Repeat? The 2012 London News Stakes winner Smanjemanje could surprise if he turns up in a galloping mood
A recent legend of our turf, and a largely unheralded ambassador for the sport, is honoured with the running of Sunday’s Gr3 R200 000 London News Stakes over the Turffontein 1800m.
Last year’s winner Smanjemanje is back for more, and looks to have an outside chance in an open race.
Trained by Alec Laird and a son of Bush Telegraph, London News won eleven races including five Grade 1’s and most notably the 1996 Durban July and the 1997 Queen’s Plate and J & B Met.
It was his great win in the 1997 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong though, when he smashed the 2000m track record at Sha Tin that heralded South African racing’s return to the international stage. London News sadly died in 2009 at the age of 17 from cancer.
Smanjemanje won this event last year under Grant Van Niekerk, and but for that memorable effort when he almost stopped time when coming within a heartbeat of winning the 2012 Vodacom Durban July, he has done little since.
Smanjemanje had gone into the July off two good thirds in the Champions Challenge and the Jubilee, but his recent form is less inspiring and he would be a sentimental selection at best.
The Saeed Mohideen yard have been amongst the winners in recent months and they send the 2012 Victory Moon Stakes winner Zambucca to post.
The top quality son of Lundy’s Liability followed up his sensational Victory Moon win with a quiet but extraordinary fifth to Wagner in the Summer Cup. Few people would have noticed him run on powerfully and sneak into that position only 2,5 lengths off the winner. The revitalised jockey Karl Zechner rides him again, and Mohideen could not have hoped for a more confident jockey.
Mike De Kock sends out a coupling of the fast rising Australian-bred Royal Academy colt, Rocco’s Luck and the old soldier, Ilsanpietro.
A winner of 4 of his 7 starts, the 4yo Rocco’s Luck has answered every call and faces his first serious career test here.
Ilsanpietro is a versatile eight time winner who always puts his best foot forward. He is likely to run a place again, and may be a quartet kicker at a decent price.
Fred Crabbia’s very consistent Astro News is well drawn with Robbie Fradd in the irons, and will be looking to build on his narrow Victory Moon defeat and his gallant fourth in the Summer Cup.
Gavin Van Zyl appears to have mastered the quirks of the talented Shogunnar, who comes into this Gr3 contest a one time winner.
The son of Solskjaer is now ridden with more restraint in his races and ran a storming longpriced second to Wagner in the Summer Cup. He then found Glorious Jet in a galloping mood when failing by a length to nab him in an MR 100 Handicap last time. Shogunnar is 2,5 kgs better off with the Gray runner here.
Piere Strydom rides recent Graduation winner E Jet for Sean Tarry from the 1 draw. While not a likely winner at first glance, his forward efforts in the SA Derby and the SA Classic when a matter of lengths off make him a consideration for the bigger permutations.
St John Gray’s Glorious Jet appears to be realising his early promise, but is worse off with Shogunnar as we observed earlier.
All told, a competitive contest where an upset result would not come as a shock. We would suggest Rocco’s Luck to beat Shogunnar – but don’t discount Smanjemanje.
