David Thiselton
THE Paul Matchett-trained Triple Tiara heroine War Of Athena will first run in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on May 29 before a decision is made on her Vodacom Durban July participation.
Justin Snaith’s star twice Grade 1-winning filly Captain’s Ransom will not take her place in the July and he said it has still not been decided whether she will line up in the Woolavington.
A meeting between this pair has been one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes of the SA Champions Season.
Captain’s Ransom is merit rated 126 which would have meant that as things stand she would have had to carry 54kg in the July.
However, War Of Athena is at present sneaking into the handicap with the minimum weight for a female of 52kg as she is merit rated 122.
Three-year-olds receive 2kg at the time of the July according to the weight for age scale for the 2200m distance so the mathematical equation is Rainbow Bridge merit rating 134 equals 12 point higher than War Of Athena which is the equivalent of 6kg, add 2kg weight for age allowance equals 8kg, 60kg minus 8kg equals 52kg, and not under sufferance (i.e “sneaking into the handicap with the minimum weight”) .
Stuart Pettigrew’s star Grade 1-winning filly Anything Goes will be rested for the remainder of this season before being aimed at races like the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and Cape Town Met or Majorca next season.
He said yesterday, “She has slight bruising on her fetlock which could have been patched up, it is not serious, but when a small yard has a top filly like this you have to look after her so she is resting on a spelling farm and being kept for her four-year-old season. She was not 100% for her last start and she will come back next season bigger and stronger.”
However, Pettigrew will still be seen at the SA Champions Season as he is eyeing the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting on June 5 for Vars Vicky and Follow Me and the Vodacom Durban July with ExpressFromTheUS.
He said, “It was with the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint in mind that I ran Vars Vicky at Scottsville recently (over 1400m where he finished second to the classy Vaughan Marshall-trained colt Seeking The Stars).”
Three-year-old Vars Vicky has won his last three sprints, including the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m, where he received 6kg from the subsequent Grade 1 4Racing Computaform Sprint runner-up Bohica and beat him by a head.
If Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari lines up off his 130 merit rating the long-striding Vars Vicky, currently rated 115, will be 1kg under sufferance carrying 52kg in the Golden Horse.
However, Justin Snaith said Rio Querari’s participation was still undecided. He pointed out that the gelding had been eliminated from the Grade 2 Post Merchants during the SA Champions Season last year.
Rio Querari has certainly cocked a snoot at the final field selection committee since with among other successes a Grade 1 WFA win, a Grade 1 WFA runner-up finish and a Grade 2 win.
Pettigrew’s two-year-old Gimmethegreenlight filly Follow Me won by two lengths on debut over 1000m at The Vaal recently and two horses she beat by two lengths and 4,50 lengths respectively, Eternity Ring and Franca, have come out and won since so she is now being targeted at the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship at the Festival Of Speed meeting.
Pettigrew said ExpressFromTheUs’s run of below par form towards the end of last year had him stumped as he knew his charge was able to quicken better than he had been doing.
He said, “The physio then found a point (spasm) in his buttock and since regular physiotherapy has been done on that he has been a completely different horse.”
The four-year-old What A Winter gelding has since rattled off three more wins and run a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 place. In his latest victory on Saturday he beat the promising Battle Force comfortably over 1400m.
His merit rating has risen to 122 and his chief target is now the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on June 6, a traditional VDJ qualifier.
