Willow Magic impressed after a break last time
Sean Tarry’s lightly raced aspiring champion 4yo Willow Magic grabs centre stage at Turffontein this evening when he lines up in the R250 000 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap. The son of Dubawi beat little of serious note at his return run after a fourteen month break, but the manner of his victory was thoroughly impressive.
The Gr1 Sa Nursery and Gr2 Dingaans winner Willow Magic was always travelling like a dream machine under Julius Mariba and drew off to beat the progressive 3yo Doing It For Dan in style.
In The Red
Sean Tarry – should have Willow Magic ready to fire
The 4yo Australian-bred Willow Magic defeated the now Dubai based Red Ray in the Gr1 SA Nursery as a 2yo and has now won four of his 11 starts.
It is early days yet, but the son of one of the world’s very best stallions in Dubawi, is already being spoken about as a potential stallion prospect. Hey, we are all allowed to aim for the stars!
It is expected that his main short-term target is the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes next month and this second run after a rest in the hands of Piere Strydom should be a positive step up the ladder.
Has His Problems
The joint top-weighted Valberg is a speedy 5yo with plenty of problems.
He made a respiratory noise when running ten lengths behind Willow Magic last time out –his first race in four months – and even with an 8kg pull in the weights looks pressed to improve to win a race of this nature.
That said, he could burgle a place.
Louis’ Duo
Goosen’s One Man’s Dream may need 200m further
Trainer Louis Goosen saddles the talented duo of One Man’s Dream and Doing It For Dan.
Piere Strydom pasrt company with One Man’s Dream, who will be ridden by Met winning jockey, Bernard Fayd’herbe.
The six-time winner has decent enough form but may find this level 200m short of his optimum.
He has won 3 of his last 5 starts and is placed at Gr2 level in strong company.
Just Do It
Doing It For Dan is all of 10kgs better off with Willow Magic on his 3,50 length second last time and his form profile shows him to be a seriously progressive 3yo sprinter.
Tiger Territory won Lightning Stakes on Thursday
Mike De Kock also has two in the race.
Tiger Territory was carded to run in the Lightning Stakes on Thursday on the Vaal sand and how he comes out of that will determine whether he runs here.
We suspect that his stablemate, the lightly-raced Moofeed is still a few lengths clear of the handicapper and he looks to have a decent place chance off just 52 kgs.
Very Fast
Corne Spies’ Captured Wind returns from the Cape after an unsuccessful bid on the CTS Ready To Run Stakes behind Brutal Force.
He is very fast and was not disgraced behind Unparalleled at his penultimate outing.
Former Dennis Drier resident Inspector Casey finished some 4,75 lengths behind Willow Magic at his opening Gauteng run for his new yard.
He enjoys a substantial weight swing of 7,5kgs with the Tarry gunner, but still looks to have plenty to do.
Sufferance
Eddie Sweat is in under sufferance
Eddie Sweat and Mod Barley are both in under sufferance.
Frank Robinson-trained Eddie Sweat ran a decent enough third on the Greyville polytrack last time behind the old soldier Uncle Tommy.
He was reported to have made a respiratory noise and it is probably fair to say that he has not quite trained on from his 3yo season, when he looked a promising sprinter.
The very fast Mod Barley has relocated from PE and is now with Paul Peter.
The son of Antonius Pius beat Moofeed by 2,25 lengths with a fiery turn of speed at his penultimate start but is 2,5kgs worse off here.
Big Night
Willow Magic faces a bigger task at handicap terms but looks the class in the race.
He is a confident selection to win.
The R2,5 million CTS Book 2 Challenge Race is the other highlight on a big money evening.
Sixteen 2yo’s line up from all over the country in what looks a humdinger of a contest for serious stakes.
