The withdrawal of the top-rated Shango from this evening’s R1 million Gr2 Gauteng Guineas has not made things easier for Pick 6 punters with a projected R5 million pool on offer.
With a net carryover of R1 million, the Turffontein Pick 6 – off in the fourth at 17h05 – looks tricky.
Frosted Gold – nice turn of foot (Pic – JC Photos)
And the fancied Shango, a winner of the Dingaans and one of a trio of Sean Tarry runners, will be missed as the son of Captain Of All looks a genuine classic prospect.
There are no visitors in Saturday’s feature to upset the applecart like National Park did when beating Hawwaam last year. Not unusually, Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock look to hold the aces in the opening leg of the SA Triple Crown.
The feature-exposed heavyweights of the likes Eden Roc and Frosted Gold look set to dominate the mile contest, but there are some progressive sorts lower down the ladder who could make their presence felt. One that stands out is Tony Ruffel winner, Ikigai.
De Kock’s very capable import, Frosted Gold was well beaten 2,75 lengths by Shango after getting going too late and he certainly has a turn of foot that brings him into contention.
Sean Tarry’s 2yo Gr1 winner Eden Roc was beaten 5 lengths in the Dingaans and three weeks later travelled to the Cape for the Guineas. He was beaten just out of the quartet and under 4 lengths behind Kilindini there. He demonstrated his wellbeing back home when chasing Topmast home under 61kgs last time. He has got to be better than his recent form.
Green Laser confirmed a few fringe performances and entered the classic equation with a smart win in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes late last month. Marco van Rensburg is back in the saddle and takes over from Gavin Lerena. It will be interesting to see whether the son of Gimmethegreenlight can confirm his progress.
Sea Cottage Stakes winner Green Laser (Pic – JC Photos)
Sean Tarry’s Ikigai demolished the opposition to win the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes and now steps up to the mile for the first time. On raising his rating from a 98 to 114 for that win the NHA handicappers said that he deserved ‘a prominent position amongst the best of his generation’ and has consistently run to marks well above his pre-race rating of 98 in his last starts. But those performances were all achieved in graduation plates and he was thus protected from any tinkering with his rating.
Trainer Paul Peter is in a rich vein of form and saddles a trio headed by the smart Byword colt Riverstown, an impressive winner of the Grand Heritage at the Vaal in December. He, however, looks well held by Frosted Gold on his Graham Beck Stakes third when beaten just over a length in receipt of 4kgs. On riding arrangements, Warren Kennedy’s engagement suggests he is the stable elect.
Riverstown impresses in the Grand Heritage (Pic – JC Photos)
His stablemate Astrix won two on the trot before being a well beaten 7,75 lengths by Shango in the Dingaans. He will need to improve.
Arapaho choked up last time and a line can be put through that run. He won two of his first six starts but his classic aspirations are still unknown at this point.
Fabian Habib celebrates his first Guineas runner with the super consistent Youcanthurrylove, a smart winner of 4 of his 7 starts. Well drawn at 3, and with the services of S’manga Khumalo, the son of Gimmethegreenlight steps into feature company and could be equal to the challenge.
Leopold sprang something of a surprise when winning the Secretariat Stakes at his penultimate start when beating subsequent CTS 1200 third-placer Vaseem. His subsequent start when failing to kick and beaten just under two lengths by Florida Quays was not eyecatching.
Mike and Adam Azzie, who enjoyed SA Triple Crown success with Abashiri, saddle two runners in two-time winners, Bohica and Al Borak. Both are drawn wide and look to have their work cut out.
Bohica is a kilo worse off after a finishing 0,35 lengths behind his stablemate at the end of January.
Al Borak was beaten 5 lengths in the Secretariat Stakes behind Leopold and even at 1,5kgs better off, it looks difficult.
Frosted Gold and Ikigai look to be the pair to beat but don’t discount Youcanthurrylove and Green Laser.
