Undefeated. The smart unbeaten Greys Inn colt Chekilli goes for five in a row (JC Photos)
Trainer Alec Laird looks to hold all the aces in the R250 000 Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes run over the Turffontein inside 1450m on Saturday. The 3yo contest will be a serious test of character for his rather exciting undefeated Greys Inn colt, Chekilli. But he will need to be at his best.
The race honours one of the great old school racing administrators of years gone by. The late Tony Ruffel was a former Steward, Chairman of the Transvaal Owners and Trainers Association, as well as a Chairman of the National Federation of Owners and Trainers(NATFED). He was appointed Chairman of the then Jockey Club of SA in 1981. His wife Joan made history when becoming the first female Steward in our history when elected to the board of the Newmarket Turf Club.
Classic
The strength of the Laird classic prospects will be put to the test here and the fact that the top class trainer sends out three of the nine runners is already an indication that the yard has some serious firepower this year. When questioned on his classic prospects recently, Laird gave a typically conservative “let’s wait and see” retort and he is far too experienced and has walked the road of counting chickens many times previously, to be caught blowing smoke. The Rosedene Stud bred Chekilli is the highest rated horse in the race and the fellow with by far the best record, having won all four of his career jumps.
Restricted
Chekilli won his Vaal 1200m debut with ease, but has since been confined (per chance or not?) to 1160m. He shows terrific pace and last time looked to have annihilated his opposition, until Mercado’s flying burst almost dented his ego badly.
He is now 1, 5kgs worse off with the Tarry horse and Strydom sticks with that ride. That must be daunting for Mr Laird! Chekilli’s dam Phillipa Johnson won her 3 races from 1100m to 1400m, so his overload of speed may well be just that. But on the flipside, he has looked classy and capable enough so far to suggest that Marthinus Mienie could get the best out of him over this trip.
Laird was pretty bullish earlier on about Bouclette Top. The Argentinian bred son of Giant’s Causeway has won two races and was expected to run a big race in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes, where he ran downfield. He has only had one run since when running third to Willow Magic and now returns from a ten week break.
Well Held
Talented. Gavin Van Zyl’s Heart Of A Lion tries blinkers for the first time
The third of the Laird trio is the Bezrin gelding Bezanova, who has gone quiet since winning his first two starts. He looks held by his stablemate Bouclette Top and made a discouraging breathing noise last time. Piere Strydom could probably have ridden Heart Of A Lion but appears to have stayed loyal to Mercado.
Repeat
A grey son of Toreador in Link Man won this race in 2011, and Sean Tarry will be hoping for a repeat of that with Mercado. Mercado is a course and distance winner who appears to have improved with the fitment of blinkers. He flew late last time when just failing to nab Chekilli and, as mentioned, is now better off with the Laird runner. Strydom will no doubt drop him out from the 9 draw and if Mercado produces his last run, he is a serious challenger here.
Coup
Corne Spies trained Olympic Owen won the Protea Stakes after running second in the Stormbird Stakes, following a betting coup that was landed when he scored a runaway debut victory at Kimberley. The son of Jay Peg showed good pace at his first sniff of some ground last time when going a close fourth behind the smart Isobar over Saturday’s course and distance.
Poor Race
Geoff Woodruff’s Rake’s Chestnut ran a dismal race at his second start when fading right out over the Vaal 1700m on Sunday. It was a mediocre effort as favourite and the soft going may have contributed to his showing. He jumps from a 1 draw and has a big reputation to rebuild. Gavin Van Zyl’s Heart Of A Lion gets the blinkers for the first time and won three on the trot early on.
The son of Seul Amour definitely stays the trip and is partnered for the first time by Anthony Delpech. Gary Alexander’s Mr Mulliner is a lightly raced Mullins Bay colt, who won his maiden going away at his fourth start. He beat Gold Bay by six lengths in a small field and is very difficult to assess. He has certainly come along the right way and he hails from a stable who don’t push horses on a whim.
Inner City
Roy Magner’s Hillbrow does not appear to have the credentials to prove competitive in a race of this nature. The son of Right Approach does have a course and distance 1,75 length second at level weights to Heart Of Lion to his credit, and is now 2kgs better off. That is probably still not enough to bring him into the picture though and his tardy starts and lack of enthusiasm at the business end in his last two starts, are somewhat off putting.
Staying Slim
Laird holds the power hand, but he must be concerned about the capabilities of Mercado in the hands of the masterful Strydom. The latter has a point to prove, and as Alfred Hitchcock said: “Revenge is sweet, not fattening.” Bouclette Top could be best of the rest, while the free running Rake’s Chestnut may warrant another chance from pole position.
