The South African Jockey Academy is the envy of world racing and on Sunday and the current crop of apprentices get to showcase their talents on the Greyville poly track.
Three races on the eight-race card, are exclusively for apprentice riders and Serino Moodley, who comes out of his time at the end of this year, could get the ball rolling aboard Garth Puller’s runner March Preview.
Puller’s yard is in mustard form of late and March Preview has shown up well in his two starts back from a lengthy break, blinkers seemingly the key to his recently improved performances. He should be at his peak come Sunday.
March Preview (Candiese Marnewick)
The biggest threat to his chances could come in the form of Lickerio. Yogas Govender’s gelding was a recent maiden winner but has shown early promise. The step up in trip should suit and apprentice Khanya Sakayi, who is riding with supreme confidence of late, takes a bonus 2.5kg off his back.
Sakayi has picked up a plum ride on Itdawnedonme for Duncan Howells in the Loving Life Stables Handicap and he could be hard to beat. Duncan Howells was confident of a big run last time out but Itdawnedonme found one to good on the day, run out of it late by Tommy Grand.
Itdawnedonme shed his maiden on the poly and given his last showing he rates a strong chance and a possible exotic bet banker.
The School of Management Excellence Handicap has a wide open look about it and it may prove prudent for punters to load up in this leg of the exotics.
O’Keeffe has taken to the poly track, winning her last two to remain unbeaten on the synthetic surface and she can go in again. But Andre Nel’s runner does give weight to the majority of the field. Lezeanne Forbes saddles the mare Tanami at the bottom of the handicap and she has shown up well in two outings since returning from a lengthy break. Mark Khan will be aboard again and Tanami must rate a big chance.
The Duncan Howells pair of Roy’s Vogue and Queen’s Plain are others to consider while Roy’s Stingray is a lightly raced import who has only been out of the money once in six outings and must also be a big runner.
Little Audrey and Star In The Sky should dominate the Investec Handicap where the form of the balance of the runners is not much to write home about. Little Audrey was a touch unlucky when going down to Purple And Gold last time out and has improved with every outing. However, Star In The Sky has given notice that she has a future after two prominent showings over shorter. She should take the step up in trip in her stride and Dennis Drier has declared blinkers.
The final event of the afternoon is another difficult handicap. Path To Glory is something of a course and distance specialist and although she ran out of luck when beaten last time out, she had previously reeled off a hat-trick of wins. Talented apprentice Ashton Arries retains the ride for Mike Miller. Girl In Gold, Breaking Barriers and Just Rap warrant serious consideration but it is a race where the advice is to load-up.
By Andrew Harrison
