Tony Rivalland’s popular sprinter Al Ciberano has a good chance of getting back in the winners enclosure on Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend, where he will contest the lucky last, the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on the polytrack.

Rivalland said, “He’s doing extremely well just as he always has. His form is ultra consistent. We’ve managed to keep him on the boil, we’ve been quite fortunate, and he worked like an absolute bomb this morning (Tuesday). Let’s hope this time the short heads go his way. With a bit of luck I think he will be a hard horse to beat.”

The gentlemanly Al Miqdaam gelding has a plenty of speed and a touch of class and has four seconds and a third from his last five starts, which followed two wins in succession. Last time he was only caught late over 1200m on the poly and Rivalland felt all things considered it had been “an incredible run”. He said, “He was extremely unlucky as they went a suicidal pace in front, he sent him for home at the top of the straight and he went well clear and was then caught in the last three strides. Let’s hope things go his way this time.” Al Ciberano will be ridden by Richard Fourie and his draw of 12 won’t be much of a disadvantage as he could well get over and slot in behind the probable pacemaker Mod Barley, who is drawn in barrier eight.

By David Thiselton