A promising former Cape-based 3yo makes his Flamingo Park debut at the Northern Cape dustbowl today. Doctorow lines up in the R100 000 Kimberley Classic and if he takes to the sand he should just about win it.
Rich Approval should go very close
The Trippi gelding was sold in training to a patron of the Stephanie Miller stable by Drakenstein after showing very decent – albeit not classic aspiration – type form in eight runs for Dean Kannemeyer in Milnerton.
While we have been unable to ascertain if he has put up any winning sand work in his short time in his new home, it is worth remembering a Drakenstein owned and bred Trippi that made the transition from turf to the diamond dust with great success.
His name is Cape Siskin and he rounded a hat-trick of winning starts last Monday.
Doctorow has shown an ability to run from off them or up with the pace, and that versatility will assist him to overcome his wide draw – and he could make it a winning debut in the non black-type feature for trainer Steph Miller.
His stablemate Country Gent carries top weight of 61,5kgs and has lost form after winning thrice at this this track. At his best and up against his own age group, he could come back to run into the money.
Bill Human saddles the Miesque’s Approval gelding Rich Approval who has won two of his last four starts in good style. His form this year is very honest and he could prove the biggest danger to Doctorow.
Jacques Strydom saddles Eviction
PE-based Jacques Strydom hits the long road with the Judpot gelding Eviction, a two time winning galloper who has run fair races to stronger.
He has drawn nicely against the paint but is an unknown quantity on the sand. He was withdrawn on his proposed debut when accepted to run but racing was switched from the turf to poly.
Bound To Go
Sarel von Willingh Smit has the Just As Well gelding Well Bound in top order following his narrow maiden win at his penultimate start, beating Bank Manager who subsequently won easily – but against questionable strength opposition.
He has done little wrong in his three Kimberley starts since relocating from KZN and could be the dark horse.
Autumn Encore has been battling recently and needs to improve.
Lingerie is the only filly in the race and needs to improve to match strides with her male contemporaries.
Trainer Corrie Lensley was in hot form this past Monday – winning the first four races on that programme – and he saddles a quartet of runners.
Topping the Lensley attack looks to be the Daring Bid gelding True Valour, who has been thereabouts at his last few starts and is threatening to win his second race.
He comes back to the mile after chasing Opah Latino home in a lower category race last time and looks to have a decent shout.
The well drawn Teagan’s Boy ran on well at his first Kimberley start when hanging out but staying on for a seven length third behind Triumvirate last Monday.
He is well tried – his Gauteng form shows one win from seventeen starts – but has shown glimpses of ability to suggest he could challenge.
The fit-as-a-fiddle Bank Manager finally shed his maiden at his eleventh start last Monday.
He was a runaway winner but the class of the opposition looks dicey and we would rather let him prove himself before we suggest inclusion.
The fourth of the Lensley quartet is recent long-priced maiden winner, Dream Lover.
The son of Seul Amour may improve in this centre but his first six runs were nothing to write home about.
The big unknown is whether Doctorow can reproduce his turf form on the sand.
If he does, he should just about win it and is the choice ahead of Rich Approval and PE challenger, Eviction.
