Chesney van Zyl has made the move to Summerveld from Gauteng, lock, stock and barrel. His recent local runners have been saddled by his father Gavin while he has settled in so La Bahia marks his real start as a KZN trainer, and it could prove a winning one.
La Bahia is rated a couple of lengths better than most of the opposition and Van Zyl is fairly bullish about his filly’s chances as she takes to the poly track for the first time. “She shows good work on the sand at home so I think she will be suited to the poly,” he said. “Anton (Marcus) also asked for the ride which is always a good thing. It’s better when a jockey asks for the ride, rather than you putting them on, because you then know that he has confidence in his mount which is always a good thing.”
La Bahia does look the right one if you are prepared to put a line through her last effort in a work riders plate and bookmakers have her at around 12-10 favourite but the likes of Starlight, Hey Jude and Liquid Irish are all in the picture.
Punters are faced with another tricky card of maidens and lowly handicaps which could make for some rough results.
War Trumpet (28-10) is at the top of the boards for the fourth. Andre Nel’s runner is lightly raced but made good improvement at his second run after a break and should strip at his peak. Bedazzled Joker (7-1) took on much stronger last outing and was not far back. He had consistent previous form but does have a wide draw to contend with here while Lithuanian’s Dream (14-1) can do better than his recent form with the switch to the poly and first-time blinkers.
It’s 5-1 the field in the fifth but Wendy Whitehead was full of praise after Getaway shed her maiden. She has had her problems but won well enough to suggest that she can go in again. Vase was an impressive maiden winner first up on the poly track. She had some fair Cape form before that. The blinkers come off Geographe Bay and with a further drop in the ratings she will be competitive. Yaas and Fair Antonia are others to consider in a difficult race.
Open Court and Royal Rustler should both be competitive in the sixth while Roy Magner, a rare visitor to KZN, saddles the well-tried Alex The Great who has been dropping rapidly in the handicap and takes to the poly for the first time.
Garth Puller and Anton Marcus team up with the relatively lightly raced Belle Of Paris in the Qualified Maiden, another potential minefield. She has improved at recent outings but is likely to be hard-pressed by the likes of Roy’s Novice, Fonteyn and Whispering Hill.
In the last race of the evening, Siberian Husky only got a three-point raise for his last win when taking on stronger and can go in again while Cuduiari goes well on the poly and is overdue a win. He has a handy weight and rates a strong chance.
By Andrew Harrison
