Author Archives: Brendan Pather

Greyville

Gold Cup golf course parking sold out

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According to the weather experts the Super Saturday eLan Property Group Gold Cup racemeeting rescheduled to 1 August will take place under excellent weather conditions.

On raceday golf will be played at Royal Durban which means that there will only be limited parking on the golf course and this parking area is now officially SOLD OUT.

In order to accommodate as many cars as possible in the limited parking that has been made available we appeal to drivers to park efficiently and to cooperate when directed by parking attendants.

For those that choose to park in the streets around Greyville Racecourse please note that there will be an added security presence in these areas. Racegoers are advised not to park illegally such as on red or yellow lines or in areas that block entrances to private properties.

 

grey poly

Bookmakers to delay odds

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As from tomorrow (Wednesday July 29) bookmakers, in general, will no longer be pricing up ante-post betting and the betting will now only be available on the day of the racemeeting. Prices will be up at 10.00am sharp at which time claims will be available. Ante-post betting will only be available for major feature races.

Michael Weare confirmed that Betting World: “with due respect for the concerns of fellow bookmakers but in the best interest of punters will continue to price up at least 24hrs prior to each racemeeting.”

More to follow…

joe soma

Versatility key for Savage Wind

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Joey Soma runs the Eyeofthetiger gelding Savage Wind in Saturday’s Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m and expects him to find the frame.

Talking about the pace of the race, Soma reckoned the topweights would not get home in a fast race and those that wanted a true test would not want it slow. He added Savage Wind was one of the few horses who would be happy with any pace. In the past he had sometimes had the tendency to pull, but appears to be over it as he  settled well in a very slow paced race in his last start when a narrow 0,2 length third in the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville.

Soma said, “He is a nice consistent horse over this distance and is getting stronger and stronger the older he gets.”

Savage Wind is better off at the weights with all the horses that finished around him in the Track and Ball Derby, Disco Al, Hot Ticket and Kingston Mines, yet at 16/1 with Betting World is longer priced than any of them. However, Soma admitted the pace in that race had been false.

He concluded, “He is the type of horse that could finish second in a maiden or second in the Gold Cup.”

The promising young apprentice Callan Murray rides from a wide draw of 15 and Soma said, “He knows him well as he works him every day. He will play it by ear and just allow him to do his own thing.”

Soma also runs the former Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m and said, “She has been very disappointing in her last two races, especially in her last one (tailed off last in the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m). I have discussed it with the connections and it is likely that if she runs another bad race she will be retired to stud but otherwise she might race for another season. We couldn’t find much to explain those last two races, although she was a bit above herself on the day of the Cup Trial.

“I have freshened her up and she has been working very well, so we hope she can show some of her old brilliance. There is not much between her and Jet Belle on the form of the Summer Cup and the Paddock Stakes. She has pole position draw and she does get on well with Piere Strydom (rode her to a narrow and unlucky second in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m as well as a narrow second in the Gr 2 Jo’burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m).”

David Thiselton

dominic zaki

Good prospects for Zaki

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Vaal-based trainer Dominic Zaki will raid KZN for Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend with a string of three horses and has two lively chances of Gr 1 success.

In the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m he runs the Jet Master gelding Storm Warning, who bounced back to his best last time out when sauntering to a five length victory over 3000m on the Turffontein Inside Track, having made up ground quickly in the straight from last.

Zaki said Storm Warning had been doing very well and gave him a big chance provided he travelled well. The gelding lost his form earlier this season due to a breathing issue but his last two runs have shown that the wind operation he has had has been successful.

Storm Warning will stay every inch of the Gold Cup trip. On top of his easy win over 3000m last time out he also finished a narrow second in last season’s Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m on the Turffontein Standside track. He ran off a 94 merit rating in the Gold Bowl and now runs off a 95. He was given a maximum six point raise for that last run, but actually ran to a higher rating, so this makes him one of the best handicapped runners on current form.

