Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Time to carve the Turkey

David Thiselton
Results in KZN have been good for punters over the last few meetings and there are a number of trainers who feel they have good chances at Greyville tonight (Friday, April 16). Paul Lafferty holds a strong hand on the night and kicks off with Turkey in the first, who will be ridden by Anthony Delpech.
“He will be hard to beat,” said Lafferty of the Var colt who went close on debut in Cape Town and ran a good race first time around the turn last time over 1 300m at Greyville. He is well drawn and on his last run looks to hold his main rivals in the race, the Dylan Cunha-trained Might And Main and his Lafferty stable companion, Urban. Lafferty felt he had a chance in the second too with Vista, whom he said “has improved.” On the other hand Gavin van Zyl said of Island Court, who beat Vista last time by a length, “She hasn’t improved, what you see is what you get with her.” The Doug Campbell-trained Capercaillie beat both Island Court and Vista when they last met and has the draw advantage again. She could be the one to beat. In the third Garth Puller said Here To Win “would be hard to beat” and she does appear to have plenty in her favour. Bart Rice said that Lady Charlotte is talented but has problems. She needed her last and the blinkers have been fitted here to help with her lack of early speed. Lafferty, on being told his filly in the fourth, Height Of Humour had been tipped to win agreed that that was a reasonable
prediction. She doesn’t have a good draw but her best run to date was from a wide draw at Greyville over 1 400m with this same apprentice, Jassurick Jordan aboard. Michael Roberts said that Gleneagles would be fit enough for the race after his break but added, “He is a very good work horse but doesn’t try at the races. It’s frustrating.” Lafferty felt that his Casey Tibbs colt,
Vin D’Honneur had a good chance in the fifth, a MR84 Handicap over 2 000m. He goes well for apprentice Jordaan and was only denied by a charging Mr Esplendid at Clairwood last time over this trip when jumping from a wide draw.
Bart Rice is confident of victory in this race with Royal Day whom he said is “very well”. This horse loves the course and distance and is drawn well for a change. Puller said that Meleshni Pillay knows What Next better than any other jockey and has got a deserved chance aboard him from draw one. He faces Vin D’Honneur on 1,5kg better terms for a 1,25 length beating, so can’t be discounted. Michael Roberts said that Zizou “might just need this run.”
The in form Sean Tarry yard have a good chance here with Matreshka who has his third run after a rest and is drawn well. He finished just a length back in the Easter Handicap last time out. Kumaran Naidoo felt that Napoleon Dynamite had a “decent chance” in the sixth, while Paul Lafferty said the same of Champion Empire, commenting that he “goes like the clappers from the off.” With a 4kg claimer aboard, from a good draw and a very narrow false rail, Champion Empire, could indeed be dangerous. Des Egdes felt that Joe Pike had come on from his last run and said, “He’s very well, I’m very happy with him.”
He won his maiden over this course and distance and is well drawn. Colin Scott said Qui Note is at the same level as his maiden win and felt he had a chance.
The very exciting Jet Master colt from the Alyson Wright yard, Jet Command, runs in the seventh over 1 400m and this will be his acid test to see whether he has a chance of staying the mile for his intended target, the KRA Guineas.
Dennis Drier said he felt Sharks Bay was “back to his best” so he will have a chance although widely drawn. Michael Roberts said it would be tough for Marquise in the eighth first time out the maidens although adding that she would appreciate the step up in trip. In the ninth over 1 400m Roberts said, “I rate Lamorna and she will stay the trip - I think she’ll stay a mile.”
Drier felt that this is the right race for Madam Councellor and Colin Scott said Chic Happens “will be hard to beat.”

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