The five-year-old Jet Master mare Fly By Night, winner of the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint two years ago, will take on the boys in the R400 000, Grade 2 Post Merchants at the Greyville Night Racemeeting on Friday, June 17.
The Mike Bass-trained sprinter had shown little to get excited about earlier this year but bounced back to something like her best when running second to Real Princess in the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint at Scottsville last weekend. She is one of the 14 runners that will face the starter in the 1 200m clash at Greyville and will undoubtedly be one of the more fancied runners in the race.
Also among the acceptors for the race that has a history going back decades, is the Western Winter entire Red Ray from the Joey Ramsden stable that made an encouraging return to racing in this country after an overseas stint when taking fourth place behind Talktothestars in the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville. One could expect an improved run in the Post Merchants where he will also meet the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Captain Al gelding Captain Alfredo that was strongly fancied to win the top Scottsville race but ran disappointingly.
Captain Alfredo had previously won the In Full Flight Handicap at the venue and that last run was definitely not a true indication of his ability.
Dennis Drier might have been disappointed with his runners in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but will be feeling that the stable could do better in the Post Merchants where it fields the three-year-old Trippi gelding Ferrie. The gelding is making a considerable step up in class but he has won his three races to date in impressive fashion and with 52kg on his back from draw one he could be a lively contender for top honours.
SC DR HORSE WGT M/R JOCKEY TRAINER
1 10 TRIP TO HEAVEN 60.0 113 T A …………… Sean Tarry
2 3 CAPTAIN ALFREDO 58.0 109 A A Delpech Dean Kannemeyer
3 9 RED RAY 58.0 108 T A A Marcus Joey Ramsden
4 15 AURUM POT 56.0 104 A *C Murray Alec Laird
5 13 MOOFEED (AUS) 56.0 104 A …………… Mike de Kock
6 8 BUCKLAND 56.0 103 T A S Khumalo Sean Tarry
7 14 BELONG TO ME 56.0 102 TBA W Marwing Johan Janse van Vuuren
8 2 LONDON CALL 56.0 101 A K de Melo Mark Dixon
9 7 VIKING HERO 56.0 101 T A *L Hewitson Grant Maroun
10 5 FLY BY NIGHT 55.5 105 T A M Byleveld Mike Bass
11 11 KANGAROO JACK 54.0 100 A C Zackey Gary Alexander
12 12 AMAZING STRIKE 54.0 98 BA F Herholdt Alec Laird
13 4 ASSTAR 54.0 98 A …………… Garth Puller
14 1 FERRIE 52.0 95 T A …………… Dennis Drier
Reserve Runners
15 6 OLD EM 51.5 98 T A Reserve 1 Sean Tarry