He has also had the advantage of altitude training. He has the turn of foot necessary for the tight Greyville track and could be a big runner if producing his best. Zaki said a “bad draw is a bad draw but” was not too overly concerned about Storm Warning’s barrier 16 position over a trip of this length. Furthermore, when dropped out to last in his last run, he settled beautifully in behind horses before turning it on impressively in the straight. Craig Zackey will be champion apprentice by Saturday and has formed a good partnership with the gelding.

Zaki runs the classy Toreador gelding Prospect Strike in the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m and said if it were not for his wide draw he would have made him a “massive runner.” This horse’s two wins over 1200m and 1400m respectively were by 12,75 and 4,6 lengths and in his only other start he finished a fine 2,65 length third in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville, when running on strongly from an unfavourable draw. Prospect Strike has an interesting story behind his breeding. She was bred by the Tawny Syndicate and is owned by two of this syndicate’s members, Larry Nestadt and Greg Blank, in partnership with Knut Haug.

Nestadt and Blank found his Mr Prospector dam, Prospect Fever, in Australia and brought her back to South Africa. Their reasoning was not only that Mr Prospector mares were hard to come by but that she would also likely be an excellent mating for their Danehill stallion Toreador. This was partly due to the famous Northern Dancer-Mr Prospector nick. Toreador is from the Northern Dancer sire line and Prospect Fever herself has the Mr Prospector-Northern Dancer cross close up in her pedigree.

Furthermore, Prospect Fever had already produced the Gr 3-winning Danehill colt Way West, who became known as a speed influential sire at Summerhill Stud. Way West won an Australian Gr 3 over 1100m as a two-year-old in 2004, beating the now sort after sire Oratorio, so it is not surprising that his three parts brother Prospect Strike is also packed with precocious speed. Prospect Strike is in fact the third Toreador foal that Prospect Fever has produced and this emphasises the vagaries of breeding as the other pair, Abstract and Portrait, have not amounted to much, having won just three minor races between them, all over 1200m.

However, Zaki felt that this gelding was now looking for this 1600m trip, and he certainly gave that impression in his last start. He will have the advantage of a champion jockey aboard as Gavin Lerena would have officially secured the title the previous evening. Zaki predicted Prospect Strike would be “up there” in the running in order to overcome the draw.

Zaki was also bullish about the chances of his promising Fort Beluga filly Cataluga, who runs in a MR78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m on the polytrack. She has two wins from four starts over this distance and her breeding suggests she should enjoy the polytrack.

David Thiselton

gavin van zyl website

Captain has a touch of class

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Welcome rain over the weekend will have drawn some of the sting out of the Scottsville turf for tomorrow’s meeting and with the weather set fair we should be in for some cracking racing.

The smart juvenile Redcarpet Captain makes his handicap debut when he lines up in the eighth and just how he fares could shed some light on the strength of the current crop.

Gavin van Zyl’s runner has shown a touch of class, having beaten two top gallopers in Mogok Master and Gr1 SA Nursery winner Arabian Beat in his first two starts. He has been racing against the best in feature company and is only a few lengths inferior to the best of his generation, strong Equus contender Seventh Plain. Redcarpet Captain finished just over two lengths back to Seventh Plain in the Tsogo Sun Medallion and then four lengths back in the Golden Horseshoe where a wide draw compromised his chances.

In spite of this form, he will have his work cut out tomorrow as he faces a more than useful field of older horses.

Mark Dixon saddles two smart three-year-olds in Gumbi and The Poet while Dennis Bosch’s pair of Jet On Fire and Gemini Gold will have their supporters. Gumbi’s regular pilot, Keagan de Melo, has switched to The Poet, however, given the weights this is not a surprise and Ian Sturgeon has landed the ride on Gumbi. The chestnut gelding has won twice over the course and distance and has been far from disgraced when stepped up to 1400m. However, at this stage of his career tomorrows trip appears optimum and he should give Redcarpet Captain plenty to do.

Gemini Gold is talented but obviously a gelding with issues. After four wins on the bounce, three on the poly, he was given a lengthy break and made his first start this year with a fair effort behind Tuscan last week. That run should have brought him on and with the going expected to be on the softer side of good he has a lot in his favour.

