Saddling more than half of the runners in a seven-horse field does not necessary guarantee victory and that could be the case in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap that heads up the Greyville card this evening, all races on the poly track.
With the programme structured as it is, Duncan Howells finds himself in a quandary with a hat-full of fillies with high merit ratings and nowhere to run them without clashing – a similar scenario to Mark Dixon’s plight last week where he saddled most of the field in London Call’s victory.
Lunar Rush
Accidental Tourist and Lunar Rush would appear to be the most fancied of the Howells runners but they come up against another Ashburton-based rival in Neala from the Shane Humby yard.
Like many older horses, the five-year-old Neala has taken to the synthetic surface and finished runner-up in her last two, firstly to Accidental Tourist and more recently, a fast-finishing second from a tricky draw to the end-to-end winner Marshall That.
Accidental Tourist has since franked that form, winning again next time out and following up with a close second when stretched to 1400m for the first time.
However, she meets Neala on 3kg worse terms which in theory should see her turn the tables this time around.
But top weight Lunar Rush is no slouch and was far from disgraced when taking on males in a Pinnacle Stakes and beaten under two lengths by Cutting Edge. She does appear to be a length or two better on the turf but she will be re-united with Anthony Delpech who won on her when beating Isingamoya at Scottsville.
Of the balance, A Womens Way is much better than recent form and can surprise while Shwanky is in a tough one at these weights as she steps up in trip and class but comes from a very much in form stable.
Howells and Anton Marcus could have success with Accidental Tourist and add to their tally with Fire Song in a desperately moderate Qualified Maiden field in the fourth where Century Gold looks the biggest threat.
A better proposition could be Rainbowinthesky in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap. After a string of placed runs, Rainbowinthesky was switched to the poly and duly arrived beating Poster Girl. She was only given a two-pound penalty for the win and although shouldering top weight she can go to the well once again.
The lightly raced Parade’s End looks a likely threat given her two smart juvenile performances behind Marsala and Fiorella respectively before making her seasonal debut over course and distance that resulted in a comfortable maiden win. However, she takes on a useful field first up in handicap company but does have the best of the draw.
The performances of Rainbowinthesky and Shizam in the Rugby 5 Handicap, sixth race on the card, could have a major bearing on the evening’s final event where Vanity Fair, beaten less than a length by Rainbowinthesky last time out, and Sapphire Petunia, a similar distance behind Shizam, face off in what is a tricky finale.
The pair are drawn alongside each other in the first two stalls and with two other potential contenders for the winner’s box in Mbali and Flamboyant drawn at three and four respectively, this could be a tactical race to savour, especially if Mbali takes off from the jump.
By Andrew Harrison
