Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Scent of success for Empire Rose

Chad Cooke
The Turffontein standside track will see action tomorrow (Saturday, March 6) for the nine-race programme that includes four minor features, three of them being listed events. The first of these main events is the fifth, the non-black type Egoli Three-Year-Old Mile which sees some promising youngsters lock horns over the testing 1 600m trip. Trainer Grant Maroun saddles two runners in this 10-horse field and he looks capable of scoring a one-two here.
The choice of his two runners is the Brazilian-bred Houston Trip, a son of Roi Normand that has been to the track three times for a win and two placings, his last outing being his first over this distance in which he stayed on well after being a little off the pace early. Maroun’s colt was kicking on and making up ground late when finishing three lengths behind Flying Tristram over the course and distance. Anton Marcus gets the ride and from draw three the pairing look to have every chance of winning this one. Stablemate Amatol has been in the money in his last three runs and has shown that he is more than capable over this distance. He has drawn one gate outside of his stablemate and under Piere Strydom is sure to be given every chance here. Of the remainder of the field Smanjemanje and Powerful Gift deserve consideration. Smanjemanje was outclassed last time out but he has ability and if he puts his best foot forward he is a contender while Powerful Gift has decent enough form to suggest that he could challenge for a cheque. The first of the listed feature comes in the sixth, the Ruffian Stakes for two-year-old fillies over 1 000m. Nine youngsters will contest this R135 000 race and all eyes are sure to be on Mike de Kock’s Argentinean-bred Empire Rose. This daughter of Sunray Spirit just failed on debut when she came with a late burst but got it right second time out when she again came from off the pace but this time with lots in hand as she easily beat Success Counts by half a length. There is sure to be much more to come from this promising youngster and she is the one to beat here. Success Counts went down by half a length to Empire Rose last time out and does not look capable of reversing that form but she does look capable of securing the second spot again and should do that comfortably.Next up on the card is the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1 000m for two-year-old males. Mike de Kock could again hold all the aces here with the coupling of Burmese Cat and Zanzamar.
Burmese Cat, a son of Tiger Ridge, won well on debut and followed that effort with a very promising second to competent Magico last month. This colt had no answer to the winner but showed that he is capable and on that run he looks capable of winning this race. His biggest danger could be his stablemate Zanzamar, a son of Fort Wood. This colt eased in the betting on debut but stayed on nicely and with that run under his belt he is sure to have improved. He will have Anton Marcus in the irons and he looks set to do well here.
Of the other seven runners one has to mention Talleyrand and Juan Belmonte who have both shown ability and look capable of earning here. The last of the features is the eighth, the Bauhinia Handicap over 1 000m in which 13 of the fairer sex lock horns. This could be the most competitive of the main events and it should pay to go wide in exotic bets. The horse that makes most appeal is the Paul Matchett-trained Mary Lou. This daughter of Rich Man’s Gold has good recent form and was beaten by a very talented sort last time out. She is distance suited and looks set to give a good account of herself. Dianne Stenger’s Esterel was very impressive last time out and cannot be ignored on that form while Noble Heir has shown that she is more than capable on her day but has the biggest of handicaps to carry, a hefty 60,5kg. Another runner that has to be respected is the Zimbabwean challenger, Mischa. This daughter of Sobieski has won seven of 13 outings, four of them being over this distance. She comes up against some good sorts here but has the record to suggest that she couldÿ¿ODwith them.

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