Top Stayer. The Dynasty gelding Paddy O’Reilly could turn the tables on Crown Of Gold
Stalwart Cape-based stayer Paddy O’Reilly returns to Fairview this afternoon for another tilt at the R150 000 Listed Glenlair Trophy, a race he won in 2013 when it was run for the last time at Arlington.
The 8yo son of Dynasty is based at trainer Mike Stewart’s ‘equine seaside spa’ out at The Dunes at Noordhoek and is a fellow who is talented – but has his aches and pains.
He started favourite in this race last year but his welterweight of 64kgs told in the last few strides when he was overtaken and beaten a half length by Tara Laing’s Crown Of Gold. Interestingly both went on to take their chances in South Africa’s premier staying race, the Gr1 Gold Cup – without any success.
They meet again today- at their respective 38th starts – with Paddy O’Reilly carrying a reduced burden of 61,5kgs. That means he is running with a 5kg discount – a winning pull!
He has only had two sprint pipe-openers since the Gold Cup, and ran enthusiastically in both.
Anthony Andrews steers Paddy to victory in the 2013 Glenlair Trophy
The very consistent Crown Of Gold won his last start in a Conditions Plate over 2700m. He beat Taarish by 1,25 lengths but meets Mitch Wiese’s Encosta De Lago gelding on 5kgs worse terms today.
Crown Of Gold’s stablemate Drill Sargeant has maintained a good level of form and he is 2kgs better off with his stablemate for a 2,50 length beating last time.
Jacques Strydom’s Badger’s Trail won a cracker on the polytrack on Monday and will hardly have caught his breath when he lines up here again under Shannon Devoy.
Formerly with Joey Ramsden, Yvette Bremner’s Le Capitaine was caught flat-footed by the good mare Deepo when beaten 1,25 lengths over 2200m last time. His turf form over ground is fair and he has a good turn of foot.
The race will be run at 15h40.
The Bipot commences in race 1 at 12h40, the PA in race 2 at 13h15.
A mega Pick 6 carryover of R 200 000 goes into the popular exotic pool, which kicks off in race 3 at 13h55. The pool is estimated to grow to a total of R900 000.
