Galloping Grey. Ilha Bela is set for a second tilt at the Sansui Summer Cup and comes in fighting fit on Friday night
The R300 000 Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes takes pride of place on what should be a terrific evening’s racing at Turffontein under the lights on Friday evening. The introduction of a new exotic bet and the presence of some of the world’s great jockeys promises to add plenty of excitement.
The organiser’s will want to forget the way the weather gods played havoc with their emotions at the corresponding meeting last year.
Thunder Struck
Rain came down all evening and thunder and lightning threatened ominously as the field loaded. The meeting was abandoned straight after the feature, as the track was waterlogged. A miserable end to the evening with an outsider coming up to throw punters a curved ball!
The race is an important strategic marker and happens to be something of a last chance saloon for some Summer Cup marginals. Oodles of interest and a cutting competitive edge is thus guaranteed.
The Victory Moon Stakes is not a leg of the ACTS International Jockeys Challenge, but is the final leg of the brand new BIPOT exotic bet, which is being introduced a few hours earlier at Fairview in the Eastern Cape. See elsewhere in this issue for more details of this exciting new innovation, which is bound to cut out a large percentage of the hard luck stories that inevitably follow Pick Six and Jackpot fans.
General Gone
Following the withdrawal of General Sherman, Robbie Sage’s reserve runner Menacing gets a run in the sixteen horse field, with Sean Tarry’s power attack reduced to four runners in the process.
While the race was won by a smaller yard last year, when Saeed Mohideen’s Zambucca, came up on punters, the race this year is typically dominated by multiple runners from powerful yards. Champion trainer Mike De Kock saddles three runners. His stable jockey Anthony Delpech rides the beautiful grey mare Ilha Bela, who won the Gr3 Joburg F&M Spring Challenge at her penultimate start.
She is just a kilo worse off with Master Sabina, who beat her comfortably at her last start, but it is worth observing that she was poorly drawn and left with a lot to do by replacement jockey, Raymond Danielson.
Good Luck
Her stablemate Rocco’s Luck was in dire need of his last run when fading late for a good fourth behind the reserve runner on Friday, Fulcrum. Rocco’s Luck is a well bred Australian import who has won five races, from just fifteen starts, A course and distance winner, he has not drawn ideally, and displays breathing issues from time to time, which will not count in his favour.
Patriotic Rebel changed stables from Brett Crawford earlier in the year , but has battled to get his third win on the board. Despite that, he has not disgraced himself with excellent Champions Season placings, and is likely to improve further here.
Icing
Gavin Van Zyl saddles Cherry On The Cake and the staying grey, Balse. The Strike Smartly mare Cherry On The Cake has won her last two starts, but has drawn on the wide outside and steps up a few notches in class. Balse would probably enjoy an extra 400m to show his best, and has also drawn in the parking lot.
The Master
GeoffWoodruff’s Master Sabina bounced back to a great course and distance win last time, but needs to find 1,5 kgs to beat Halve The Deficit again. If his Jubilee Handicap effort is ignored, Master Sabina’s form looks strong and he must be a big runner from his 2 draw. Trainer Brian Wiid is one of the game’s most astute horseman around and he has guided his 4yo Tiger Dance gelding , Tiger Play, slowly and carefully.
The powerful pace galloper has won 4 of his last 7 starts, and now takes a step up the ladder under the guidance of the masterful Piere Strydom. Well drawn and a course and distance winner, the opposing riders will have to keep a beady eye on Striker, who could dictate matters to suit himself out front.
Factor Tarry
Trainer Sean Tarry has lost a major part of his firepower with the scratching of General Sherman, but he is always a factor in these races. The promising and lightly raced Halve The Deficit found his form quickly in two runs since a long break and looks to be coming in here with a handy galloping weight. He is 1,5kgs better off with Master Sabina from his last start, where Gavin Lerena may have gone a few strides early.
Tiger’s Retreat is the second the Tarry runners. A winner of 4 races, he faces his biggest career test to date and his Emerald Cup blank effort is also best ignored.
Slow Starter
Randall Simons rides Baracah, who has not sparked since beating Spitfire Run in an MR 97 Handicap run over a mile back in August. Baracah tends to ruin his races at the jump, but the records show that he has run to a 102 in the past and has plenty of ability. The Black Minnaloushe gelding Serissa has won three races, and meets Master Sabina on 3kgs better terms than when beaten almost 7 lengths last time. He is joint bottom weight here and despite his lack of feature exposure, looks the sort capable of boosting quartets.
Big Weight
Ormond Ferraris saddles a duo, headed by the topweight Knock On Wood. The son of Muhtafal has not been seen in action for 17 weeks, since running on well for second in a Pinnacle Stakes over the course and distance behind Jet Jamboree. He ran an excellent second behind Heavy Metal in the President’s Champions Challenge earlier in the year, and looks capable of doing well in the hands of Bernard Fayd’herbe.
The Mogok gelding Wild One, formerly trained by Jeff Freedman, has only won at Novice Plate level at best, but did run a cracking second behind Wylie Hall in the Derby Trial, before following up with a good third behind the same horse in the Derby. He ran handily at his only start since the July, and should be monitored for improvement.
Alec Laird’s Gr1 SA Derby deadheater Royal Bencher has battled to regain his best form and has run two ordinary races since returning from a long rest. Robbie Sages’s Go Deputy gelding Menacing has been a model of consistency, but gets his chance in the big time through the back door here. He is a good sort nd lightly weighted, but needs to show he is up to the test.
Knack
Mike De Kock has a knack of getting his horses to peak at the right time. The Wilgerbosdrift owned Ilha Bela ran a cracker from a wide draw last time and comes in with plenty in her favour here. Master Sabina looks to have plenty of scope and looks perfectly distance suited. Sean Tarry’s Halve The Deficit is an improver who is adapting to this level and could be the surprise package. They just need to keep an eye on Strydom and Tiger Play out front. Let’s hope the weather stays on side!
