Sovereign Mint is very progressive
Match fitness may well be the key to unravelling the outcome of Saturday’s R600 000 Gr2 Charity Mile which heads a tantalising Turffontein feature programme. The race boasts an all-star field, but besides the fact that it is a handicap, some are also using the event as a prep for other targets.
It also does not dish up Sansui Summer Cup winners as a rule either, but this year may well prove an exception.
The Charity Mile is an open contest on all fronts and a glance back at the past winners roll shows that outsiders are not uncommon.
Geoff Woodruff and Alec Laird dominate Saturday’s proceedings as they saddle half the field between them.
The powerful Mike De Kock yard is an interesting absentee , while Mike Bass is technically the only genuine ‘away’ trainer – even though he has a ten strong satellite yard in Gauteng these days.
Fitness Poser
The presence of the likes of Emerald Cup winner Tommy Gun, SASCOC Triple Crown hero Louis The King and last season’s newsmaker Rake’s Chestnut are bound to add glamour and lustre to what is likely to be a closely fought race.
The issue for punters will be second guessing the fitness of Louis The King versus the possible return to form of Rake’s Chestnut and the adaptability of the exciting Tommy Gun. Then, of course there is the omnipresent revitalised factor of the powerful galloper No Worries and the rising star Sovereign Mint.
And it doesn’t end there.
Mint Condition
Robbie Sage and Gunter Wrogemann have enjoyed a four run winning purple path with the progressive Judpot gelding Sovereign Mint, who has handled every test thrown at him as a fast maturing and talented 4yo.
The Riverton Stud bred Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate (a bargain at 100k) steps into the genuine big league here and deserves to be taken seriously as a fit and form horse, who has done nothing wrong so far.
He won so convincingly last time out when gliding through down the rail inside the 400m and disposing of Illuminati with ease.
Well drawn at 4, he has plenty in his favour.
Raking It In
Anton Marcus rides Rake’s Chestnut
He gets 3kgs from the classy Rake’s Chestnut, who will enjoy the services of the red-hot Anton Marcus.
The son of Horse Chestnut failed to fire on his return to action in the Joburg Spring Challenge after a three month break, even though the betting market suggested otherwise.
Geoff Woodruff will have him fitter and he is 2kgs better off with No Worries, who whacked him 7,25 lengths in the Spring Challenge. While still only a one-time winner, he must have a major shout on best 3yo performance behind Horse Of The Year Legislate in the Daily News 2000.
As Marcus said after Disco Al won the Algoa Cup on Sunday – ‘good horses don’t look for excuses.’
It is Rake’s Chestnut’s turn to deliver.
Real Gem
Corne Spies is enjoying the season of his life and dazzling Emerald Cup winner Tommy Gun could make him proud at his first try beyond 1450m.
The son of Sail From Seattle showed a genuine touch of class and resilience in winning Africa’s richest sand race by 3 lengths, and while this is a different ball game, he would not be winning out of turn.
His dam never won, but his half-brother Calanish (by Lecture), won up to a mile.
It will be his first bash at the Turffontein standside turn and jockey Fanie Chambers faces some interesting posers from the 13 draw for this handy galloper.
Woody Quartet
Geoff Woodruff’s Silvano colt, Tellina
If Rake’s Chestnut heads Geoff Woodruff’s quintet, the remaining four are no slouches.
Topweight Tellina returns in the hands of crack heavyweight Bernard Fayd’herbe after a 14 week break.
The son of Silvano was five lengths off Futura in the Champions Cup, but many will recall his season highlight of a strong finishing fourth in the drama filled Durban July.
He contested this race last year but finished over 11 lengths behind Royal Zulu Warrior.
Crowning Glory
What a media scoop it would be were Piere Strydom to notch up his 5000th winner on Louis The King? Maybe we are asking too much, but racing is about dreaming!
He is an interesting engagement to ride the star, who comes out on his seasonal debut following a 17 week break.
The son of Black Minnaloushe had no luck in the July but ran a cracker behind Legislate and Rake’s Chestnut in the Daily News, but now has suspect fitness and 2kgs to find on his stablemate.
He is, as we all know, well proven in the territory and while the Summer Cup will be his target and he has drawn in the mine dumps at 17, it would be folly to discount his class combined with his champion rider.
Strong Finish
Killua Castle is capable on his day
Fourth of the Woodruff brigade is the Australian-bred Killua Castle, who ran on strongly for a three length third behind Royal Zulu Warrior in last year’s Charity Mile.
Well drawn at 3, he showed up smartly when powering home late behind Tommy Gun for third in the Emerald Cup. He has a few kilos to find on the Spies runner though on the change of surface.
Lockheed Jetstar is the fifth of the Woodruff runners and the lightly raced son of Jet Master may need the run on his return from a 17 week break following his win under lights on July day, when winning the Listed Thukela Handicap.
It is worth noting that he has won 7 of his 14 starts and is a course and distance winner who jumps from a 2 draw.
A Worry
After winning 2 from 21 starts, Gavin Van Zyl’s No Worries has won another 2 of his last 4 outings, including a rattling good effort to capture the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge last time.
Jockey Keagan De Melo appears to have been at the root of No Worries confidence and the young man is aboard again on Saturday.
His recent feature win makes him one of the few fit and in-form sorts in the race. Against this gallant galloper will be a terrible 19 draw.
He also meets Mike Bass’ Midnight Run on 2kgs worse terms following a defeat of 0,25 in the Spring Challenge.
While Midnight Run was campaigned by his former trainer at mainly sprints, Bass has stepped the Captain Al gelding out of his comfort zone. He first tried him on sand and that resulted ina 7 length fourth to Anger in the August Stakes.
He showed good pace in the 1450m Spring Challenge and the fact that Delpech rides him again (besides the obvious that De Kock has no runner) is an indicator that they are confident that he may go the mile. His dam won once up to Saturday’s trip.
Laird Trio
Bezanova enjoyed a confidence boosting win last time
Alec Laird saddles a trio of Bezanova, As You Like and the Argentinian-bred Bouclette Top.
Weichong Marwing stays with Bezanova who produced a gutsy course and distance win last time out in lesser company. The son of Bezrin was a few lengths off the best of his year last season.
As You Like has drawn wide out at 18 and should need a run or two after a 22 week break.
Bouclette Top was a touch disappointing last season after starting off well. He ran on smartly at his return run three weeks ago and may yet develop into a decent sort over more ground.
Mike Azzie’s Brooks-Club is a multiple course and distance winner and a capable racer on his day. He did not feature in the Emerald Cup and may enjoy the return to turf. He will strip fit.
Beaten Emerald Cup favourite Jet Jamboree gets a chance on turf again. On his pre-gelding best turf form, worthy of a quartet inclusion.
Class Prevails
It is a tough race.
Class will usually prevail and if Rake’s Chestnut is anywhere near his best, he could bounce back to winning form.
But dare we discount the fast improving Sovereign Mint who has won his way through with such authority?
Then Tommy Gun is tough as teak and No Worries has new found consistency. And what of the Triple Crown champion Louis The King?
Everybody Wins
Each of the 16 horses in the Gr2 Charity Mile field will run for a charity with a total of R550 000 to be shared between them. The charity linked to the winner will receive R100 000 down to R20 000 for the charities represented by the last five horses past the post.
