Very Fast. Mike De Kock’s Reign As Kings may need the run but is well weighted and must be considered a danger
A relaxing evening under the lights at Turffontein on Tuesday sounds like a good idea after a hectic festive season. The R200 000 Gr3 Lebelo Sprint heads a competitive looking eight-race programme that kicks off at 17h25 on the New Year’s Day public holiday.
While the field sizes for the first Gauteng meeting of 2013 are generally disappointing, there is no denying the closely contested nature of most of the races and the feature falls into this category with a ready case being made for each of the eight runners.
Champion jockey Anton Marcus gets aboard the Var flyer Valberg for the first time and the Dominic Zaki-trained 3yo is a tentative first choice in a race that will go down to the wire with blistering pace in abundance.
Valberg had won 4 of his first 7 starts by a combined winning margin of 14,75 lengths before showing his first signs of vulnerability with a third 3,25 lengths behind KZN visitor Showmetheway in the Listed Golden Loom
While Valberg had all of Midnight Serenade (0,05 lengths), Mannequin (0,75 lengths) and Gold Site (6,50 lengths ) beaten there, he is generally in arrears here. He is 1,5 kgs worse off with Midnight Serenade, 2 kgs worse off with Mannequin and 2,5kgs worse off with Gold Site.
But we believe him to be better than the Golden Loom effort and he could bounce right back here.
The picture is clouded with the two females in the field carrying the joint topweight.
There is some collateral recent form between the twelve-time winning Mannequin and Louis Goosen’s very fast Variometer. That dates back six weeks to the Gardenia Handicap run over the course and distance and won by Variometer.
The daughter of Var received a kilo from Mannequin and beat her 0,85 lengths. They run at level weights here with Mannequin having had an interim outing two weeks ago with a fair fourth to the very capable Sharp Design.
Diane Stenger’s Midnight Serenade is a hard knocking 4yo who has turned in some excellent performances over the course and distance.
Piere Strydom. Rides Polar Moon and is worth a length or three when the chips are down!
The son of Malhub would have to be regarded a serious contender if running to his best 3yo form and is a versatile sort who can be held up for a run or run up with them.
Sean Tarry’s Polar Moon has found his best form over the minimum trip after a seven month break.
The 2011 Gr2 Senor Santa winner won first time back in a Conditions Plate on the sand. He beat the ordinary Romeo’s Reward a short head and had Midnight Serenade (who received 4kgs) a two length beating.
Polar Moon maintained that with an excellent second beaten 1,25 lengths by Sharp Design, who was in receipt of kgs. That was over tonight’s course and distance and off 55,5kgs and with Piere Strydom in the saddle, who should be cherry ripe.
Paul Peter’s Gold Site is a seven-time winning speedster who has lost form at his last four starts.
Derreck David teams up with him again and the pair were in action at his last visit to the winner’s enclosure in mid September over the Vaal 1000m. Gold Site would have to improve
Mike De Kock’s Reign As Kings returns to action after an unsuccessful tilt at the Graham Beck Stakes two months ago.
He was a highly thought of 2yo sprinter who won three on the trot, and while his fitness is in doubt, must have a reasonable place chance under a galloping 53kgs.
The Australian-bred Royal Zulu Warrior has not run for over a year and a half after going wrong in the Champions Season of 2011 after winning 3 of his first four starts.
This boom son of Mossman was spoken about as a possible July runner that season and has been moved from the yard of Tony Rivalland to Kumaran Naidoo’s operation. That may well be with an eye to trying his luck on the sand later on.
Even assuming he is fit and ready, this will be a touch on the short side for him.
All told, a race where no quarter will be expected or given.
We fancy Variometer to bounce back to winning ways at the expense of Polar Moon and Mannequin. But if the budget permits, go as wide as possible as the margin for error is a narrow one indeed.
