The Burnards are looking for a repeat performance
Gavin Van Zyl saddles the classy Kahal gelding No Worries who will be out to defend his KZN Breeders Million Mile title at Greyville on Sunday. The rich non black-type race is back on the Greyville turf, where it had its inaugural running in June 2012.
Owner Brian Burnard has some decent horses in his ever burgeoning string and he banked the R625 000 first cheque in this event in 2014 at one of the last meetings held at Clairwood.
Skipping July
The decision to skip the Vodacom Durban July with the hardknocking 5yo No Worries looks to be a prudent one and he comes in rather nicely on the terms of this race.
The gelding did not show in the Gold Challenge when finishing some 9 lengths off Legislate. His previous third behind Wylie Hall in the Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge was more his form though and off his current race rating he looks ready to bank another big cheque.
There is plenty of pace in this race and along with No Worries, the forward galloping Bezanova looks likely to set the fractions.
He has drawn wide at 11 but will enjoy the ample skills of Anton Marcus to negate that hurdle.
Cracker
Bezanova
Alec Laird’s son of Bezrin ran an absolute cracker at level weights with Legislate in the Gold Challenge three weeks ago and a repeat of that effort would make the nearest thing to a winner in this field.
He is a consistent and fit horse and his front-running style looks likely to suit Marcus down to the ground.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Solar Star is an improving son of Kahal. He won the Listed Sledgehammer Handicap at his penultimate and then ran on stroutly when just 3,55 lengths adrift of Dynastic Power in the Betting World 1900.
Fit and well-drawn, he has regular pilot Stuart Randolph up and cannot be discounted.
Game
Wild One – this looks a bit short but a useful Gold Cup prep
Mike De Kock’s top stayer Wild One almost sprang a surprise after a ten month break (after being runner up behind Wavin’ Flag in the Gold Cup) when he chased Punta Arenas home in the Gr3 Cup Trial.
While his major target is no doubt the Gold Cup, he could be running on for minor place money – assuming the mile is not too short and the second run after a rest syndrome doesn’t hurt him.
Duncan Howells’ King Of Torts is topweight but looks to have it all to do at the weights after a lacklustre run of form.
The rest look to be making up numbers and No Worries, Bezanova and Solar Star look set to fight it out.
