Favoured. Snaith’s Albert Mooney looks the part in the Ibhayi Stakes from a good draw with Piere Strydom in the saddle
Justin Snaith and Piere Strydom team up with the Captain Al gelding Albert Mooney in the first leg of the Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge at Arlington on Friday. The R130 000 Listed Ibhayi Stakes looks a tricky contest, but the Cape visitor looks the part from a good draw with the top jock aboard.
While trainers will be focussed on the 1400m task at hand, it is difficult finding a likely triple crown winner capable of winning from 1400m to 2400m amongst this lot. But stranger things have happened, and the aim will be to win this first leg.
Coupling
Justin Snaith sends out a solid coupling of Albert Mooney and the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner, Ottimo, for Fred Crabbia. Albert Mooney has been a consistent gelding who has earned at all but two of his nine runs, and registered two wins in the process. He is no stranger to these parts, having run a smart third behind Greenacres in the East Cape Nursery as a 2yo and returns a mature horse and a winner over 1400m.
Albert Mooney ran a cracking fifth in an MR 100 Handicap over the Kenilworth 1200m on Met day behind his stablemate and shock winner The Plunderer. He was giving the capable older horse a kilo and managed to get within 1,35 lengths of him.
It was a superb effort and he had the likes of amongst others, multiple feature winners The West Is Wide and Shades Of Indigo trailing in his wake. He looks well handicapped to win this event, and is a popular first choice with the cautionary that there are a few lurking just below the surface.
Specialist. The Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Ottimo enjoys the course and distance
Support
The Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Ottimo is a more than capable able back up for Snaith. The son of Oratorio won his penultimate start over Friday’s course and distance in flashing style, when beating Sedge by 3,75 lengths. The win has taken on serious significance as Sedge has reeled off two wins since, including a victory in the Fairview Merchants.
The Racing Association Stakes winner Way Clear registered a smart hat trick, before flopping as an odds on favourite in the Sophomore Plate last time. He finished fifth 3.90 lengths behind Double Nelson, and now meets the Bremner runner on 2kgs better terms.
Analysing Way Clear’s below par last effort shows that he did take a bump, but really just did not quicken in the end. He has not drawn well here , and is under pressure to show his ability again in the face of the Snaith threat.
Upped Game
Corne Spies’ Lord Jonathan finished 1,25 lengths behind Double Nelson in the Sophomore Plate and is also 2kgs better off here. The Group placed son of Var has upped his game since being stepped up to 1400m and won a very good race at his penultimate start over the Kenilworth 1400m in an MR 78 Handicap
Sophomore Plate winner Double Nelson gets the opportunity to prove that his win a month ago was no flash in the plan. He has been penalised 2kgs against the likes of Lord Jonathan (1,25 lengths), Blushing Peter(3,75 lengths), Way Clear(3,90 lengths) and Cavalar (4,40 lengths). A winner of 2 of his 15 starts, Double Nelson could well confirm the improvement and must be included in all exotics.
Improvement
The one time winner Cavalar won his maiden at his fourth start, and also comes out of the Sophomore Plate form. He finished worst of the five runners, and while carrying a galloping weight here is another who will have to improve dramatically to have a shout.
The third of the Bremner runners is the maiden Just Swell, who should battle on the best he has shown in his six runs to date. Stephen Janse Van Resburg’s Bishop’s Choice has lost the plot after looking quite promising early on in his career.
He has won 2 from 14 and ran a surprise second at level weights behind Way Clear in the Racing Association Stakes in November, and would have a semblance of a chance of burgling place money on the weight turnaround here. That said, Bishop’s Choice has faded badly at his subsequent three outings and will need to improve dramatically.
Galloper
Gavin Smith’s Blushing Peter is a pacy galloper who ran a fair third at his last star when 3,75 lengths off shock winner Double Nelson in the Sophomore Plate. He is 2kgs better off with Double Nelson, but appears held by Lord Jonathan who finished 2,50 lengths in front of him there.
Grant Paddock’s Billy Nadas has won once from his six starts and could be held by Cavalar on his last run when slow away and finishing 4 lengths behind Kantaka over the course and distance. He won his maiden really well, and could run a minor place at best.
Right Horse
The Snaiths think a lot of Albert Mooney and it is difficult looking past the Captain Al gelding from his good draw with Piere Strydom in the irons. Striker is some 30 winners ahead of the pack on the SA Jockey Championship table and he travels to his old hometown on a mission.
Way Clear is a danger if one assumes that he just had a mysterious off day last time, and could return to his flamboyant winning ways again. Ottimo, Lord Jonathan and Double Nelson appear the dangers.
