The smart Light The Way gets the cheek pieces – a good run is expected
Bumper field sizes are the order of the day at the Vaal on Thursday where a well bought son of the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Miesque’s Approval looks set to come back to his best form in the day’s topliner. Trainer Robbie Sage has fitted the cheek pieces to the 3yo Light The Way and an improved run is in the offing.
The Scott Brothers-bred son of Miesque’s Approval was released to Patterson Racing for just R40 000 at the 2013 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale and races in the familiar red and black silks of longstanding Gauteng owner Colin Bird.
He should go a trip in time and is nicely bred – being out of a twice winning daughter of Fantastic Light. The mare won up to 1800m.
The lightly campaigned Light The Way is a winner of two races from 7 starts and is the kind of horse anybody would enjoy owning and training, according to his veteran conditioner Robbie Sage.
Good Buy
“He wasn’t an expensive buy and he has proven a fellow of plenty of heart and decent ability,” said Sage when contacted for a comment on the prospects of his charge in the MR90 Handicap for 3yo’s.
“He has been working really well and I expect him to strip fit and ready on Thursday. After losing ground at the start last time, I have declared him to run in the cheek pieces, which will hopefully have the desired effect of getting him away on terms. Gunter (Wrogemann) knows him well and should get the best out of him,” he confirmed.
Light The Way has run two decent feature races in his seven starts and has proven that he is not far off the higher ranks of his year.
He ran a close up 1,50 lengths fifth behind Belong To Me in the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes and seventh 5,50 lengths behind Ertijaal in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes.
Woodruff Duo
Geoff Woodruff – Anton Marcus booked for Deo Juvente
He will be taking on a decent Geoff Woodruff coupling, headed by the Jooste owned Trippi gelding, Deo Juvente.
The Northfields Stud bred product is out the champion ten time winning racemare, Circle Of Life, and impressed when beating Scotsnog on debut.
He has run three places since and ran on well for a decent enough course and distance 2,40 lengths fourth behind Zanzibar Man.
His stablemate Corleoni is also a Jooste owned Trippi and he returns to action after a twelve week break.
He was reported to be suffering from a respiratory disease, and it is best that he is monitored for fitness and wellbeing before being included.
Ferraris’ Two
Veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris – has two in the race
Ormond Ferraris has been in great form and he saddles two.
The Lateral gelding Milton is still owned by Cape trainer Bill Prestage and has failed to fire in two runs since relocating to the North –no doubt with the main aim of competing for the well endowed CTS Book 2 graduates race in February, where he didn’t show.
He is held by Deo Juvente on his last effort.
The second of the Ferraris runners is Ron – a fellow who has failed to make any headway wince winning his maiden three starts ago.
He was beaten 5,25 lengths by Light The Way at his penultimate and enjoys a big swing of 5,5kgs in his favour at the weights. He will still need improvement.
Get Lucky
Anthony Delpech – rides for Lucky Houdalakis
Lucky Houdalakis duo look unlikely, but the booking of Anthony Delpech, who recently returned from a suspension, is an interesting one.
He rides the former PE-base Rushing Lark. The son of Windrush has improved steadily in his three Joburg starts and could be worth including.
The second of the ‘Lucky’ runners is the recent course and distance maiden winner My Treasure.
The gallant Kiss Me Hardy is top-rated runner in the line-up and we have already publicised his trainer’s thoughts about that conundrum.
The grey son of Captain Al hit the rail at his last start over the Vaal 1400m and that run can best be ignored. This is a handicap and he lumps weight – so can only really be fancied as an outside place prospect.
Respect
The presence of Anton Marcus at the Vaal on a Thursday is a reality worth respecting and Deo Juvente could be ready to win.
We are going to suggest that Light The Way will have his measure and with his new equipment, will go in to register his third win.
The balance of the places look open to a bomb or two.
