Trip Tease – lines up for win number 14 today
Superstar sand sprinter Trip Tease lumbers a trainstopping 63,5kgs as he goes to post for the R150 000 Listed Hampton Handicap at the Vaal today. But Louis Goosen’s son of Trippi is so hot over the track and trip that he gets our vote to register his ninth win from ten 1000m sand jumps, despite the handicap terms.
The Goosen flagbearer is a giant at the Vaal and he probably has his final outing there before heading South for the Cape Summer Of Champions season.
Lots Of Merit
He is one of five runners in the field of ten, representing Louis Goosen Racing, and the race provides something of a minor acid test after a spate of Pinnacle Stakes outings.
Interestingly his merit rating has stuck on the 114 he achieved way back in early January when beating Trip To Heaven and Tiger Territory in the Gr3 Lebelo Sprint. That’s a tribute to the considered approach of his trainer.
Doing It For Dan – will be right thre
Of the balance of the Goosen quintet, Doing It For Dan looks to be best.
The son of Windrush finished some 7 lengths back in the 1200m August Stakes behind Roman Carnival and appears at his best over the minimum trip. There will not be a lot between him and his illustrious neighbour at the 5kg weight pull.
One Man’s Dream had consistent form before the Computaform Sprint, where he was outgunned and ran twelve lengths behind.
The son of Greys Inn looks likely to need the run after a 22 week break.
Flamingo Win
Varbration wins his last start at Flamingo
Varbration was partnered by Andrew Fortune when he travelled to Flamingo Park to win the WSB Sprint early in the new season.
The son of Var is not the soundest galloper in town and will find this tougher.
Wishful Heart was reported coughing when going down 12,55 lengths to Brad’s Surge last time.
His penultimate effort when getting 7,5kgs and beaten 3,50 lengths by Trip Tease suggests he will get closer this time – with 4kgs more in his favour.
Mike De Kock’s Tiger Territory is a top horse at this course and distance and returns from a short break of eight weeks, following his Super Saturday unplaced run.
He is a bit of a slow starter and will not be able to give Trip Tease any leeway.
Rest
Victorious ticks a lot of boxes on his best earlier form and despite a break of ten weeks and a flat last effort behind Flag Of France, he comes into the picture on 52kgs – that means he gets an 11.5kg start on Trip Tease.
Sean Tarry – remarkable job with Across The Ice
Roy Magner’s consistent Kahal gelding Greasepaint has beaten Varbration on the turf and returns to the sand. A winner of 6 of his 31 starts, he has never been in better form and will be giving every assistance from the saddle by Gavin Lerena, who knows him well.
Sean Tarry’s 9yo Across The Ice is an eleven-time winner and has his 69th start. On very best form, he has the weight turnaround to give Trip Tease a serious fright. But we can only wonder how much enthusiasm he still has for the competition.
Salute The Sun finished 6,50 lengths behind Trip Tease last time but is a healthy 6,50kgs better off with the Goosen runner. He does not look to be in the same class though and will need to have things go his way.
Caution
Piere Strydom suggested caution in view of the weight impost and the handicap conditions levelling things out in favour of his opposition.
But Trip Tease is all heart, courage and ability and he looks set to book his Cape Town ticket with another gutsy win.
