Consistent. The Strike Smartly gelding Wild Type is never far off the action and could make an overdue return to the winner’s enclosure
With the national racing programme in cruise mode over this period, a R115 000 Pinnacle Stakes to be run over 1200m at Scottsville on Sunday takes feature billing on a quiet weekend. The race has attracted a quality field and certainly won’t lack for substance in the entertainment department.
We often refer to the bread and butter fare that keeps the racing wheels of commerce and endeavour grinding, while the programme goes into the inevitable doldrums. Frankly this weekend must rank as one of the quietest of the year. We cannot, we suppose, eat a lamb roast every day, but the opportunity still exists to enjoy the racing and hopefully bank some smart money.
Class Captain
Despite the lack of Group or Listed racing, we have a high quality Pinnacle Stakes scheduled on a sleepy Sunday in the Capital City of KwaZulu Natal. With the highest rated runner carrying a merit rating of 114, there is nothing to fret about as regards class, or a lack of it.
While Charles Laird’s Northern Emperor looks handicapped to just about win this event on paper, he ran a shocker in the Gr1 Gold Golden Horse Sprint when running a distant stone last of the runners that actually jumped. (Cape Royal walked out of the stalls). In defence of Northern Emperor, he was reported not striding out there and may deserve another chance, despite returning from a three month break.
He is certainly a classy and talented fellow. He is by Coolmore’s Danehill stallion Holy Roman Emperor, who was a Champion 2yo in France and a winner of the Gr1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in record time as well as the Gr1 Phoenix Stakes & G2 Railway Stakes. He was Timeform’s highest rated 2yo ever by Danehill and stands in Ireland for a 2013 fee of €20 000.
Wild Boy
A horse that has caught the eye in recent starts is Gavin Van Zyl’s 7yo Strike Smartly gelding Wild Type, who in direct contrast to Northern Emperor, ran a cracker in the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe. That high class affair was run over Sunday’s course and distance and Wild Type was off the pace early on, before running on strongly at the finish to get within a length of Contador.
Wild Type was carrying 55kgs there and appears to hold both Mike’s Choice and Northern Emperor on that. He has had three runs since and impressed in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint last time when staying on well for a 4,60 length fifth to All Is Secret. He finished under three lengths behind a slightly below par What A Winter at level weights there.
Opponent
Northern Emperor, as already mentioned, may be Wild Type’s biggest opposition with a solid record of 7 wins from 14 starts. The Jet Master gelding Sports Coach is a stablemate to Northern Emperor. He returns from a close on year break from action. The talented 6yo has had a chequered career thanks to his unsoundness and may be found wanting at the business end.
Howells Hope
High Flyer. Duncan Howells’ Regal Eagle is yet to run a poor race and will be right there on his best form
Duncan Howells will no doubt rate his chances of taking home some serious money with a smart coupling of Regal Eagle and Guantanamera. The Silvano gelding Regal Eagle is by far the most progressive sort in the race as a four time winning 4yo. He is a course and distance winner who has earned at all of his seven starts, and ran a cracker last time when third and just over 2 lengths behind Desert Sheik in the non black type eThekwini Sprint. Regal Eagle is still improving and ranks a top three choice in this field.
Interestingly Alec Forbes rides his stablemate Guantanamera, with Craig Zackey taking the weight off Regal Eagle’s back. Guantanamera ran a good race in the Umngeni Handicap when finishing marginally behind Showmetheway after running handily and hanging. He is a half kilo worse off with the Dixon runner on Sunday, but that should not make a major difference. Guantanamera has never won over anything further than 1000m, and his stablemate is preferred.
Direction
The Mark Dixon trained Showmetheway is a course and distance winner, who appears to be edging back to his better form. He stayed on well last time when finishing under a length third behind Jade Bay in the Umngeni Handicap after running very handily. The son of Muhtafal has failed to reach the heights of his five run winning purple patch of this time last year, but could be one of those seasonal lights.
Take Your Choice
The Michael Roberts trained Tamburlaine gelding Mike’s Choice is another 7yo, but one that has not been himself for some time now. He enjoys the benefit of a 4kg claiming apprentice aboard and showed a glimmer of improvement when staying on quite well for just under four lengths off the action in the recent Umngeni Handicap. Mike’s Choice is capable of running a place, but it is difficult seeing him winning this event.
Girl Power
Sean Tarry’s Jackodore is the only representative of the fairer sex in the race. The smart Toreador mare has won 6 of her 19 starts, and is a former winner of the Gr2 Joburg Merchants, where she had the likes of Mike’s Choice and Guantanamera beaten. She is fit and in form and has the credentials to challenge with Anthony Delpech up.
Dennis Drier’s Phantom Fighter comes in on a paperweight 49kgs, but is a shadow of the promising youngster of yesterday. He won the Gr3 Byerley Turk over two years ago and has failed to earn another win since. He may have a place chance at best and must be respected as a stakes winner.
Consider Yourself
We can consider our options in this event in various ways. On paper, Northern Emperor could be the right one. On upward mobility and scope, it is Regal Eagle. But Wild Type may have them both beaten. He is no spring chicken as a recently turned 7yo, but looks overdue to win again. He will get a solid gallop all the way here and will be running on at them late.
