Being parochial can prove a costly exercise when it comes to horse racing. On the other hand, it could also prove profitable and Ashburton-based Duncan Howells has seen fit to send a raiding party to the Vaal for tomorrow’s Grand Heritage raceday, including last season’s Gr2 Daisy Guineas runner-up Secret Captain.

Howells has long had this race in mind for the grey who wrapped up his preparation with a good piece of work on Tuesday morning. “It may be that he’s not good enough,” commented Howells, “but he will definitely be fit.”

Secret Captain

The gelding has been something of an enigma, having flattered to deceive on many an occasion, leaving Howells in a quandary as to his optimum trip. He was a surprise winner on debut in a performance that stamped him as a horse with a future but he has since been up and down the scale without further success although he has turned in some smart performances, including runner-up in the Daisy Guineas.

After a particularly lack lustre effort in the Thukela Handicap towards the back end of last season, the vet was called in and Secret Captain made his seasonal debut as a gelding. It was a smart effort behind top sprinter London Call and with a handy galloping weight and a run under his girth, Secret Captain does look good enough to make his mark tomorrow.

One can never under estimate runners from the Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry yards on occasions such as this and both are likely to fancy their chances.

Elevated had some excellent early Cape form for the trainer combination of Carl Burger and Riaan van Reenen before being found out a little when up against the best of his generation during the Cape summer into the Winter Series. Sent to the Highveld, Elevated made a winning debut for his new stable and looks ideally suited to tomorrow’s event.

Tarry inevitably has a host of runners but of his five runners, Count Tassilo with S’Manga Khumalo aboard, could be the stable elect. The five-year-old has hardly missed a beat in his career, having earned in 16 of his 18 starts including victories over course and distance. He caught the eye at his seasonal debut when jumping from the widest draw in a Pinnacle Stakes event on the Turffontein inside track in one of his rare misses. He should be all the better for that outing an is sure to be among the fancied runners.

Geoff Woodruff saddles a trio of runners, all three of which are in with a shout. Zouaves is lightly raced but has yet to miss out in five career starts and looks ideally course and distance suited with a light weight to boot. Also among the bottom weights is Starrett City who has his third run after a break and was not far back to Tommy Waterdevill over the Turffontein mile last time out. He has done most of his racing over further but also looks primed for a crack at the lucrative first prize.

With 28 runners in the line-up it will be every man for himself come the final 200m but Secret Captain gets a tentative vote ahead of Elevated and Count Tassilo.

By Andrew Harrison