2nd Barrier Trial Greyville Poly 18/03/2018 1000m
1st Hector Heathcote (Bosch/B. Lerena 3yog 59kg) A big and rangy unraced gelding by Pathfork, he jumped outward but showed good early speed and took the lead. He was green throughout but displayed a good long-striding action and will be better suited to further. 60.59 seconds
2nd She’s A Dream 0,05 lengths (Dixon/De Melo 3yof 58kg) This three-year-old Kahal filly has had three starts and won the last two of them, both over 1200m, but hasn’t run since November 1. She has natural speed and was up with the pace the whole way, travelling within herself, and strode out well. 60.6 seconds
3rd Laat Lammetjie 2,8 lengths (Bosch/Ngwane 3yof 58kg) This Australian-bred filly by Dream Ahead is small but well built and on debut turned for home near the back over 1600m on the poly but was then badly hampered by a falling horse at the 300m mark. In this barrier trial she was bumped early but then showed fair pace and strode out well. 61.11 seconds
4th Mashari 3.05 lengths (Puller Mgudlwa 3yog 59kg) This unraced Kahal gelding is out of the Grade 2-winning sprinter Chant De Nui. He is an athletic sort and was restrained after jumping from the widest draw and turned for home last. He then moved through the field on a tight hold, displaying a good action in an eye-catching trial. 61.16 econds
5th King Of Samash 3,1 lengths (Forbes/Randolph 3yog 59kg) This Rebel King gelding had finished 25,5 lengths back in a barrier trial and then 30,5 lengths back in a 1400m maiden when green and found to be striding short with first-time blinkers on. The blinkers were off for this trial and from a wide draw he showed fair early speed to be up with the pace and he then stayed on well in the straight with not a bad action, proving he is better than his previous form suggested. 61.17 seconds
6th Ragnar 7,85 lengths (Lafferty/Arries 4yog 60kg) This tall Brave Tin Soldier gelding has had four previous starts and has placed twice in moderate maidens over 1200m and 1600m respectively. He was returning here from a 252 day lay off and strode out quite well before being eased down. 62.08 seconds
7th Hiva-Oa Koi 8,1 lengths (Rich Sakayi 5yog 60(-4) kg) This A P Answer gelding has managed one fourth place in 21 starts and was returning from a 161 day layoff. He showed good gatespeed and fair early pace, but was racing a touch strongly and didn’t stay on well, although he wasn’t asked to do a lot. 62.12 seconds
8th Pure Grace 8,35 lengths (Hill/De Gouveia 3yog 59(-1.5) kg) This unraced Twice Over gelding is tall and after a tardy start was pushed along but then began over racing with his head in the air. He wasn’t asked to do a lot in the straight and looks to have some scope. 62.17 seconds
9th Gin Martini 9,35 lengths (Wrogemann/Goosen 3yog 59kg) This What A Winter gelding wore blinkers on his debut over 1200m on the poly last October and in that race after showing fair early pace he found no extra and faded steadily in the straight to be beaten 11 lengths. In this barrier trial the blinkers were off and a tongue tie on and after a slow start he strode out quite well without being asked to do a lot. 62.37 seconds
10th L’il Twiggz 11,1 lengths (Bosch/Samuel 3yof 58kg) This unraced slightly built, racy Jay Peg filly stumbled after the start and was green around the turn. She wasn’t asked to do a lot in the straight and could improve. 62.71 seconds.
11th Salsa 12,85 lengths (Van Wyk/Pagel 3yof 58kg) This Tropical Empire filly had previously been well beaten in both a barrier trial and a maiden, both over 1000m on the poly. She showed some pace in this trial but lost touch with the others in the straight when not being asked to do a lot. 63.06 seconds.
By David Thiselton
