The progressive Solid Speed could go in again
Fitness will be key in the first major staying contest of the 2015 Champions Season. The R250 000 Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup is a reliable pointer to the Gr1 ‘Cup Of Gold’ at the end of the season rainbow and all of the major yards are represented.
Someone once said that sprinters basically train themselves – but it takes an equine brain and plenty of skill to keep a stayer on track. If that is true, we should be looking at siding with a few major players in this wide open 2400m handicap.
Treadmill
Coltrane will be piloted by Piere Strydom
Cape trainer Joey Ramsden gets them fit courtesy of his treadmills and he doesn’t mess around when it comes to jockeys either. He has engaged Anton Marcus (Disco Al) and Piere Strydom (Coltrane) and so has already poached a few psychological lengths on the opposition.
Striker has ridden the topweighted Coltrane twice previously and the two suit each other in many respects.
The son of Giant’s Causeway is a decent and honest stayer who likes to be settled. He will have come on from his quiet opening run when 3,65 lengths behind Solid Speed in the Highland Night Cup.
Stablemate Disco Al is a more versatile sort and the dual 2013- 2014 Algoa Cup winner ran on steadily last time when 3,10 lengths behind Solar Star in the Listed Sledgehammer.
It is a bit of a worry that he has not managed a win since October last year at Fairview.
Solid Sorts
Anthony Delpech rides Kingston Mines
Mike De Kock saddles a solid duo of Gr2 Urban Honey winner Kingston Mines and the slightly disappointing Raaees.
Anthony Delpech takes over from Gavin Lerena on Kingston Mines, a powerful galloper who should be eminently suited to the Greyville track.
The son of Archipenko ran an inexplicably poor race in the Gr2 Gold Bowly when 8 lengths behind J’s Outsider and enjoys a 1kg pull at the weights.
The beautifully bred Raaees has been rather ordinary after notching four wins at his first 12 runs.
He carries a galloping 52kgs and if realising his earlier potential could bounce back to give De Kock the double.
Lightly Raced
Dean Kannemeyer – enjoying a great season and saddles Solid Speed
Donovan Dillon and Dean Kannemeyer team up again with the lightly raced Solid Speed, a winner of 4 of his 6 starts.
The son of Dynasty has won both of his KZN starts, including a rattling good effort in the NBT Highland Night Cup. While less experienced than the majority of his counterparts, he looks a quality stayer in the making.
Paul Peter and jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe have had little luck with the draw with Henry Higgins but the son of Caesour is Mr Reliable himself and looks likely to be in the action when the whips are cracking. He has his 59th start.
While outgunned in the President’s Champions Challenge, his excellent second behind Wylie Hall in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes showed his ability to match strides with the better gallopers around.
Change Of Base
J’S Outsider wins the 2015 Gr2 Gold Bowl
J’s Outsider has changed stables to Dennis Drier after his scintillating Gold Bowl victory on Champions Day.
The son of Miesque’s Approval has drawn wide out but is one for the shortlist if taking to the tighter Greyville circuit.
Mike Bass’s Mountain Master was up with the pace for a long way before stopping late for fifth and under three lengths back in the Gr2 Betting World 1900.
The son of Jet Master faded badly in the Urban Honey Stayers and needs to prove that he can go the 2400m.
The Glen Kotzen trained Gone Baby Gone has been thereabouts at his last few starts and is a gelding who stays well. He just seems to struggle to put a win together.
Greg Cheyne takes the ride again and he could run into the places again after sparking late in the Highland Night Cup when a respectable 2,30 lengths behind Solid Speed.
The Balance
Heart Of A ion – what is his correct trip?
Gavin Van Zyl saddles the Seul Amour coupling of Heart Of A Lion and the year younger Sun On Africa.
Heart Of A Lion has proven a difficult fellow to place. He has shown nice versatility from 1400m to 3200m and his Gr2 Gold Bowl third last time would no doubt have inspired his entry here.
Muzi Yeni has gotten to know him and will probably ride him from off the pace again.
Sun On Africa had every chance in the SA Derby but was beaten 14,75 lengths by Legal Eagle.
He stayed on well to beat Master Switch at his penultimate jump, but this will be a lot tougher.
Justin Snaith – saddles Current Event
Justin Snaith-trained Current Event has drawn against the paint and while he stays well enough, needs to improve a bit on his current form.
He has had two runs since a break.
Unplaced behind Solar Star in the Sledgehammer, he ran 6,40 lengths behind Solid Speed in the Highland Night Cup and is 2kgs better off here.
He was beaten just under 3 lengths behind Kingston Mines in the Urban Honey Stayers on Met day and meets the De Kock runner on a massive 6kg swing. That technically brings him into the race and if he strips fitter at his third run back, he could challenge.
Frank Robinson’s Great Rumpus ran unplaced but just 3,10 lengths behind Wild One in the 2014 blanket finish to this race.
He was beaten 3,55 lengths by Solid Speed in the Highland Night Cup and is 3kgs better off here. But his form has been largely uninspiring and he would be a surprise winner – even on the 52kg mark.
Province
The race looks wide open.
Looking beyond provincial allegiances, Gauteng’s Henry Higgins and Kingston Mines look set to match strides with the Cape’s Solid Speed and Coltrane – while KZN’s own Medallion Man, Dennis Drier, could weave some magic with his new boy, J’S Outsider.