But the list of possible winners is a lengthy one as Nineteen Fourteen, Astro, Clear Sailing and The Poet are all in with chances and if Jet On Fire can reproduce his effort when beating Muscatt a year ago, then he too comes into the equation with a chance.

However, Redcarpet Captain may just have too much class and is taken to get home ahead of Gumbi and Gemini Gold.

Dixon will have been hoping for an earlier strike when he sends out Charles My Boy in the seventh. Relatively lightly raced, Charles My Boy has been slow to find his feet but ran two excellent races in blinkers, culminating in an almost end-to-end maiden victory over the Scottsville “mile” – not an easy feat.

First time out of the maidens he took on a tough handicap field and did well enough behind the hard-knocking Joshuas Crown. He takes a big drop in class tomorrow and given a chance he should be running at them over the final furlong.

Princess Beach is the only filly in the race and caught the eye with a late effort behind Mambo Master over the course and distance last time out and could trouble the judges and Charles My Boy.

Andrew Harrison

disco al site

Ramsden confident with Cup duo

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Joey Ramdsen could end the Champions Season on a high note as his pair of Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup runners Coltrane and Disco Al appear to both have good chances.

He was bullish about both of his runners and said on his blog last week: “We maybe went a bit too hard with Coltrane early on in the season so we have freshened him up and his last two pieces of work and his gallop were quite out of the ordinary.  On his day, he is more than capable of accounting for this type of field. He appears to be a horse that is running off a reasonable mark here.

“I can say exactly the same for Disco Al. I am not entirely sure he gets the two miles but he is a horse which drops the bit in a race and needs an exceptionally strong ride when coming from off the pace. He will get that as the Master Marcus (Anton Marcus) is in the irons and the two seem to complement each other like a hand in a glove. He could be a lively runner and is also off what seems to be a reasonable mark.  Overall, the race does seem to be an exceptionally competitive affair and a high quality event and it is really good to see a strong Gold Cup.”

Disco Al (pictured) is currently a 7/1 shot with Betting World and Coltrane is an attractive 20/1 shot.

Disco Al, a gelding by Captain Al who will turn six on Gold Cup day, was only given a one point raise forwinning the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville last time out. That might not have been the truest paced race as the field finished on tip of each other. However, before that in May he ran on well over 2400m at Greyville to be runner up in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup over 2400m and is now 1kg better off with the winner Solid Speed for a 1,25 length beating. He is many a pundits idea of the winner, especially as Ramsden has always been known for his expertise in training stayers. Ramsden won the Gold Cup in 2004 with Major Bluff.

Coltrane, an Argentinian-bred Giant’s Causeway gelding who tuns seven on Gold Cup day, appears to have been overlooked by the bookmakers and the pundits on the grounds of two below par staying races at Greyville this Champions Season. He was 3,65 lengths behind Solid Speed in the Highland Night Cup over 2400m and was then 5,6 lengths behind the same horse in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. However, he is 1,5kg and 2kg better off for those respective runs and Ramsden’s news that he has been freshened up will be another plus point.

Coltrane beat Disco Al by 1,7 lengths in the Gr 2 J&B Urban Honey Stayers over 2850m at Kenilworth on J&B Met day, but he is now 1kg worse off. That should put them together on paper. Coltraine did benefit from a slow pace that day as he was able to sit handy from pole position draw, while Disco Al was disadvantaged by the pace as he was dropped out from a wide draw. However, in the Gold Cup it is once again Coltrane who has the draw advantage, as he jumps from barrier three and Disco Al has to jump from draw eleven. Furthermore, Coltrane has the 5000-winner rider Piere Strydom aboard.

Marcus’s only Gold Cup win was in 1991 with Icona, while Strydom has also won the country’s premier staying race only once, on the Brett Crawford-trained Reveille Boy in 2005.

