Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Snaith is confident about Russian Sage

David Thiselton
Justin Snaith said that his Vodacom Durban July charge Russian Sage was “the best value for money roughie’’ in this year’s race.
“There have been a lot of scratchings this year. There are about ten horses that are extremely strong, top top horses, and there are about ten that shouldn’t be in the race.’’
He felt that Russian Sage deserved to be in the ten that could win alongside the Mike de Kock and Mike Bass couplings.
Snaith disagreed with the view that Russian Sage had been part of a relatively weak male crop when named Equus Champion three-year-old in 2008. He pointed out that Imbongi, who beat him by 0,75 lengths in the KZN Guineas, had gone on to perform very well overseas.
Russian Sage won the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2 000m that year and the Grade 1 Daily News 2 000, but the horses that finished behind him have done nothing of note since.
Snaith said, “If we didn’t think he could finish in the first three we wouldn’t be running him."
He spoke of the Jallad five-year-old entire’s courage. “What he lacks in other factors he makes up for with his huge heart. If he can pass on that heart I think he will make a very good stallion one day.”
In Snaith’s opinion Russian Sage’s breeding - Jallad out of a Badger Land mare - was just about “as good as you can get” in South Africa.
“The Jallad’s are very tough boned,’’ he said. “Like every good horse he has his niggles though.”
He had little doubt about Russian Sage’s stamina capacity and said that 2 000m is probably his best trip but that 2 200m was not a problem for anyone if the pace was not on.’’
Snaith doesn’t believe it is essential for a horse to be a stayer for the July.
In fact Flaming Rock, winner of the 1991 July and trained by his father Chris, was essentially a miler and came from 20 draw and last in the home straight to win.
Russian Sage campaigned overseas in 2009 and his best effort was when dead-heating for second with Jay Peg at level weights over 1 800m on turf in Dubai.
Snaith said the horse was as good as he was before he went abroad.
Russian Sage has had two runs since returning, a good third in a too short 1 200m race at Kenilworth and a close third in a Listed Handicap over 1 600m at Greyville.
“He needed that last run. We wanted to make it hard for him and sent him to the front at a good gallop. It probably cost him the race, but he came out a fitter horse. The gallops will be interesting.
“He will work with Sparkling Gem and both will need a good gallop. It is a pity that it’s just a little too close to the day though.’’
Mike Bass said of his July gallops plans for Thursday morning at Greyville. “River Jetez will work with Love Is In The Air and will just do some easy pacework.
“Pocket Power will work with Fort Vogue and Fort Vogue will be asked to do more than him. Those are the gallop plans at the moment.’’
However Bass, a master trainer who can look at a horse walking out of its box in the morning and know what he needs to do with it, said that he could change his mind on the day.

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