Trip Tease – top class on home ground
The R1 million Gr1 Computaform Sprint has attracted by far and away the most nationally representative field on the Champions Day programme. With every turf racing province represented and all the major flyers present, it ranks as one of the best fields in many a long year and should make for a humdinger.
Probably best regarded as the definitive sprint contest on the SA racing calendar, this weight-for-age speed clash traditionally attracts the very best South Africa has to offer in the blitz ranks. And assuming the going is on top and the rain stays away on Saturday, it will be a payday of something in the region of R11 160 per second for the winner.
Ladies First
Alboran Sea – top quality 3yo filly
The fairer sex is well represented with three Gr1 winners, with the standout being the 3yo Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Alboran Sea, who returns from a break of 13 weeks following her scintillating win there.
As a 3yo, she and Carry On Alice carry an additional 1,5kgs here. And the Cape Flying Championship may serve as a reasonable guide.
The Dennis Drier trained flyer Captain Of All came to fetch her there as Alboran Sea hit the front 400m out and went clear, looking all over a winner. She clung on to win by a short head with the Drier colt flying down the outside.
Jockey Weichong Marwing said of Alboran Sea’s run:
“Things didn’t really map out the way we actually had planned. We expected Trip Tease to show all the speed. He showed speed but his speed just wasn’t good enough for this filly. I actually wanted to be a length or two behind them and I was forced to open my deck of cards and allow my filly to use her action, which she did. She put a bit of speed into the race and spread herself away from the rest of the horses.”
On Saturday Delpech rides her.
Record
Captain of All – will strip much fitter
Captain Of All has had one prep run – a recordbreaking run over 1000m at Scottsville a month back- and should strip fresh and ready.
Carry On Alice was a further 1,50 lengths back in third and after an unplaced effort behind Inara in the Majorca Stakes on Met Day, she cruised home in a low key prep at the end of March and will be a serious factor back on home turf.
Tevez was 2,30 lengths off Alboran Sea in fourth and he also similarly won a low-key prep beating the gallant Promicing Polly 6 weeks ago.
Away Game
Louis Goosen – trains Trip Tease and One Man’s Dream
Louis Goosen’s Trip Tease was a further 0,40 lengths back in fifth in a rare appearance away from home.
Trip Tease appeared to lack for some speed in Cape Town and it wasn’t his run – but has won his last two starts, one on the sand, in style and looks ripe for a big strike with Piere Strydom up as he goes for a twelfth win.
His last win just a fortnight ago was particularly meritorious as he was hampered by the gate bouncing back at the jump.
Fly By Night was 3,30 lengths behind in the Cape Flying and this top-class mare is another to have won her prep race.
Bernard Fayd’herbe rides her on Saturday and it is worth noting that she downed last year’s Computaform Sprint winner Copper Parade at weight-for-age in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint at Clairwood.
Magic
Copper Parade -the PE raider won the race last year
Copper Parade finished 3,25 lengths behind Fly By Night in the Cape Flying Championship and the 7yo warrior was beaten 2,25 lengths by Sir Duke at Fairview in his prep. He does not strike us as being likely to pull off the double.
Normanz finhsed 8,65 lengths back in the Cape Flying after playing up in the stalls and being slow away. He subsequently ran third 1,15 lengths behind Tevez in his prep and comes in 1,5kgs better off.
Sean Tarry’s Willow Magic, a Gr1 winner, was beaten 11,50 lengths by the very progressive Dollar Dazzler in the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap last time in an inexplicably below par effort.
The son of Dubawi certainly warrants another chance and runs at level weights with Dollar Dazzler, who goes for his fourth win on the trot.
Dazzler
Dollar Dazzler – looks to have further improvement to come
The lightly raced son of Var steps into Gr1 weight-for-age company for the first time and can confirm his great promise. He is certainly fit.
Trip Tease’ stablemate One Man’s Dream is no slouch but ran ten lengths back in the Gr2 Senor Santa and has more to do on these weight terms.
Alboran Sea’s stable companion Tiger Territory runs off a 96 against some of the best sprinters in South Africa. He would be more comfortable in a handicap, but is a fit and game fellow who could earn place cash.
Roy Magner’s Greasepaint ran third in the Senor Santa but is another who has to carry level weights against some hotshots as does Isphan, who got deceptively close to Trip Tease last time but has a weight swing of 2,5 kgs against him.
Close Call
This is a tough and closely matched contest and while weight-for –age races are generally supposed to be won by the best horse, the top few are very closely matched.
Home ground advantage suggests the bang in-form Trip Tease and the outstanding 3yo Alboran Sea could fight it out. Captain Of All is all class and he and Carry On Alice could chase them home.
And just how good is Dollar Dazzler and could he up his game again?
