David Thiselton
A Middle Stakes event over 1600m is the highest rated race at the meeting today which has been switched from the Vaal to Turffontein Inside and it could be won by the talented Dianne Stenger-trained Mastership, although he officially does not have an easy task at the weights.
The long-striding Master Of My Fate gelding was supplemented for the Betway Summer Cup, which gives an indication of how highly he is regarded. However, it was shown in his last start that he prefers a mile to middle distances. Last time over 1800m he was caught wide without cover but still managed to quicken into the lead in the straight before finding no extra. In the race before that he led from start to finish over 1600m and still looked to have extra at the line when winning by two lengths. He copped a five point merit rating raise for that win and off his new 96 rating he is half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the 107-rated Argo Alley, who, furthermore, has 4kg claimer Savanna Valjalo aboard. On the downside Masterhip has to overcome a wide draw of nine. The versatile Bob’s Your Uncle is also half-a-kilogram under sufferance, but must be respected considering in his penultimate start over 1450m he defeated a good field which included beating Aladdin’s Lamp by 2.05 lengths. It was admittedly Aladdin’s Lamp’s seasonal reappearance, so he might have needed it, but Aladdin’s Lamp not only beat Mastership in the aforementioned 1800m race but he then won the Betway Summer Cup Consolation on Saturday in a fractionally faster time than the Summer Cup itself, albeit by just 0.01 seconds. Argo Alley has won three times down the Vaal straight and should be a big runner. Both Bob’s Your Uncle and Argo Alley copped three point raises for their last wins and Bob’s Your Uncle has subsequently disappointed over 1200m. Dylan’s Champ is in fine form and won easily last time over this course and distance. He was given the maximum eight point plus one more point because the jockey was riding half-a-kilogram overweight. He goes for a hattrick, but this is tougher. The best weighted runner is the filly Gerbera and if she reproduces her penultimate start when just 1,75 lengths behind the talented Gr 2 winner Chronicle King then she has a shout. Last Car To Pass was beaten 3,65 lengths by Dylan’s Champ last time out over course and distance and is now 5,5kg better off, which actually puts her ahead of the latter on paper, so she can’t be ignored either.
In the first leg of the P6 over 1800m Dark Silver is two points higher for his win last time and has a wide draw to overcome, but he should relish the step up in trip. Kudzu has some eye catching recent form over 2000m and should enjoy the step down in trip, considering his last win was over 1600m, and he has Lerena up. Jordan’s form shows that he will enjoy the step up in trip and he has a reasonable draw of seven with leading jockey Craig Zackey up. Mount Darwin is perfectly distance suited and he is represented by a combination who scored a double together at the last Highveld midweek meeting, so he has a chance from a good draw, although he is off a mark three points higher than his last win which was over a year ago. Robert Browning has won both of his last two attempts at this distance and is a runner from a good draw, despite copping a five point raise for the last win.
In the fifth race over 2000m Peace Treaty is knocking on the door and has Lerena up, but he does have to overcome a tricky draw. Majalun is knocking hard and over a suitable trip has 4kg claimer Valjalo up, albeit from a wide draw. Take No Prisoners, who is by Vercingetorix out of Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace, has to be respected from a plum draw as she relished the step up to 1800m last time and should enjoy a further increase in trip.
In the sixth over 1200m Captain Efficient is a consistent sort who has a chance from a middle draw under Lerena. Misty Metal is off a competitive mark and should go close. Kotinos did well off this reduced merit rating last time.
In the seventh over 1200m Antonio Gaudi looks to have potential for progression and could be the one to beat. On their last meeting there should be nothing between Mister Wilson and Antonio Gaudi. Red Penny looks to be off a competitive mark having dropped from a 94 to an 87 and he was not far off them off an 89 last time. Romilly has been disappointing since an easy debut win, but he could be in the shake up if producing his best off a merit rating which has come down from a 93 to an 86. My Lucky Charm is interesting coming down in trip, being by Master Of My Fate out of a Seventh Rock mare whose three wins were over 1400m.
In the last race over 1600m The Mightiest has the form to be a contender here as he was second last time out off this mark over 1700m and his only career win has been over this trip. Amandla Ngawethu won a nice race in the maidens over 1400m and starts off on a reasonable mark of 72 over a step up in trip which should suit. Oklahoma Twister has two wins in his last three starts and looks to be finding consistency, although he does have to overcome a seven point raise. Guerilla Warfare has plenty of potential and is very consistent, so he should be in the shake up over a suitable trip. Gamer is capable of earning here.
In the first leg of the PA over 1800m Frangipani has plenty of ability and is a big player here. Blood Of Eden is knocking hard and looks to be the chief threat.
In the first race over 1000m Plumbago Park looks hard to oppose.
In the second race over 1000m Seed Seeker is a long-striding sort with scope for improvement and he should confirm form with Tempranillo. Look for some improvement from Stoneywood, who is a full brother to Gr 1-winning sprinter Dyce.
