Mike and Adam Azzie’s enigmatic Argentinian import Hat Puntano returns to defend his title in Saturday’s R1 million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile.
The 5yo entire has enjoyed a similarly low-key prep into this year’s race and makes for a fascinating puzzle.
Hat Puntano wins the 2017 Charity Mile
Hat Puntano, who is owned by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) & Mr Jaime & Mrs Mariza Vilela will now wear Black and white halved vertically, checked sleeves and a red cap tomorrow in contrast to the familiar blue silks of Drakenstein that he carried in the 2017 renewal.
Corne Orffer – rides Hat Puntano
Corne Orffer is riding with tremendous confidence and the Cape-based BMW sponsored jockey will take the reins on Hat Puntano, with Grant van Niekerk plying his trade in Hong Kong.
Hat Puntano is as much as 3kgs better off with Social Order who he beat 0,75 lengths in 2017 but has done little since swooping for his biggest SA-based prize to date.
After a fair third to Romany Prince he was shipped to the Cape, where he could do no better than 6 lengths off superstar Legal Eagle in the Queen’s Plate. That was to be the last run of the season for him and he made his debut – a quiet one- in the Joburg Spring Challenge.
Sean Tarry’s hardknocking slow-starter Matador Man appears to be finding his feet and comes in brimful of confidence after a very impressive Greyville Pinnacle score. The son of Toreador enjoys a rails draw but has appeared to lack a length or two in genuine class company.
Matador Man – can Tarry charge break through?
New Mauritzfontein jockey Gavin Lerena won this race in 2016 on New Predator and finished under two lengths behind Hat Puntano last year. The 6yo entire enjoys a 4,5kg weight swing in his favour year-on-year and has a chance if he can beat his unlucky 13 draw.
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Mike de Kock’s Noble Secret is a promising 4yo and is being targeted at the Summer Cup. He ran an impressive pipe-opener when under 3 lengths off Captain Aldo last time and will improve over the mile. A good draw brings him into the picture.
Captain Aldo showed terrific courage when going all the way and resisting a late challenge from Alyaasaat to win the Joburg Spring Challenge. The mile will be a different sort of test but it would be folly to write off the chances of the gallant 8yo.
Last term’s Premiers Champions Challenge winner Coral Fever lumbers joint top weight with Hat Puntano. The son of Judpot ran a nice prep when only 3,40 lengths off Captain Aldo in the Spring Challenge and will come in with improved fitness. He will no doubt be dropped in from his wide draw and is likely to have the Summer Cup as his main target.
Topweight Coral Fever – mile on short side
A wide draw and dull recent form suggest that Gary Alexander’s Champagne Haze will be a longshot in many pundit’s books. The son of Kahal has been out of sorts since his Tommy Hotspur strike in February.
Piere Strydom takes the ride on Bulleting Home, the first of the Sean Tarry quartet. The Western Winter 7yo looks to be past his best form and has not shown anything positive in recent runs.
Doosra is the second of the Johan Janse van Vuuren runners. This once promising 3yo has not quite lived up to early expectations but appeared to enjoy a more restrained ride when staying on for third behind Splendid Garden in the mile last time. He is yet to win over the trip and has proven inconsistent.
A likely pacemaker, the game Unagi is capable of hanging on for a place and showed his usual enthusiastic pace last time when only run out of it late.
Romany Prince – longshot
Romany Prince is another to have taken his prep run in the Spring Challenge, The KZN Breeders Million Mile winner is a solid hardknocking 6yo and it would be a dream result for the Ferraris family were he to triumph.
Social Order ran a decent second last year to Hat Puntano but is 3kgs worse off and looks to have a massive task on his hands.
Mike Azzie – goes for the double
Hat Puntano’s capable stablemates Arctica and the poorly drawn Full Mast can only be given outside chances at best. Full Mast is relatively unexposed and ran a nice race when staying on under 2 lengths off Captain Aldo in the Spring Challenge.
Arctica seldom runs a bad race and pays his way. The son of Captain Al’s last win was over Saturday’s course and distance.
Tilbury Fort was unplaced 8 lengths off Do It Again in the Durban July and has his first run after a 17 week break. He ran 8 lengths back in this race last year but is something of a course and distance specialist when in the mood.
The Australian-bred Infamous Fox won four on the roll before a disappointing effort last time. The son of Foxwedge beat Drill Hall winner Perovskia in the Thukela Handicap on July day and has shown himself to be above average.
It’s a tough competitive contest.
Many of the contestants come good at this time of the year and it would not be a shock were the Gr1 performer Hat Puntano step up and deliver the goods again. Matador Man has the ability, if he doesn’t give too much ground away. Noble Secret must be included in all calculations.
