There is some serious heavy artillery on show at the Vaal today. A past Sansui Summer Cup, Gold Cup and Emerald Cup winner go to the start to contest an MR 104 Handicap.
All three are Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile entrants and with the big race under a fortnight away, interest in their performances will be at a peak.
Declarations close for the Charity Mile at 11am on Tuesday, just hours before the Vaal fourth race. The final field will be announced the same day.
Big Run
Master Sabina is the class horse
The 7yo Master Sabina has earned his 60,5 kgs topweight and while he hasn’t won a race since that sensational November day in 2015, when he had to survive an objection to hold on to the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup trophy, he is loaded with class and ability and Geoff Woodruff will be looking for a big run from him.
The son of Jet Master is no doubt being aimed at a rare Summer Cup double and is likely to need this outing following his 12 week break since a staying on fifth in the Gold Cup on Super Saturday.
He enjoys the services of regular pilot Gavin Lerena.
Pure Gold
Mike de Kock’s Gold Cup winner Enaad is another Charity Mile entrant and has his second outing since that gutsy 3200m win.
Enaad should find this too short
The Australian-bred son of High Chaparral finished well downfield in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge and is unlikely to threaten over a distance still short of his optimum trip.
Mike Azzie’s Deputy Jud is the third of the Charity Mile entrants.
He is another to be winless since his last victory – a cracking defeat of sand Trojan Uncle Tommy in the Vaal sand’s dying days of 2015.
2015 Supreme Cup winner Deputy Jud
The son of Judpot returns from a 16 week rest following a quiet effort behind Punta Arenas in the Consolation July. Ironically his best recent effort was over ground – a 0,25 length second behind Cape Speed in the Track and Ball Derby – way back in June.
An interesting runner featuring high on the Sporting Post ratings is the Listed Derby Trial winner, Bankable Teddy.
Bankable Teddy enjoys a handy galloping weight and a good draw
The son of the ill-fated Bankable comes in with a handy galloping weight and a good draw. His last three starts have shown evidence of improvement and he strips fit.
Trading Profit is one of the quartet of Mike Azzie runners and the 4yo son of Toreador will be much better suited to this trip after being outgunned in class company by Kangaroo Jack in the Joburg Spring Challenge.
Finish
Stablemate Easy Lover has drawn nicely at 1 and produces a good finishing effort without getting his head in front when it counts.
The son of Right Approach has not won in over a year but warrants quartet inclusion with his 52kgs – and off the expected solid pace.
Master Sabina’s stable companion Master Switch has his first run in 16 weeks.
The 5yo produced two not disgraced SA Champions Season efforts and was very competitive in lower handicap level earlier on.
Unlikely
Yer-Maan has no recent form
Yer-Maan has drawn wide at 12 and while better off with Bankable Teddy on their Liege clash last time, he needs to up his game and cannot be fancied.
The same applies to Crime Victim, Coltrane, Albion and Amsterdam, who have no recent credentials to suggest that they could threaten here.
With fitness questionable in certain areas, and many of the big guns stretching their legs, a left field result is not out of the question.
Class
It usually pays to follow class though, and we are suggesting that Master Sabina may be able to register a confidence boosting comeback win at the expense of Bankable Teddy and the perennial latecomer, Easy Lover.
Best of the rest could be the early promising Trading Profit who will be a fitter horse after his early October blowout.
