Fresh off his Gr1 success at Greyville last weekend, and a big win in the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville at end May, Brett Crawford will be looking for a winning effort from his sole remaining runner Black Cat Back when he bids to register the R400 000 Gr2 Post Merchants double at Greyville this evening.
Wonderwall – copuld prove the value
Black Cat Back will give them a serious opportunity of a follow-up on Search Party’s win in the Post Merchants in 2017.
The 30th renewal of the Post Merchants hosts 13 runners under the lights over the 1200m around the turn. Merit rating bands determine the weights to be carried.
Superstar Legislate – how will he go?
The Snaith champion Legislate finally makes his track debut after a two year absence at stud. A smart Barrier Trial recently suggested he is well on his way back to a comeback of note – but this race will tell his connections where they are going with him.
Computaform Sprint winner Attenborough ran a decent fifth (4 lengths) in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and is 2,5kgs better off with Sunset Eyes who finished 1,50 lengths ahead of him there. Richard Fourie, who partnered him to the Gr1 success at his penultimate run, is aboard again and he must go close.
The Andre Nel-trained mare Hoist The Mast carries a handy 50kgs but has drawn wide and is yet to show that she can take on this league.
Flashback to the Langerman – Our Mate Art storms up on the outside
The disappointing 2017 Matchem Stakes winner Our Mate Art was slow off and well beaten in the Tsogo Sun Sprint at his first run after a three month break. His 3yo form stamped him as something special – but we still need some more delivery on that. Regular pilot Aldo Domeyer would also surely have made the trip from Cape Town to ride him if the felt he could go near to winning.
Wynkelder was withdrawn from his intended run at Scottsville on 6 June but ran a fair race in the In Full Flight when 3,75 lengths behind Bold Respect. He meets Sunset Eyes on a kilo better off which doesn’t look enough. But he has run some decent races and may be ready for a big run under S’manga Khumalo.
The Bezrin filly Too Phat To Fly was beaten 4,40 lengths by Sommerlied in the SA Fillies Sprint and now takes on a decent field from a wide draw. She scored her first stakes success in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes down at Kenilworth at her penultimate start.
Tooo Phat To Fly – bighearted filly takes her chances
Sniper Shot missed the Tsogo Sun Sprint due to a pulled muscle and ran cracking races with seconds in the Byerley Turk (behind subsequent Gr1 Gold Challenge winner Undercover Agent) and the Daisy Guineas. The son of Judpot is above average and worth including in a tricky race.
Alec Laird’s Pure Blonde gets the blinkers again after being scratched with a swollen near-fore from the Tsogo Sun Sprint. He finished 2,75 lengths behind Sunset Eyes at his penultimate start and meets that one on 3kgs better terms. With Randall Simons in such good form, it may pay to include the Gauteng speedster as a quartet kicker.
Unplaced in the Daisy Guineas, where he ran 5,25 lengths off Do It Again, Sean Tarry’s Wonderwall drops in trip and could produce a better run over a trip he looks to be more effective on. A favourable draw and the in-form Lyle Hewitson will ensure the son of Querari has his supporters.
Bishop’s Bounty – form not good enough?
The shock Gr2 Diadem Stakes winner Bishop’s Bounty is the second of the Snaith joint topweights. He failed to show when beaten 7 lengths in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint on 5 May. His current form does not look good enough to challenge here but the trainer-jockey combination suggests caution.
Rock Of Africa was slightly disappointing in a small field at Scottsville on 6 June, when beaten 2,15 lengths by Isingamoya after having every chance. Prior to that he had run fourth and 3 lengths behind Sunset Eyes in the In Full Flight Handicap. He is a kilo better off with the Crawford runner – which may not be enough to turn the tables.
A tricky race where the Gr1 winner Attenborough can also bounce back, while Wonderwall, Pure Blonde and Lafferty’s Sniper Shot could be the value. Go wide in the Pick 6!
