Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Advantage Phunyuka from an inside draw

Chad Cooke
It’s back to the sand at the Vaal this afternoon (Tuesday, March 9) where the eight race programme is headed by two features, the R125 000 Autumn Sand Sprint and the R125 000 Woodlands Sprint, both run over the 1 200m trip.
The first of the two sprints is the Autumn Sand Sprint which will be run on handicap terms and due to the nature of this 1 200m track, the draw looks set to play a key role.
Trainer Roy Magner saddles three runners in this contest and he must be confident that he will take the lion’s share of the prize money home. His leading light in this contest is the five-year-old Slew The Red gelding, Phunyuka.
This Summerhill Stud bred has shown a distinct liking for the sand and for the distance.
Magner’s charge has won five times in 24 outings, all five wins being at this track and four of them over the distance.
Phunyuka put up an excellent last effort when he came from well off the pace to get within half a length of Hurricane Force over the course and distance.
The gelding had a wide draw to overcome that day and has the best of draws. He will again be partnered by ‘Willie’ Figueroa and the pair look set to take the honours.
The two dangers to the Magner runner are Charles Laird’s Deep Water and St John Gray’s Sandy Beach.
Deep Water was beaten by Phunyuka last time and the former has a worse draw to contend on this occasion but he is 0,5kg better off at the weights for a 1,75 lengths beating.
Sandy Beach is a sand specialist having recorded all seven of her wins at this track, two of them over this distance. The Count Dubois filly has drawn well and has an obvious chance on form but she has a hefty 62,5kg to shoulder which looks a big ask.
The Woodlands Sprint is over the same trip and is a handicap for fillies and mares. This is a competitive race with all of Wishing Star, Rosette, Romantic Girl and Bellotto Flash having strong winning claims.
Romantic Girl brings good form into this contest and has shown that she enjoys this surface. She ran out an impressive eight-length winner in her only outing over the course and distance. Mike Azzie’s charge has also drawn well and has obvious claims.
Charles Laird’s Rosette finished well behind Romantic Girl in her last outing, but that was her second run after a rest and she should be cherry-ripe now. This daughter of National Emblem has never raced on the sand surface but she has some good form and is sure to do well if taking to the surface.
Wishing Star has done well at this track and has shown a liking for the distance. She brings solid form into this contest and from a good draw looks set to make her presence felt.
Australian-bred Bellotto Flash has some good recent form and also enjoys this surface. She is distance suited and jumps from a good draw.

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