Tyrandeus can get punters off to a winning start in the opening Itsarush.co.za Maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow after running so well on debut earlier in the month.
Starting an unconsidered 20-1, he ran on well in the closing stages like a certain future winner to beat all except Captain Falcon in a field of 14. Maybe it wasn’t a strong maiden but it was an eye-catching performance.
Candice Robinson (hamish NIVEN Photography)
“I hadn’t galloped him – I just chucked him in but he ran very well,” recalls Candice Bass-Robinson who cautions: “He is going to need ground.”
A bigger problem could be the colt’s 19 draw. The going on the outside and middle of the sprint course has been slower than the inside in recent weeks and last Saturday the penetrometer showed a 2% advantage for those racing on the inside. In terms of lengths that amounts to a lot over 1 200m but over half the field are newcomers so the in-form Aldo Domeyer may be able to take advantage of their inexperience and tack across without too much difficulty.
Many of the old faithfuls go again in the Tab Telebet Handicap but Strathdon is the youngest horse in the race and is improving so he may be able to defy the three points the handicappers gave him for last month’s win over a furlong further. The bookmakers certainly think so and World Sports Betting opened him 12-10 favourite yesterday with Domeyer’s mount Waiting For Rain next best at 2-1.
In race three, the Tabonline.co.za Maiden, Domeyer may win again on Poetry. This one has a reasonable draw and showed plenty of promise first time in a good race. She was just over three lengths third but the second, third and eighth have all won since.
She is favourite at 33-10 with her main market rival being 7-2 shot Township Melody who drops back from her second over 1 400m a fortnight ago. “I felt that was a bit far for her,” explains Justin Snaith. “She is doing very well at home. It’s just the 18 draw – she is going to have to come across.”
Also worth considering is Fresnaye (4-1) even though the Joey Ramsden filly has been off for over four months. She ran well against older horses on debut that day and is well drawn.
At Long Last has been off the course for more than six months but he might be worth a few rand each way at 14-1 in the last as Andre Nel explains: “He was relocated from Durban and had to spend 40 days in quarantine in George. He might find the trip a bit short but he is doing well and he could run a big race.”
By Michael Clower
