Point Of View: Duncan Howells (on R4#1 Portman Square) and Weiho Marwing (on R3#1 Sun Dynasty)
Candice Bass-Robinson’s KZN satellite yard under the care of long-time assistant Robert Fayd’Herbe got off the mark with Harry Da Wheels last week and they can add to their tally at Greyville tomorrow night where Fayd’Herbe saddles Ashton Park in the IV Tech Pinnacle Stakes over the all-weather mile.
The veteran galloper has always been useful and although just below top class he has been a loyal servant for the yard with eight victories to his credit. He makes his 40th start this evening and has been in good form in his home province where he has placed in two Pinnacle Stakes events on the Kenilworth old course, both in soft ground.
It has been a feature of the Greyville poly track that older horses with mileage on the clock often take a new lease on their racing lives, possibly due to the more forgiving surface. The fact that Ashton Park goes well in the soft should augur well for his chances here.
His prospects will be further enhanced by the presence of Anton Marcus in the saddle. Marcus has been side-lined for the past month but has assured that he is back fit and in the pink of condition.
Some trainers are still reluctant to race on the poly for various reasons but Dean Kannemeyer is not one of them. He sends out Canigao and Last Tiger, both of whom on their best form will be a threat. Canigao has won five of his eight starts, mostly on the poly, but the colt has been off since finishing tailed off in a handicap back in May reportedly ‘fatigued’.
The mile is short of his best that suggests that he is short of peak fitness. The same cannot be said for Last Tiger. The only recent blot on his copy book came after a return to the turf. More recently he shouldered 62kg to victory over course and distance and although not particularly well in at the weights he is deadly on the poly.
Another poly specialist is Cat In Command. Pat Lunn’s charge has an excellent record over course and distance but he does take a rise in class.
Punters looking for a banker could find it in Breakfast Club, another poly specialist. Dennis Drier’s charge is unbeaten in two stabs on the surface and lines up in the fifth under Sean Veale.
Last time out he was set a difficult task in an MR80 handicap at Scottsville but was still send out favourite, backed in from an opening call of 2-1 to start 11-10. He ran well below form in a rough race finishing with just two behind him. The return to poly could see him back to his best and from a good draw he should at least be competitive.
After a short spell in the doldrums, Weiho Marwing saddled a double last Wednesday and Sun Dynasty has a bright chance in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The gelding had patchy Cape Town form before arriving in Marwing’s Ashburton yard but had shown ability. First time out for Marwing and making his debut on the poly, Sun Dynasty was fitted with a tongue-tie and the improvement was immediate as he finished a close-up second to Dale House.
However, he is up against two younger rivals that have given notice of their ability but are returning from three-month breaks. Tony Rivalland rested Marron after a disappointing effort in the KZN Breeders Juvenile back in June but prior to that he had run subsequent Gr2 winner Zodiac Ruler to within a length.
That form has since proven to be a little suspect but considering that this is a modest Maiden Plate Marron must come strongly into the picture especially if properly racing fit.
Royal Yevahn has finished behind Marron both times that they have met but Paul Gadsby has high hopes for his colt and the break may well have done him good.
Andrew Harrison
