Rake’s Chestnut is well in and Strydom rides
The presence of Brett Crawford’s Gr1 Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag will add plenty of interest at the Vaal today. The son of Silvano has the Sansui Summer Cup as his main target and while he will need the run and the 1700m will be on the short side, his trainer suggests that he expects him to be finishing his race well.
It is not often that a Vaal midweek meet hosts the likes of luminaries of the calibre of the Gr1 winning Wavin’ Flag but the presence in the same modest Progress Plate of the luckless Rake’s Chestnut and Mike De Kock’s Trip To Rio is also bound to evoke plenty of interest.
Genuine
Wavin’ Flag sets out on his road to the Summer Cup
Wavin’ Flag is a genuine stayer who finally put it all together with a terrific run to beat Wild One in the Gr1 Gold Cup on Super Saturday. That was only his third win, but he is lightly raced for a stayer and looks the sort who will still mature and develop.
Brett Crawford told the Sporting Post that the conditions of the J&B Jet Stayers (traditionally known as the Reserve Stayers) on Met Day, a race that would have been a natural target for the accomplished stayer, meant that he would have to give weight all round.
“He only runs off a 99 and giving weight away makes no sense. So our hand was basically forced and we thus decided to come North and go for the Summer Cup rather.”
Crawford confirmed that Wavin’ Flag had been based in Johannesburg for ‘some time’ and he would need the run after a 15 week rest.
“This outing will bring him on and I expect him to be staying on and finishing his race off,” he said.
Rake It In
Geoff Woodruff saddles Rake’s Chestnut
Slung in at the weights and a serious runner is Geoff Woodruff’s Rake’s Chestnut, who created a stir in Saturday’s Gr2 Charity Mile, but for all the wrong reasons.
The son of Horse Chestnut behaved like an enthusiastic recent finishing school graduate when crossing his legs just as the gates opened, unseating Anton Marcus.
His season debut, a 7,25 length sixth behind No Worries in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge told us nothing and the talented gelding now needs to start putting these hard luck stories behind him and start winning races.
He will have every chance on Tuesday, and with Piere Strydom up from a 1 draw, it is folly to suggest punting against him.
Holiday
Mike De Kock has three in here
The Drakenstein-bred three-year-old Trip To Rio followed his recent Maiden win at the Vaal with a game win in a MR73 Handicap over 1600m.
It is never easy for three-year-olds to win handicaps at this time of year, and Mike De Kock has intimated that Sheikh Hamdan’s colt must be a notch above average.
De Kock said: “Trip To Rio is a magnificent looking horse with lots of scope. I liked the way he stepped up to win a handicap after his Maiden, that’s a good feat in itself. He has the potential, he’s one to watch, but he’ll have to up his game even more if he is to play a role in the Graded features later this season.”
Fringes
Corne Spies saddles the possible quartet kicker, Kiss Me Hardy
Tyrone Zackey’s Judicial won his last two against lesser and returns from a 16 week break. He is likely to need the outing.
Corne Spies saddles the grey Captain Al gelding Kiss Me Hardy, who never showed when 8,80 lengths behind impressive winner Harry’s Son in last Saturday’s Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes.
The debut winner gets stepped up 300m here and has always looked the sort that will be better over some ground. He was ranked in high esteem by his astute trainer as a 2yo and he is the sort who could throw the cat amongst the pigeons if putting his act together.
Tough
De Kock has a trio of runners and it looks difficult for his other two to feature.
Taarish returns from a 28 week break following a failed Triple Crown exercise, while the well-bred grey filly Santa Carolina could only run six lengths behind Bravo Maya in a Pinnacle Stakes on Charity Mile day.
Confidence
At the weights and on his best performances, Rake’s Chestnut looks difficult to oppose and he is a confident selection to beat Trip To Rio and Wavin’ Flag.
We don’t expect any theatrics and it looks tough for the rest.