Ramsden runs Gallica Rose in the weight for age plus penalties Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She turns five on Gold Cup day and is typical of a Silvano in that she is blossoming with age. The 102 merit-rated horse is the third highest rated horse in the race but has escaped a penalty so is the joint second best weighted horse together with Athina and the three-year-old Zante. She won the Listed East Coast Cup in good style over this course and distance in her penultimate start and she has the horses she defeated there, Bilateral, Supercede, Gathering Fame, Counting Angels and Mohave Princess held at the weights. However, she does have a wide draw to overcome. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides.

In the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack, they run the useful Brutal Force and this big horse should be cherry ripe having benefitted from gelding earlier in the year. He at last gets a good draw of three and Marcus will likely make use of both his early pace and his ability to go through with it all the way to the line. He is by Western Winter whose progeny tend to love all weather surrafces.

The yard also run Grey Light in the second race and the 1400m trip on the polytrack looks ideal for this robust daughter of Tapit. She has shown a liking for the polytrack and will appreciate the step up in trip from her two Champions Season efforts on the surface over the too sharp 1200m. She jumps from draw 8 in the MR 80 fillies and mares handicap and has to shoulder 62,5kg, but Fayd’Herbe is a heavyweight riderso she won’t have to carry much dead weights and she looks to be a big runner.

David Thiselton

 

Brett Crawford - Liesl King

Zubbadubba certainly can do

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The fairytale story behind the Brett Crawford-trained Zubbadubbadoo continued at Kenilworth on Saturday and the gallant three-year-old Jay Peg gelding has now well and truly put Kenilworth Racing’s Ladies Day on the map.

Girl power has seen Ladies Day quickly becoming one of the most popular charity race days on the map and this year’s event at Kenilworth racecourse on Saturday August 15 is likely to attract another big crowd who will reach out for another good cause.

Zubbadubbadoo didn’t look a likely candidate for victory half way down the straight of Saturday’s MR 95 Handicap over 1200m, but this horse has deceptive cruising speed and a heart as big as the great outdoors. He turned it on and in a matter of strides had hit the front before staying on under Corne Orffer to win by 0,5 lengths. He has only had five starts, and this was his fourth victory in succession. However, it is in the winner’s enclosure where the significance of his victories become apparent.

He runs in the pink colours of the Flaming Flamingo Syndicate, which consists of 12 passionate ladies. These ladies splashed out R130,000 to buy him at the Ladies Day auction in 2013 and the proceeds went to the Reach For Recovery Breast Cancer Association. The ladies, who are often dressed in pink, never fail to promote the good cause for which the horse runs.

Every year at Ladies Day a horse is donated by a stud farm, for which a trainer donates free training fees. The horse is auctioned off and the proceeds go to the selected beneficiary.

Zubbadubbadoo was donated by Marsh Shirtliff, Lukas Theron and David Hepburn-Brown of Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and Brett Crawford (pictured) donated the horse’s training fees for free.

Last year Mauritzfontein Stud donated a Noordhoek Flyer filly  called Blu-Tack. Dean Kannemeyer offered his training services for free and the R140 000 purchase price was given to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Blu Tack, who is owned by Fred Crabbia, ran a fair fifth in her second start over 1200m and could still improve.

This year’s auctioned horse will be a Jay Peg filly called Spending Spree, donated by Masrh Shirtliff, Bryn Ressell and David Hepburn Brown of Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud, and  Crawford has once again come to the party to donate free training fees.

The selected beneficiary this year will be The Sunflower Funds. This charity fund’s chief objective is to create awareness and to educate potential bone marrow stem cell donors who could save the life of a child or young adult diagnosed with leukaemia or any other life threatening blood disorder. Such sufferers sometimes have as high as a 1 in 100,000 chance of finding a bone marrow stem cell donor match, so the more people that offer their services the better their prognosis will be.

Tina Botha started The Sunflower Fund after losing her son to leukaemia. Through her resolve and energy the number of donors on the registry has increased from 800 to 67,500 in the space of 14 years. Her charity will indeed be a fitting benefactor on Ladies Day.

