Dangerous! The Shark only needs to recapture his better form to have a big say in Friday’s Memorial Mile at Fairview
The former Gr1 winner Copper Parade heads a mixed bag of the usual suspects in Friday’s Listed Memorial Mile at Fairview. The barrier draw and genuine ability to see out a true-run mile might be the most pertinent considerations in this weight-for-age contest.
The elitists simply love them and expert guidance dictates that the best horses win weight-for-age races. This does not always apply though in a racing centre which is a last chance saloon for some tried and trusted mostly one-hit wonders.
Spirit Level
With all thirteen contestants running at level weights, it is probably best to start the winner search at the top of the handicap where the 2010 Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner Copper Parade holds sway from a 13 draw.
Trained in his better days by Joey Ramsden, the son of Lecture has only ever won two races since being awarded that 2yo 1450m Gr1 in the boardroom at the expense of the Mike De Kock-trained Kavanagh. The connections of the latter will no doubt consider Copper Parade’s subsequent t moderate track record some retribution for a tough decision. Not that Kavanagh ever set the world alight.
Copper Parade has not gone the mile since undistinguished efforts in the Cape Guineas and the Selangor Cup, but bounced back nicely last time to beat the speedy Apolo Grey over 1000m at his first outing since returning ‘home’.
Copper Parade is coupled with the other two Yvette Bremner regulars, Celtic Fire and Blaze Of Fire.
Spring Roll
Although no spring chicken, Celtic Fire appears to be edging back to his better form and caught the eye last time when powering through to be beaten narrowly by Bois De Var in the November Stakes.
He finished ahead of The Shark when giving away 1,5kgs and will be far more comfortable over the extra 200m here-particularly with the limited range of Bois De Var.
Blaze Of Fire hit form with an end-to-end win in the Founders Trophy and then followed up with two promising seconds. He is another who may have found the Algoa Cup too strong last time, but is a strong front-runner who could spring a surprise.
Jaded. The 6yo gelding Tic Tak Toe is battling to regain his better form
Life High
Justin Snaith’s powerful galloper Bois De Var is in the form of his life and has drawn perfectly at 2. The 6yo son of Var is at his best over 1400m and has most of this lot held over that trip. The extra 200m is an equalising factor and as he has yet to win over a mile, the final stages could prove nerve wracking for his supporters.
Dorrie Sham sends out Tic Tak Toe and The Shark.
The latter, a former Dean Kannemeyer inmate, is a promising son of Kitalpha who appears to have encountered soundness issues in the past.
He changed hands recently and has his third run in Port Elizabeth. He ran on well last time in the November Stakes,when only beaten 2,50 lengths by Bois De Var.
Settle
The Shark has been generally campaigned over the extended sprints and is yet to win beyond 1400m. His siblings are sprinters, but his dam won up to 1600m and there is no reason to believe that Wayne Agrella won’t conjure up some magic and settle him early from his wide draw.
The 1400m victory was actually achieved at the expense of the likes of Northern Emperor and Occhi Di Lupo in an MR 98 Handicap at Scottsville eight months ago and he would only need to reproduce that run to win this.
Tic Tak Toe is looking jaded and may have hit his personal career ceiling. He cannot be fancied to win this.
Jacques Strydom’s 9yo Surfin’ USA just keeps going and although he has not won in over a year, he ran a fair fourth behind Fabiani in this event last year. He has a tough draw to contend with and looks stretched.
The Arlington 1800 winner Parceval is one of the better 4yo’s in Port Elizabeth, but blotted his copybook when looking dangerous, only to fade late in the Algoa Cup when he finished 6,85 lengths behind Hill Fifty Four. Parceval’s prior form was top-class though and from a 3 draw, he must be a serious contender.
It is pleasing to see a top yard giving a winning opportunity to a hard-working low-key rider like Andrew Nienaber.
Mitch Wiese’s four-way coupling may warrant inclusion for the more optimistic Pick 6 players, but the rest have very little chance on these weight terms.
Top Feeder
We are opting for The Shark to defy the odds and return to his better form by recording his first win over a mile.
He should be storming through late to catch the free-running Bois De Var, while the classy Copper Parade and Celtic Fire may be best of the rest.
