R25.00 No. 1698
MONDAY 24th - THURSDAY 27th JANUARY 2011
ISSN 1023 / 6996
5
FLAMINGO PARK ..... 12:30pm
(Monday) p.6
CLAIRWOOD ........... 12:50pm
(Tuesday) p.15
TURFFONTEIN
NIGHT
.... 5:40pm
(Tuesday) p.27
ARLINGTON ............. 12:45pm
(Wednesday) p.34
CLAIRWOOD ........... 12:50pm
(Thursday) p.40
Intellectual - goes well over 1000m at Clairwood.
African Holly Handicap over 1000m at Clairwood on Thursday
The highlight in Midweek is the non black type African Holly Handicap over 1000m at the garden course on Thursday. Thirteen of the original 23 entries have stood their ground and with most having good recent form, it’s not a race to go short in, writes STEVE FURNISH
H
eading the weights is the 7yo son of Spaceship, Intellectual. In command of a very powerful turn of foot on his day, Herman Brown’s charge has gained five of his six career wins over 1000m and interestingly, three of those successes were over today’s course and distance. He was unable to get his head in front in eight starts during 2010, but he did run a very creditable second in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint in May and he does appear to be coming to hand following a break in December. He has his third run after the rest here and having been dropped some four points in the handicap in recent outings, has to be a runner if now at his peak.
Stable Companion Herman Brown is also represented by Jinzo, and it is worth noting that this one beat his stable companion fair and square when a runner up on 1kg more favourable terms in the Gr3 Lebelo Sprint over today’s distance at Turffontein last time out. Jinzo also goes very well over today’s trip. There should again be little between them.
Bart’s Trio The highest rated of trainer Bart Rice’s three runners is The Walrus. More often than not seen out over further, this son of Divine Act completed a smart hattrick over a minimum of 1200m during the back end of last season, but he did gain his latest win over today’s distance. He was cramped 150m out when beaten by Take Over Target in his penultimate start and he was out
at the weights when unable to get in a blow last time out. He has a shout. It’s not easy to determine just who is the stable elect here though. The talented Glen Hatt rides Lune De Miele and prior to his effort when even worse out at the weights in that race won by Exclaim’n’exclude, he had been showing good improvement. Lune De Miele is in under sufferance again here though. Chigger Yellem has gained four of his five career wins over 1000m and his latest victory was over today’s course and distance. It’s been over a year since that most recent success though, and shown little mercy by the handicapper in the interim, he has been battling to make his presence felt.
tance when winning the listed Golden Loom Handicap at Turffontein in November and was clearly at the top of his game. He’s been rested for two and a half months since then, but he goes well for apprentice Jordaan and if fully tuned up should be thereabouts again. The only female in the race, Share The Silver was also at the top of her game prior to being given a short break, and she too was ridden by apprentice Jordaan when winning last time out. Being the more lightly raced of the two, Share The Silver has the greater scope for further improvement and it is interesting that Anthony Delpech has been booked to ride.
Kom’s Coupling
the sand to the turf here, she could win. Stable Companion Go Go Loochee finished last of the four in that race won by Countless Times, but then he was making his debut in that event. He’s shown flashes of real ability and he did finish in front of Furious Dancer when seventh in the Gr1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville in May. He won comfortably over today’s distance last time out and could still improve plenty.
Michael’s Bid Sparingly raced since making a winning debut way back in April ’08, Tirade has gained all four of his wins over 1000m. He was only able to make the frame once in his last four starts before this current six months absence and although he has done well racing fresh, there has to be concerns. Since completing a very gutsy hattrick over today’s distance last February, Indecent Obsession has been unable to fill a place in the Trifecta in seven starts. He too returns from a break here and is perhaps best just watched for now.
The highest rated of Kumaran Naidoo’s two 3yo’s is the lightly raced Furious Dancer. Her best effort to date on turf came when second of just four to the useful Countless Times in the non black type Sentinel Stakes over today’s trip. She has however won her latest two starts on sand where she has gotten the better of some very useful performers. Question marks are clearly Tetelestai aplenty with Furious Dancer Tony’s Two Since turning four at the end having not raced since SeptemMr Mickey Mouse completed a ber, but were she to convert that of July, Tetelestai has shown smart hattrick over today’s dismost recent improvement on considerable improvement. In-
deed, he has won three of his last four starts. Those three latest wins have all been gained outside of handicap company where there are limitations as to just how much he can be raised in the merit ratings. Usually one to race from the front, Tetelestai is sure to be right there when the race begins in earnest and could be better than rated.
Red Flyer The 7yo Red Flyer was at the top of his game at this stage of the season last year. Since beating Jinzo on 6kg less favourable terms in the non black type Sony Marula Sprint last February though, he has failed to finish better than sixth in six starts. He would undoubtedly be a runner on best form, but having finished last of fourteen on his return from a three month break last time out, he is not easy to fancy.
About The Pace With most preferring to race either with, or close to the pace, at least a fair clip can be expected. Intellectual has proven costly to follow of late. He does appear to be coming to hand though, and he has done particularly well at this circuit. A tentative choice.