Ladies Day at Kenilworth racecourse is one of the fastest growing race meetings in the country.

The theme for this year’s event is “Glitz and elegance of Las Vegas”, one of the bright light cities of the world. Racing regulars will be attracted by the occasion, but some of the activities on course will provide a particular drawcard for newcomers to the Sport Of Kings. Ladies will be driven to the start, where they will be able to watch the loading procedure as well as the thrill of the jump from the gates.

Betting World have donated betting vouchers and there will be many other attractions, such as fashion shows, fine fare and spot prizes.

The Master Of Ceremonies for the main function in  one of the grandstand rooms will be Jenny Morris, the Giggling Gourmet, one of SA’s most loved food personalities.

David Thiselton

Kenilworth Race 8 – What happens?

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KENILWORTH SATURDAY RACE 8 (Jul 25)

Due to the postponement of the Gold Cup racemeeting (from Saturday Jul 25 to Saturday Aug 1), RACE 8 on the Kenilworth card for Saturday July 25 (which was to be the eLAN Property Group Gold Cup), has effectively been abandoned and the ‘FIELD’ will apply in all exotic bets.

The race times for Saturday’s Kenilworth card have also been adjusted:  Race 1 – 12:40 / Race 2 – 13:15 / Race 3 – 13:50 / Race 4 – 14:30 / Race 5 – 15:10 / Race 6 – 15:45 / Race 7 – 16:20 / Race 9 – 17:00 / Race 10 – 17:30

Furthermore, all bets taken on Thursday, 23rd July for the Greyville meeting originally scheduled for Saturday, 25th July 2015 (eLan Property Group Gold Cup / Super Saturday) have been deemed Null & Void and customers will be entitled to a full refund.

Pre-selling will reopen again on Thursday, 30th July 2015.

Lucky Houdalakis

Kick-off with Netflix

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The Turffontein meeting on Sunday has a few good looking opportunities for punters and the first of them appears in race one with the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Netflix, who faces a weak field in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m.

The Tiger Ridge gelding caught the eye when running onfrom way back over 1600m in his penultimate start. Next time out he was terribly unlucky when taken out at the top of the straight, so the bare form there can be taken with a pinch of salt as he might have even won that race instead of finishing a ten length third.

The main danger will be Champagne Haze, a Kahal colt who is a half-brother to the top class Pierre Jourdan. He stayed on well on debut after being dropped out from a wide draw over the Inside track 1200m and is likely to be favourite, because there will be natural improvement and he will relish the step up in trip. Furthermore, he is now well drawn and Andrew Fortune has been in fine form for the Gary Alexander yard.

Bajan Fantasy looks to be a good bet in race two, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m for fillies. This Mullins Bay filly had to be snatched up when baulked near the line after running on strongly from last over 1200m on the Inside Track on debut, having been dropped out from a wide draw. She will relish the step up in trip and on the evidence of that last race should easily reverse form with Eye The Countess, especially as she represents the Alexander/Fortune combination from a plum draw of three. Rock Of Laudium is the danger. She over raced slightly when a close second over course and distance last time out from a tough draw of nine, but she now has an even wider draw to overcome.

The third is a maiden over 1450m and the one to beat will be Jin-Go-La-Ba. He over-raced over 1600m last time out at the Vaal so will relish the step down in trip and  Piere Strydom is likely to take advantage of pole position draw.  La Digue is the danger on form but has a wide draw to overcome. The Alexander/Fortune combination are represented by an interesting first-timer, Dahlia’s Guest, who is by A P Arrow and is a half-brother to three-time winner Mr Mulliner and other multiple winners.

The frustrating Badger’s Belle is a must for the PA in race four, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1800m. However, she puts on the brakes and looks for company as soon as she hits the front so is hard to win with, although this is an ideal course and distance and she has a plum draw of three. The two-year-old Sheik’s Diamond looks to be a better one to side with for a win, having been unlucky when a narrow third last time over 1600mand now well drawn again. Secret Angel is an improving sort and Fortune is an interesting booking, while Bubba’s Doll, Suzie Wong, Global Spin and Beautiful Floutist could also be considered for the Pick 6 and Jackpot.

