Speed Dating. The 2013 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur winner Sharp Design goes for his second win in Tuesday’s feature
Phumelela pay tribute to one of the fastest horses ever to grace the turf in this country with the running of the R250 000 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m under the lights at Turffontein on Tuesday.
The 2013 winner Sharp Design returns to defend his title and the race is loaded with serious speed. The superfast fleet-footed chestnut Tommy Hotspur caught the public imagination two decades ago, and the race is admirably run in his honour. The son of Harry Hotspur was trained by Gary Alexander and made a name for himself in an era that included the outstanding Golden Loom. He won his first eight races in succession and a total of ten races in all over 1000m, including the Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
His trademark dazzling speed out of the gates that saw him lengths in front of his opposition after 100m broke the hearts of some top horses and was a crowd pulling feature of his distinguished career.
Topweight
Well Weighted . The Gr3 Lebelo Sprint winner Jade Bay will be right there at best
Ormond Ferraris’ Sharp Design carries topweight this time around and is one of a trio of top rated runners in the race, whom we expect to dominate the finish. The consistent Highflyer Stud bred son of National Emblem goes for his ninth career win and a sparkling double in this race.
There are few horses faster than this gelding, but he may not have been at his best when going down to Miss October and Jade Bay last time out. Sharp Design is all of 3kgs worse off with Jade Bay and thus has a tough task on the night. He should enjoy the bustling and vigorous style of jockey Sherman Brown, who rides him for a second time, and he could run them off their feet if allowed to get an easy lead early.
Bay Watch
The Gr3 Lebelo Sprint winner Jade Bay is a fast son of Jallad who has found his best form at the right time. He won the Lebelo Sprint and now needs to find a kilo with She’s A Stunner. Jade Bay was caught late by a flying Miss October last time and has a nice weight pull with the Woodruff trained mare here.
Girl Of The Month
Miss October won a Pinnacle Plate beating Jade Bay over the course and distance and is edging back to her very best form since joining the Woodruff yard. She is 2,5kgs worse off with Jade Bay and her run as we went to print last Thursday on the Vaal sand should be watched.
Striking
Piere Strydom and Sean Tarry team up with the Toreador mare She’s A Stunner, who comes in a kilo better off with Jade Bay on her penultimate run in the Lebelo Sprint. Dennis Bosch’s grey KZN raider Noble Heir was the last female to win this race. She’s A Stunner ran a third on the sand recently and will strip fit on Tuesday evening.
Kinematic Countess is the second of the mares in the race and enjoys a 3kg pull with Jade Bay for a 2,75 length beating at her penultimate start over the course and distance. Corne Spies sends out the only 3yo in the race. He is the appropriately named Tommy Gun, a course and distance winner of two of his five starts
Bottomweights
The other three joint bottomweights have handy galloping weights to shoulder, but appear to lack the edge required to go all the way as quickly as the top three. Diane Stenger’s Midnight Serenade has not won in ages and was a full 14 lengths behind Mythical Palace at the Vaal last time. That is not good enough.
Dom Zaki also saddles Rodeo Dandy who was beaten 5,25 lengths by Miss October last time out over the course and distance. He comes in on 2,5kgs better terms and is a full 4kgs better off with Sharp Design. That may not be enough but Rodeo Dandy must have a place chance. Brian Wiid’s Crown Gold has also not sparked of late, but has a 3,5 kg pull with Sharp Design which will help with his 3,25 length deficit on their last clash.
Very Close
There won’t be a lot to choose between the top three. Sharp Design has a lot of weight on his back, while Jade Bay and Miss October are both in form and have a pull in their favour. That applies particularly to Jade Bay. Then we need to unravel how good Tommy Gun really is? The Gr1 placed son of Sail From Seattle showed his wellbeing two weeks ago with a smooth win at the Vaal. He is progressive and worthy of inclusion.
