The smart Black Minnaloushe colt Louis The King is all set for an SA Classic victory on Saturday
Trainer Geoff Woodruff and jockey Robbie Fradd are standing on the brink of writing their names into the South African horseracing history books. They approach Classic Day with what looks like aces on paper and could set themselves up for an unprecedented Triple Crown and Triple Tiara whitewash.
It has been many moons since a trainer and jockey combination approached the second leg of our richest series of races for 3yo’s with such heavy ammunition. Trainer Geoff Woodruff and jockey Robbie Fradd are the men of the moment and Guineas winner Louis The King looks all set for a big effort in the 1800m R2 million Gr1 SA Classic to be run at Turffontein on Saturday.
Second Leg
The R2 million Gr1 SA Classic is the second leg of the R7 million SASCOC Triple Crown and the honour roll of past victors speaks volumes of the level of ability required to win it. In a demonstration of the cyclical imbalances of power that occur from time to time, Alec Laird and his colleague Sean Tarry send out ten of the fourteen runners between them.
But on paper, Geoff Woodruff’s Gr2 Gauteng Guineas winner Louis The King holds his thirteen opponents on Saturday, while acknowledging that the possibility of a surprise is always there. Take the 2013 winner Love Struck who came up at any price and has never won another race.
Variances
The only likely variances or unknowns appear to lie in the question of the going on the day and how most of them will adapt to the extra 200m. The reality is that the Gauteng Guineas was run in sticky underfoot conditions and it is worth noting the comments of racing fundi Karel Miedema,who wrote afterwards in a pedigree review:
‘Louis The King’s race time stood out when measured against other races on the day, suggesting either top class ability or suitability to the going on the day – or both.’
Having won over the 1800m trip previously and judging by the enthusiastic manner of his Guineas victory, there is every reason to believe that the son of Black Minnaloushe will reproduce a run of similar standing over the trip on Saturday
Best Guide
The Gr2 Gauteng Guineas form is naturally our best guide as eight of the balance of the thirteen runners ran behind Louis The King on 1 March. Let’s consider their prospects. The placed runners are all from the Alec Laird yard.
Forest Indigo ran a 5,25 length second. The son of Judpot is a juvenile Gr1 winner and has won 4 of his 10 starts. But a question mark must hang over his ability to see out the 1800m.
The Tiger Ridge colt As You Like ran a 5,50 length third after showing handily in the Guineas, but has won twice over a mile. His dam also won up to 1800m.
Top Sort
Argentinian bred Bouclette Top ran on strongly in the Gauteng Guineas and should enjoy the 1800m
The Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes winner and Guineas fourth placer Bouclette Top was finishing best of all and he looks like the one horse capable of upsetting the form. The son of Giant’s Causeway has won 3 of his 7 starts and looks to be crying out for this kind of trip. He has not drawn particularly well at 12 but is a horse who can be dropped in for a late effort.
Mister Cricket was something of a boom colt having won his first three races with ease. He was prominent for a very long way in the Guineas but fell in a hole to finish close on fifteen lengths back. In Anton Marcus’ absence in Dubai, crack Cape heavyweight Bernard Fayd’Herbe gets the ride.
Average Form
Mike De Kock’s Taarish was 10 lengths behind in the Guineas and his form does not look strong enough to win this. He also runs from the widest of the draw. Sean Tarry’s Mercado stayed on steadily when 7 lengths behind Louis The King. He looks well held by Bouclette Top on his penultimate start in the Tony Ruffel Stakes.
Despite finishing 11 lengths behind Louis The King in the Guineas, Piere Strydom stays loyal to the Jet Master colt, Lance. Well drawn at 3, he could benefit from a patient quiet ride rather than his handy tactics of the past and appears to have plenty of class.
Excuses
Hillbrow has drawn against the paint and after running 8,75 lengths behind Louis The King ran a good third to Earl Of Derby in an MR 91 Handicap over a mile. The Sean Tarry trained Fort Bellini ran 8,25 lengths behind Louis The King after hanging in the running. He had won 2 of his 3 starts into the Guineas and is bred for this trip.
He was coughing after the big race, so may be worth another chance. The only runners in this race not to have tried the Guineas are Bezanova, Umgiyo, Silva Hawk and the newsmaker, Supertube. Bezanova is the fifth of the Alec Laird runners. The son of Bezrin won his first two starts but has not come up to scratch since.
Dark Horse
Anthony Delpech opts for the ride on the Mike De Kock trained Umgiyo, who could be the dark horse here. The one time winning son of Danehill Dancer is Gr1 placed but has probably been an overall disappointment after a cracking win on debut.
He is fit and has run on steadily recently. He will enjoy the 1800m and should be included in calculations. Silva Hawk has drawn on the wide outside and while he is bound to handle the 1800m, he looks to have some work to do as a one time winner.
Supertube is the horse at the centre of the Khumalo suspension saga. The Australian bred son of Where’s That Tiger is a course and distance winner, but ran below par last time out.
Progressive
The Guineas was a true run race on sticky round and It should be a solid barometer for the 1800m test of this race. Louis The King looks very progressive and talented. He is our selection ahead of Bouclette Top and Umgiyo.
A Classic Carnival
The Classic Carnival is again expected to draw large crowds and sees numerous traditional carnival themed activities complimenting the top class horseracing.
The growth in the Triple Crown series has been partly due to the organisers ensuring a variety of family focused activities, competitions with large prizes and mostly due to their decision of making access to the race course free of charge. Michael Varney, National Marketing Manager of Phumelela commented: “Each leg of the Triple Crown has been themed and after the success of the first leg which featured the Johannesburg Prawn Festival we are very excited about the Classic Carnival and of course the second of three Polo Vivos which we will be giving away”.
Apart from enjoying the live entertainment, beer garden and carnival atmosphere, by simply being at the Big T on Saturday, racegoers will be able to enter the competition to win one of the three Polo Vivos.
This will also be a special day for some of South Africa’s exported thoroughbreds who will be racing in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan which will be broadcast on a big screen for spectators to enjoy.
