Time Of The Season. November Rain is improving and is the first choice to win the Speedsters Stakes
It may be a new season but we are looking at the same old sense of reason. Justin Snaith holds a powerful hand in Friday’s R90 000 Speedsters Stakes to be run over 1000m at Arlington. His duo includes impressive recent Greyville July day winner, November Rain.
Snaith had to play second fiddle to Gavin Smith in the opening feature of the season last Friday, when Spellcaster got the better of the talented Indian Hawk. But Snaith looks to set the record straight here.
Best Game
The Greys Inn gelding November Rain kept his A game for a lightning raid into the big league on July day. And who would have thought that a son of Greys Inn out of a Strike Smartly mare, would be this fast?
With a good draw over the Greyville 1000m, he was never touched by any of his opposition as he powerfed home to easily account for the deadheating Merhee and Torra Bay.
It is worth noting that Merhee had won the Gr2 Post Merchants earlier in the season!
November Rain has won 4 of his last 7 starts and while 4,5 kgs worse off with icemberg on his penultimate run, when he went down by a half length, he could well be improving. He will be ridden for the first time by Wayne Agrella.
Suited
Speedster. Icemberg is another capable sprinter
The nine time winner Icemberg won two of his last three starts and has excellent course and distance form to recommend him.
On his Arlington Flying Five win, he appears to have all of Russian Mig, Sedge and South Ranger held.
He is a consistent sort and a must include on his best form.
Smith Trio
Gavin Smith’s trio is headed by the topweight Sedge, who has his first run as a 4yo.
The son of Silvano looks held by Icemberg on the strength of his two efforts in April and June, and last time failed to stay on when just under three lengths behind London Perfect.
He is the class horse in the race, and Robbie Fradd may have the knack of reigniting some of that lurking ability.
Never Forever is an eight time winning son of Captain Al.
He rattled off a hat trick, including a smart course and distance effort, late last year and meets a fellow like Sedge on 3kgs better terms after running just under seven lengths behind last time.
But the form is muddling as that is a different picture at their previous meeting.
Shark Support
Good Value? The Captain Al gelding Never Forever is capable on his day
Like Never Forever, Punta Del Este is a former inmate of the Dennis Drier Summerveld yard.
The son of National Emblem is a fair sprinter but has failed to set the world alight in six Fairview runs, and tries Arlington for a change of scenery.
He ran his best race for some time when third under a half length behind Vauclair last time and although seemingly well held by Russian Mig, could surprise and run into the plaes.
Tara Laing’s Protest Song had his first local run a fortnight ago after relocating from KZN.
He ran a fair third over the course and distance to Sandy Celebre, and now meets his conqueror on 6kgs better term, while clashing with Icemberg (who was a neck behind) on 1 kg worse terms.
Jets and Hits
Protest Song has had only the one run and his collateral sort of ends there.
He can only have improved with the benefit of that effort.
Hekkie Strydom’s Russian Mig is never far off the action and the six time winning son of Qui Danzig reverts to the minimum trip after an unplaced run over 1400m last time.
While generally regarded at his best from 1200m to 1400m, he did run a 1,50 length second to Icemberg in receipt of a kilo and a half in the Arlington Flying Five in April, and now meets the Snaith flyer at level weight terms.
Wiese Pair
Mitch Wiese’s Argentinian bred pair of Sandy Celebre and South Ranger may warrant the support of bigger Pick Six budgets.
Sandy Celebre has won 3 of his 11 starts and was touted earlier on as A Cape Merchants candidate by his trainer.
Things have not panned out to those star studded expectations and the son of Peintre Celebre appears to have breathing issues which have hindered his progress.
That said, he is very fast and won a Pinnacle Stakes in good style over the course and distance at his last start.
Justin Snaith. Another big season ahead
Sandy Celebre beat Protest Song (1,25 lengths) and Icemberg (1,60 lengths) there. But, and it is a major but, the weight turnaround is dead against him. He is 6kgs worse off with Protest Song and all of 7kgs worse off Icemberg.
South Ranger is battling to register a third win and appears to lack the punch to go through with his early pace. The Argentinian bred son of Southern Halo would be a shock winner.
The Var gelding Benedict won two of his first three starts, but has gone badly off the boil in his last three runs. He returned from a break of close on three month break to run a poor race last time.
He needs major improvement to feature.
Speed Call
There should be very little to choose between November Rain, Sedge and Icemberg and they are selected to fight out the finish.
Protest Song could be just about anything at his second start in the province, while Sandy Celebre is a contender too if on song.