The fifth is the highest rated race on the card, a fillies and mares MR 91 Handicap over 1800m, and Pennington Sands might be the one to side with. She scrapes into the handicap with bottom weight and bounced back to form last time when running on well over 1600m.However, the wide draw is a bit of a concern. Erin has a touch of class and loves this course and distance, so will be right there from a fair draw with Weichong Marwing up. Dream Galaxy is an improving sort who should love this trip too and she is drawn three with Strydom up, while Educated and Tiger Flame can’t be written off either.

The sixth is a MR 64 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Prescient could cause a surprise if repeating her last run, especially if jumping better than she did there, as she will appreciate the step up in trip. Panchatanta and Stirling Leaves make most appeal of the others.

The seventh is a MR 80 Handicap over 1450m and Gambol is the selection. He has been a touch disappointing in his last few starts but showed signs of a return to form last time and from a good draw the course and distance should be suitable for his front-running style. Pivotal Pursuit and Platinum Jet make most appeal of the rest.

The last is a Maiden Plate over 1450m. The two-year-old Gentleman Only could be the one to beat because his best run was over this distance and he has Strydom up. Sands Of Time pulled up lame last time when failing as odds on favourite, but if back to his best he should be right there from a good draw. Bridegroom Bertie caught the eye with a strong finish on debut over shorter and has a chance over a step up in trip he should appreciate.

David Thiselton

Fortune to weave his magic

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The weather has put paid to the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup meeting scheduled for Greyville tomorrow and it does not look all that bright for Kenilworth either with showers forecast and temperatures a touch on the chilly side. But racing should go ahead on a course that drains like Clifton beach.

The Gr3 Champagne Stakes has attracted a high class field and given the vagaries of the weather and a highly competitive field, things are likely to get a little sweaty at the wire in spite of the fresh weather.

Justin Snaith has most of his big guns resident at Summerveld for the winter but Jet Supreme, who has some mileage on the clock, has remained behind to take advantage of the softer winter tracks in Cape Town. She does however, take a drop in distance for tomorrow’s race – 1800m to a 1200m sprint – and that could play into the hands of the opposition. But the daughter of Jet Master is versatile and does have a tendency to stretch her riders’ arms in a race.

With Andrew Fortune back in action, she does have a master horseman in the irons, and if she is ever going to settle it will be with Fortune aboard.

The pair are not strangers with Fortune having coaxed Jet Supreme to a second placed finish over the course and distance behind the Gr1 winning Fly By Night back in April and with the sting out of the ground and under some favourable weight conditions, the daughter of Jet Master could pull this off.

Mike Bass has had a relatively quiet Champions Season in KZN with some of his runners not finding their best form but he holds a strong hand tomorrow with three runners in the 10-horse field.

Stable rider Grant van Niekerk has been pencilled in aboard Lanner Falcon who came with a telling late run to basically out-class the opposition over the Kenilworth “mile” last time out. Like Jet Supreme, she is versatile and the drop in trip coupled with the soft ground will be in her favour.

Adam Marcus saddles the smart mare Priceless Jewel but feels she may just be short of peak fitness. “She was making a bit of a noise in her work and after her disappointing last run in a feature we galloped her with an overland scope,” he said. She was found to have a small problem and had a minor wind op to correct her breathing. “It was not a major op and she’s been going very, very well with no noise but she may just be short of a run. But she loves the soft and races fresh and the 1200m is not too testing. If she brings her true from to the race she will be right there,” he said.

The top three carded look to be the class in the race with the balance of the field having met on one or two occasions recently and there is not likely to be very much between them although Pure Power and The Which Doctor look to be the pick of them at the weights.

It’s not an easy race but Jet Supreme can take the drop in trip in her stride and is fancied to get home ahead of Lanner Falcon and Priceless Jewel

Andrew Harrison