Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

A good time to bet on Blue

David Thiselton
THE Greyville racemeeting tomorrow night should be run on good to firm ground with the rain having stayed away recently, although there is a 60% chance of rain on the day itself with 10mm predicted.
The news from Summerveld is that most yards have noticed a decrease in the recent bout of coughing that hit the centre, although Mike de Kock’s yard was said to still be “full of it”.
The Dennis Drier yard have a few competitive runners on the night and assistant
Stuart Ferrie and workrider Dave Byrnes both rate Bet On Blue, in the sixth to be run over a mile, as possibly the yard’s best chance.
This small Mogok filly has a big heart and in her last start over this same course and distance she faced a stronger handicap field, albeit with a lesser weight, and ran on strongly to finish 2,25 lengths in third behind Frozen Delicious under apprentice Andile Mlaba who was only able to claim 0,5kg in that race. Bet On Blue has been working very well indeed and will now have the in-form Drier stable jockey, Sean Cormack, aboard. She jumps from the same draw of seven as she did in her last start and as Cormack is a master at placing horses in comfortable positions from difficult draws, the draw is not much of a concern. Bet On Blue’s main danger could be Turf Queen, who is drawn in pole position and wasn’t disgraced in her last attempt at this course and distance, despite being slow away and continually bumped.
She is now not only four points lower in the merit ratings, but also has the promising 4kg claimer, Jassurick Jordaan, aboard.
Flying Day wasn’t disgraced in a fair field last time and also has a chance from a good draw with a 4kg claimer aboard. The Drier yard also have high hopes for Sheik’s Jewel in the seventh race, a Merit Rated 87 Fillies and Mares handicap over 1 600m. This filly by The Sheik has disappointed the yard often, but she has come down the merit ratings significantly and also showed improvement on the training tracks this week with blinkers, which she will wear for the first time in a race tomorrow night. She ran on strongly last time over this course and distance, but will face the winner, Clarkies Promise, on the same terms for a 1,75 length beating. Clarkies Promise, an improving Western Winter filly, should confirm the form unless the blinkers work the magic with Sheik’s Jewel. However, both horses may have their work cut out to beat Born In Space. Born In Space needed her last run and trainer Paul Lafferty said she would come into this race “a lot harder”. Her penultimate run was a narrow third to the talented Lindewa The Poet over 1 600m at Scottsville and she will now have the benefit of the 4kg claim with Jordaan aboard. Born In Space had Frozen Delicious 0,15 lengths ahead of her in the Lindewa The Poet race, but if apprentice claims are included, she will now be a massive 6,5kg better off. There is not much between Clarkies Promise and Frozen Delicious on their previous meeting which furthers Born In Space’s claims. The main danger to Born In Space then might be the talented Lizzy’s Heritage who was running on strongly over course and distance for a close up third in a handicap
last time and now has Kevin Shea aboard, albeit from a wide draw.
The fifth race, an Allowance Plate over 1 000m, is an intriguing affair and in boxing terms would be termed a classic “boxer” versus “puncher” contest.
The two punchers would be the out and out speedsters Noble Heir and Fairytale Story, but boxing clever in behind them will be Candy Tuft, who strikes as a more versatile type and could stay further in time.
She should be suited to the turn, albeit in her first attempt at it, as she can then sit in behind and wait before producing a kick, unlike down the straight where she would have to try and match the early speed of the other pair.
She is 3,5kg under sufferance with Noble Heir and Fairytale Story, who are joint best in. However, she is a progressive sort who could rise above her current merit rating.

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