Andrew Harrison
CHASE MAUJEAN was a relieved man after successfully appealing a R60k fine when found guilty of an unsatisfactory ride on the Argentinian-import Puerto Manzano. The gelding got up to dead-heat with stable companion and hot favourite Thumbs Up.
Maujean gets a chance to put the record straight when Puerto Manzano lines up in the third on the Turffontein stand-side track this afternoon. Johan Janse van Vuuren rested his charge after that sprint debut and today he tackles 1600m, a trip that should be more to the gelding’s liking.
Puerto Manzano was finishing like a train on debut and although he takes on a strong field first up out of the maidens, he does look to have some talent and the handicappers have lumbered him with an initial merit rating of 92!
Sean Tarry is set for a lucrative afternoon with his runners in with chances in many races and the biggest threat to Puerto Manzano could come in the form of Tarry’s runner Have A Go Jo. A son of the former Tarry-trained Willow Magic, Have A Go Jo showed tremendous acceleration when winning over course and distance last time out. He copped a five-point penalty for his second win and will be in receipt of 2kg from Puerto Manzano.
In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Tarry saddles Chariot Master who will have plenty of supporters after a good showing over course and distance at only his second start. He was asked to make all the running that day by stable rider Lyle Hewitson but he cast a shoe in the dash for the line that forced him to give up his lead. Given that he may well have gone on to win had he not lost a shoe, he rates as a winner without a penalty.
Candice Dawson teams up with Muzi Yeni on Smuts who has been making steady progress since being gelded. He was running on nicely behind Namib Desert last time out and he looks a better proposition over this extended trip.
Also in the line-up and one to keep an eye on in the betting is Governors Glory, Mike de Kock’s runner staying on nicely for third on debut. The experience and the extra furlong will could in his favour.
Tarry and De Kock go head-to-head in the first leg of the first jackpot with Aryaam and In Limbo possibly the pick of the field. In Limbo, sister to Hawwaam and half-sister to Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat will not die a maiden and made the expected improvement at her second start after a fairly modest sprint debut. Like her siblings, she should improve as she steps up in distance and this 1600m should be to her liking.
Aryaam has finished in the money in all three starts and like In Limbo, should prefer the extra furlong. The two have drawn alongside each other so it should be an interesting tactical battle between Callan Murray and Hewitson.
Tarry has pitted his filly Trattoria against males in the sixth and she may well prove up to the task given that she carries bottom weight in this Novice Handicap. As a four-year-old she was a late starter, given that this will be only her fifth start, and on debut finished five lengths adrift in third behind Thumbs Up and Puerto Manzano. Three runs later she skated home by five lengths when sent a mile for the first time. She does take on considerably stronger here but looks smart and with Joshwin Solomons claiming 2.5kg, she only has 49.5kg to shoulder. Push Off, Call Me Master and stable companion Invincible Warrior look to be the main dangers.
