Those pundits with long memories will remember the days of yore when each race club had their own handicappers. Charles Laird was the handicapper at Turffontein before turning his hand to training so he knows a thing or two about placing his runners and Anton Marcus may not necessarily be on the ‘right’ one in the Coalvest Group Handicap at Greyville tonight.
Captain Of Rock (Nkosi Hlophe)
Marcus has been pencilled in to ride the relatively unexposed Yankeedoodledandy while apprentice Diego de Gouveia will be aboard stable companion Captain Of Rock who bids for his third win on the bounce – both horses in the colours of Mayfair Speculators.
The mere presence of Marcus in the saddle has bookmakers automatically slashing the odds on his mounts, regardless of form, consequently he rides many a false favourite. The flip side is his winning strike rate of 27% so one has to have some sympathy for the men of the crossbar.
Yankeedoodledandy has not seen a racetrack since June last year when finishing second to Count Von Count on his handicap debut after a narrow victory on debut. That form is nothing to write home about but in the seven months since he may well have improved.
Captain Of Rock on the other hand made a winning return after a short break under then four-claiming apprentice Serino Moodley. The handicappers saw fit to raise Captain Of Rock by four pounds and with De Gouveia claiming 2.5kg, Captain Of Rock theoretically goes into this race without a penalty.
This is all on paper of course and the reality could pan out quite differently. But given his current form and proven affinity for the poly track, Captain Of Rock looks the right one.
Obvious danger is Roy Royale who finished under a length back to Captain Of Rock at their last meeting and is slightly better off at the weights but possibly not enough to turn the tables.
Tonight’s card is littered with moderate horses so be prepared to do your homework and add in the odd long-shot in your exotics. It could make for a profitable evening.
By Andrew Harrison
