and has been showing enough improvement that his trainer has aimed him at the July.
Blinkers improved
On the exposed form, the July may be a tall order, particularly when one considers that the ‘best’ race he has competed in to date is an 88 MR Handicap in which he was easily beaten by Call To Combat, another July hopeful that he meets here again and on worse weight terms.
That said, Superfederation has improved since that run in February and the addition of blinkers to his equipment in his last three outings has certainly had a positive effect.
Alexander’s charge is distance suited and he jumps from a fair draw at a track that is very forgiving if the draw and early part of a race does not work out favourably.
Superfederation has the credentials to do well here and if the July is more than just a dream then he will have to win this and win it well.
Distance
Exhilaration promised much as a youngster but has arguably failed to live up to those expectations.
He has ability and appears to be a far better horse than the three-time winner that he is.
He has relatively indifferent recent form but has needed his last two runs and should be spot on for this race. He has yet to show that he is capable beyond a mile but this could be the event that shows it.
Call To Combat failed to stay the marathon trip last time out but his easy winner over 1950m at Scottsville the run prior to that suggests that he cannot be ignored. This son of Announce is also a July nomination and the engaging of seasoned rider Felix Coetzee gives notice of the intentions here. The widest of draws does not make this an easy task but with the July as the carrot that can be overcome.
Of the other runners the fillies Bedloe’s Island and Queen’s Bay deserve respect. They have both shown that they are not far off some of the better horses in the country and if things go their way they could taste victory.

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