Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Noordhoek Flyer to the test

David Thiselton
The Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1 800m at Clairwood on Saturday sees another top class field of thoroughbreds face the starter and with four other features on the card there will be a feast of action coming hard on the heels of last weekend's memorable Canon Gold Cup meeting. Mike de Kock won the big one last weekend, the Grade 1 Canon Gold Cup, as well as the Grade 2 Tibouchina, and has a good chance of adding another big Grade 1 this Saturday. He runs the 2008 Summer Cup winner, Rudra, as well as one of the up-and-coming newcomers to his yard, the three-year-old Bold Silvano. He said, “According to the merit ratings they are both very well in at the weights and they've both had very good preps.”
Rudra, who will prefer this distance to the 1 600m of the Champions Challenge last time, is drawn well in four, while Bold Silvano has a wide draw of 10.
De Kock said, “I don’t believe the draw will effect Bold Silvano, he likes to sit off them.” De Kock won't be worrying about his hores earning more weight for the Vodacom Durban July. “They are well handicapped so if they do win any merit rated raise given will depend on whom they beat,’’ he said. “But I don’t believe in being blase about future Grade 1s. You can outscheme yourself in this game and you should take what you can get at the time.’’ Bass, speaking on Tuesday, believed that Pocket Power had “come on” from his Gold Challenge run, in which he finished third. “It’s harder to tell as he gets older,” he said. “But he’s looking well. He’s drawn badly again as he always seems to be at Clairwood. I suppose the effect of the draw will depend on the pace. Red Rake is a front-runner, but if nobody takes him on he just slows it up.’’
Dean Kannemeyer said about Noordhoek Flyer, “He’s very, very well and put up a very good gallop last Thursday. But it’s a tough field and it’s his first time against older horses. He’s a brilliant miler and I wouldn’t be scared of many horses in the country over that distance. This is 1 800m, but he's well drawn and is fit and well.’’ Charles Laird runs three top class horses and said, “Smart Banker needed his last run a bit as I was easy on him after his hard race in testing going in the Champions Challenge. But it's not going to be easy for him at the weights. Giving a horse like Rudra 2,5kg is going to be very tough. But he’s well. His chances will also depend on which game Pocket Power brings to the race. Galileo’s Galaxy came off a long break and needed his last two runs. He is ready for this race and at his best I would not put him far behind the best we have. This is the race we earmarked for him. Anton is very fit but finds it hard to get down to 54kg these days, so he’s taken the easier option and rides Smart Banker. Dan de Lago hasn’t raced for a long time.
“He’s sand fit but this race is more a case of seeing whether he’ s back on track and whether he jumps on terms. Paul Whitmore has been working with him. He’s jumped perfectly fifty times at home and has been passed at the Vaal racecourse. But tomorrow's a race and that will be the real test.’’
Glen Kotzen said of his runner, Fabiani, “He did some pacework yesterday and I'm very happy with him. If the yard can win three Grade 1s in a season that will be amazing, so this is his race and if he wins the July that will be a bonus.’’ Piere Strydom, released after Big City Life’s scratching, will replace Fabiani’s original jockey, Ian Sturgeon. The Herman Bown-trained Orbison looks in top shape and returned to the ring without blowing after doing some pacework with the sprinter Intellectual, whom he beat comfortably. Assistant trainer Frank Robinson said, “I was very disappointed with his Cup Trial run (finishing a close fourth over Saturday’s course and distance). There was a cold snap at the time and I think it was probably a below par run. I know he’s better than that. He was a bit headstrong in that race, but is drawn in pole on Saturday which is ideal. I think he has a chance if he’s at his best.’’

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