Muwaary – won by a mile on debut and is highly rated
An Australian-bred colt described as ‘something special’ by his trainer Mike De Kock faces a few serious local challengers in the R600 000 Gr1 Golden Horseshoe to be run over the Greyville 1400m on Saturday. It is a race where the draws could count for plenty.
Muwaary is a son of the recently deceased Champion NZ sire O’reilly and has caught the eye with two wins from his three starts – the last a runaway win over 1300m at this venue.
It may be worthwhile quoting from Mike De Kock:
“Muwaary is a special horse, and we’ve aimed him for the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on July Day. He’s bred for a mile and further, but he actually hit the front in a Gr1 sprint at Scottsville last month before just being outpaced into fourth. He’s all class.”
Drawn at 13 looks to be a bit of a dampner for Anthony Delpech as he strategises his tactics, but the handsome colt has plenty of gate speed and this gives him the option of jumping and placing him – rather than risking traffic problems.
Seventh Plain – Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion winner
His biggest opposition could lie at the hands of the very progressive Klawervlei bred Seventh Plain, a multiple stakes winner of 3 of his 4 starts to date – including a scintillating effort in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion last time, where he came from off the pace to win well.
Seventh Plain will again be ridden by Anton Marcus and at his first visit to Greyville has drawn 4.
He accounted for the very capable Gr3 Protea Stakes winner Redcarpet Captain by 2,50 lengths in the Medallion and Gavin Van Zyl’s runner has a 17 draw to contend with here.
Arabian Beat – will he go the 1400m?
Another Gr1 winner to consider is Dominic Zaki’s SA nursery winner Arabian Beat, who has drawn 11, and has his first run beyond 1160m – also his first race around the turn.
Adapting to the conditions at a strange track may be the biggest poser facing young Craig Zackey, but it is heartening that Arabian Beat appears to be settling in his races – and if he finds the 1400m within his compass, he will be right there.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Never Settle was backed deep into the red on his debut but was slow away and green and managed a modest fourth. He made amends next time out with a fluent win and has his first run on the turf here.
He is said to be a decent sort and could improve again over the extra distance on the grass.
Star Chestnut and Lineker carry the Snaith flag.
Stable jockey Richard Fourie jumps aboard Lineker, who followed up an impressive debut win with a running third over Saturday’s course and distance to Rabada in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. He is well drawn at 6.
Star Chestnut has drawn even better at 3 and has won both of his starts in KZN. There will be a red flag though that the horse he beat last time, Red Hot Poker, was well beaten in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes at his next start.
Trainer Sean Tarry – saddles Escape Route
Sean Tarry trains the Trippi colt Escape Route, who has his first KZN start after winning his maiden at his penultimate outing. He ran on well at his last outing when staying on nicely for third behind stablemate Malak El Moolook over the Turffontein.
The latter was beaten by Chosen Dash over the polytrack 1200m on Sunday.
Stuart Randolph rides the debut winner Main Submission for Charles Laird. The son of Oracy is unexposed and very difficult to assess on that run, for which he started at 12-1.
Glen Kotzen-trained Hip Hop Dancer has drawn very wide at 16 and looks held by Star Chestnut on their last meeting.
The Michael Roberts trained Vous Et Var looks a decent speed sort in the making and after a runner-up finish on debut, came out and won his maiden very easily at this track.
This is his first try beyond 1000m, but he is drawn 2 and his dam went 2400m.
