The Dennis Drier yard have said that Captain Of All is on track for the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint to be run over 1200m at Scottsville on May 23. His participation will have an important effect on the weights as he is merit rated 116 and is set to carry 60kg, so without him the weights will all have to be dragged upward.
The two Gr 1-winning fillies Alboran Sea and Fly By Night are second highest in the weights, but are more likely to run in the weight for age Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint. The next horse in the weights is Gulf Storm, who was punished nine points by the handicapper for winning the Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m. Gulf Storm, who appeared to relish the tough Scottsville track, is set to carry 56,5kg.
The two stand outs at the weights are the former Gr 1 SA Nursery winner Willow Magic from the yard of champion elect trainer Sean Tarry and last year’s Tsogo Sun Sprint winner Normanz from the yard of Charles Laird. Both horses are set to carry a mere 54kg, amazingly light for respective Gr 1 winners. However, Tarry said recently that Willow Magic’s participation might depend on the draw he lands and he could otherwise be rerouted to the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 6.
Normanz missed what would have been a useful preparation in the recent 600m dash race at Scottsville, which had to be cancelled due to a rain affected track. However, he only has to carry 1kg more than last year, when leading throughout and producing a good kick under Athandiwe Mgudlwa. Laird is going for his fourth successive victory in this race and has won an incredible ten Gr 1 races at this festival with nine different horses. Laird’s other two recent Tsogo Sun Sprint winners, Delago Deluxe in 2012 and Contador in 2013, carried 54kg and 53,5kg respectively, so Normanz has the right looking weight again this year.
However, before Laird’s three victories the race was dominated by top class sorts who had to lug big weights. In 2007 Kildonan carrying 57,5kg touched off his three-year-old contemporary Mythical Flight, who carried topweight of 60kg. J J The Jet Plane carried topweight to victory as a three-year-old in 2008 and again carried topweight when winning in 2010. In 2009 Earl Of Surrey won with topweight and Shea Shea carried 58kg to victory in 2011. Captain Of All is already a Gr 1 winner at this track having won the Tsogo Sun Medallion as a two-year-old and the manner of his win at Scottsville in his penultimate start suggests he could well join some of those aforementioned stalwarts by triumphing with topweight on May 23.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Nkosi Hlophe
