Liverpool Champ has not been out of the money since being ‘run over’ by Justfortheepenny prior to shedding his maiden but Gavin van Zyl obviously believes that the gelding is better than his last two starts would suggest.
Not too many horses are capable of backing up their maiden win but Liverpool Champ did just that when beating the consistent Techno Captain first up in a handicap.
Since then, Liverpool Champ has got himself on the wrong side of the handicappers as his handicap rating was pumped up from an 86 to a current 91 rating courtesy of a second-placed finish to Merlin From Berlin in spite of giving the winner 3kg.
The mechanics of the MR system are a mystery to most but Liverpool Champ, blinkered for the first time, does look capable of registering his third victory and defying top weight of 61kg.
Anton Marcus has ben loyal to Brett Crawford’s colt Baby Shooz after a facile maiden win. The son of Jackson has since been touched off in two races over 1600m and the step up to today’s trip of 2000 on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly may be what he is looking for.
Greek Sword and Walterthepenniless are others to consider along with the filly American Princess who was a fast-finishing second over course and distance last time out but Marcus has deserted in order to partner Baby Shooz.
Garth Puller could hold the key to the fifth where he saddles Noemi and First Sighting.
The latter has been priced up favourite by Track & Ball
after her close-up third behind Mai Tai and the presence of Anton Marcus in the saddle along with first-time blinkers will also have trimmed some of the odds. However, stable companion Noemi may prove a better proposition. She is over her best course and distance and with a 4kg claimer up should be right there.
Lady Legend is young and improving filly that Wayne Badenhorst – who has since joined forces with his sister Barbara, now Kennedy and former KZN assistant to Dean Kannemeyer – felt was good enough to contest a Highveld feature. It was a trip in vain as Lady Legend faded out behind the smart Mill Queen, a fancied runner in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein tonight, but she recouped expenses with a game win next time out on the Greyville turf.
With Gareth Wright on the injured list, Calvin Habib takes over in the saddle from a pole position draw. T&B are quoting 11-1 in the ante-post market but that will all change after the scratching of ante-post favourite Marsanne who spiked a temperature over the weekend.
By Andrew Harrison
