Confidence will be high in the Dorrie Sham camp that their top-class Lecture gelding Memphis Mafia can go close to lifting the local 3yo Triple Crown. The R150 000 Listed Ibhayi Stakes should marginally stretch the smart galloper in terms of the sharpness of the 1400m trip – but he looks good enough to get away with that.
Memphis Mafia can take another step up
The Sham’s gutsy home-bred has hardly put a foot out of step since he bolted home at 33-1 to win the Listed Racing Association Stakes in October last year, as a post-maiden effort that had the cynics dashing for cover – and pointing the customary fingers.
A winner of 4 of his last 5 starts, the only conceivable hurdles against Memphis Mafia appear to be the trip – and the 3kgs swing with the smart Fly Like The Wind.
The two met in the RA Sophomore Plate over the course and distance at level weights last time, and a great ride saw Memphis Mafia gain the edge to win by 0,75 lengths.
Renate Du Plessis trained Fly Like The Wind is 3kgs better off and nothing was finishing better when he stormed home for second at that last start.
He also runs like a fellow who is most comfortable at the mile, but will have every opportunity to turn the tables from his 1 draw.
Justin Snaith – ‘fifty cents worth’
Justin Snaith is in town with the two time winning Trippi colt, Fifty Cents, who was considered good enough to go the Selangor Cup route early on. He never pitched for that race as he was not eating up, but his general form in Cape Town must give him a shout here.
He has not run for 7 weeks, but has shown up well in relatively senior handicap company around the Kenilworth turn at his last two starts.
Yvette Bremner saddles the place consistent Cruzcampo and the rather formless former Gauteng based Slinky Jack.
Cruzcampo invariablyn runs an honest race, but looks well held by Memphis Mafia, while Slinky Jack needs to improve on his two local starts.
Alan Greeff saddles the promising Welsh Emperor and the Visionaire gelding, Struben.
Welsh Emperor has something of a boom reputation but was solidly hammered by Memphis Mafia over the course and distance last time – where he failed to run on.
The son of Go Deputy is 2kgs better off with the Sham star, but he needs to find his spark – and cannot win this if repeating his last.
Struben has run a hat-trick of polytrack seconds recently and surely is overdue to register a second career win.
He does not look likely to achieve that feat in this company, but is worth quartet inclusion.
Jacques Strydom saddles Eviction
Jacques Strydom’s recent maiden winner Eviction gets thrown in the deep end after scoring at his fifth start over Friday’s course and distance. Even off his 53kgs, he will find this a lot tougher than he has encountered so far.
Corne Spies trained Paulus is one of the most well travelled customers in town but looks hard-pressed to feature here after a quiet spell.
He was stakes placed as a 2yo in KZN and could well burgle a place – as the Spies runners are always fit.
Memphis Mafia is the choice to beat Fly Like The Wind and Fifty Cents. Welsh Emperor is worth another chance as his last run doesn’t look to be his true effort.
The Listed Ibhayi Stakes is the opening leg of the R900 000 Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge which will add plenty of intrigue to Fairview racecourse’s Autumn and Winter racing programme.
The Challenge provides a lucrative bonus prize and incentive to owners. It consists of three legs and the distance of the races increase each time, meaning it will take a versatile horse to complete the treble and win the respective bonus.
Last year’s Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge enjoyed something of a fairytale start when Charles Lytton, the son of a teaser stallion, won the first leg.
He later failed narrowly to win the second leg, the Listed East Cape Guineas.
The Sophomore Challenge culminates each year with the Gr3 East Cape Derby over 2400m, which is run at one of Fairview’s biggest annual meetings, being Derby Day.
Diarise The Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge – R900 000 (Turf )
Leg 1: The R150 000 Ibhayi Stakes (L) 1400m – Friday, 4 March
Leg 2: The R150 000 East Cape Guineas (L) 1600m – Friday, 1 April
Leg 3: The R350 000 East Cape Derby (Gr3) over 2400m – Sunday 15 May
A bonus of R250 000 will be paid to the owner/s of the horse that wins all three legs of the Challenge with no consolation bonus paid in this series
