2016 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate final field
PUBLISHED: December 30, 2015
The final fields for the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Grade 1 Main Chance Farms Paddock Stakes were revealed earlier today. Both races will be run at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday January 9:
Picture: Snaith Racing (Futura and Legislate with Bonang Matheba)
The last Greyville meeting of the year
PUBLISHED: December 30, 2015
Punters have a fair chance of signing off the old year on a high note
Greyville stages a nine race meeting today, the first three on the poly and the rest on turf, and punters have a fair chance of signing off the old year on a high note
The first is a MR 78 handicap over 1400m. Sovereign Reign is well regarded and the 1400m might be exactly what he is looking for, while Marcus remaining faithful speaks volumes. Beluga ran a fine race last time behind a useful sort over course and distance and is well drawn. Ferdinand The Bull was a little bit strong in the running over 1600m last time when just failing to catch the promising Team Guys so he should relish the step down in trip and Delpech stays aboard. However, He was given a four point raise for that last race so it won’t be easy.
The second is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and Vogue Idea has some good Cape form which makes her 69 merit rating look very attractive. She has had a layoff since January but that is likely only due to Sabine Plattner not having a trainer for some time during that period rather than problems or a lack of fitness so she should go close. The hard knocking front runner Lobelia proved last time when just failing over 1600m on turf she was up to this 82 merit rating and will be right there. Her draw of six should allow her to get to the front without wasting too much energy. Seek The Summit has improved with blinkers and is well drawn over an ideal trip with Marcus up. Mark My Card has useful form and should love this trip. News Weekly must be considered over this step back in trip.
The fourth is a maiden over 1800m on turf and I Am A Rock caught the eye in his first two starts on turf when running green from wide draws and looks full of ability. He is a long striding galloper who will relish the step up in trip and should mow them down in the straight. The form of Sherrif Hood’s last start on turf has been franked and he is course and distance suited. Soldiers Code’s best recent run was over 1950m at Scottsville and he should enjoy the return to turf. Delpech is back aboard and the horse should begin improving now too. Royal Champion is drawn well over a suitable course and distance. Jullidar could earn from a good draw.
The fifth is a MR 95 Handicap over 1200m on turf and the talented Executive Power is said by the trainer to have benefitted from gelding so is the one to beat having scraped into the handicap with the minimum weight. The well regarded London Call should have benefitted from his last run and will likely go close despite a big weight. Mr Roy also has plenty of ability and has a chance with Delpech up.
The sixth is a MR 78 Handicap over 1200m on turf and the progressive Top Form will be a tough nut to crack from a good draw as he has speed and class. Var Du Bois ran a fine race behind a decent sort over 1400m on the poly last time and from pole position should be a threat running on over a step down in trip he should appreciate. Gumbi also looks likely from the evidence of his races to date to relish this course and distance.
The seventh is a fillies and mares maiden over 1400m on the turf and Back In Town had some fair Cape Town form and should have benefitted for his last run so can go close over an ideal trip. Glimmer Of Silver will be improving being by Silvano so could go close here over a step up in trip she will appreciate. Fantasy Lady ran on late from a wide draw over course and distance last time and should be doing so again.
The eight is a fillies and mares maiden over 1400m and the Charles Laird-trained first-timer Main Dimension is a half-sister to the useful Winter Star and has little to beat so is the one to beat from a fair draw under Marcus. Swan Dance and Masked Girl make most appeal of the rest.
The last is a maiden over 1400m on the turf and the well regarded Blessed Release finally lands a good draw so is the one to side with over a step up in trip he should enjoy. Jack The Knife has a very wide draw to overcome but should be running on strongly. Hanji improved last time and could also earn.
Cold As Ice plans confirmed
PUBLISHED: December 30, 2015
Cold As Ice has big plans
Cold As Ice, who notched up her first British win at only the second attempt eight days ago, will have one more outing before going for the £150 000 All-Weather Championship Final at Lingfield on Good Friday (March 25).
That outing in early February is to qualify her and last season’s Choice Carriers, Sceptre and Laisserfaire winner could be ridden by an English-based jockey for the first time. Bernard Fayd’Herbe has ridden her in both her UK starts but is not expected to be able to do the weight. Greg Cheyne was to go but x-rays have revealed fractures in the foot he damaged on Monday.
Brian Finch, whose wife Kathy owns the filly in partnership with Bridget Kieswetter, said: “She will have a break after the Lingfield race and then we will see how she fares racing on turf.”
Micheal Clower
Prince Jazeem looks the smart choice
PUBLISHED: December 28, 2015
Tarry looks to have the better hand
Turffontein stages an eight race meeting tomorrow night and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.
The first is a fillies Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m and of those to have run Queenie makes most appeal, being a big filly who was doing her best work late on debut over 800m, while Might As Well, who was just ahead of her and stayed on well from the front, should also improve. The first-timer Star Burst Galaxy makes appeal being by Var and a half-sister to the promising Silvano filly Star Express, who has won three from six. Seattle Singer is a full-sister to the useful Gr 1 runner up sprinter Gulf Storm and her stablemate Timedtoperfection is a full-sister to the useful sprinter Aurum Pot.
The second is a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m and the interesting runner is Mambonick, who returns from a year’s layoff having impressed in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m when comfortably beating the subsequent Gr 1-placed Sapsan. Miss December and Ha Lucy make most appeal of the rest.
The third is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over1160m and Cosmo Russe stayed on well on debut over 1200m and looks to have scope for improvement. For Show Me Angel showed good pace last time when caught late over 1200m on the Inside Track, so she should enjoy this quick 1160m. Nitrogen is an interesting first-timer being by Tiger Ridge out of the Gr 1-winner and Vodacom Durban July runner up Zirconeum.
The fourth is a weak Maiden over 2000m on first sight but there are some who could turn out to be fair over this trip. The one to beat is Smartifact, who enjoyed little luck when catching the eye on debut in a strong race, and being by Lateral out of a Fort Wood mare she will love this trip. Go Fly A Kite caught the eye staying on strongly over 1700m last time out so looks likely to relish this trip and Gavin Lerena is an eyecatching booking. Frappachino is stoutly bred being by Ideal World out of a Fort Wood mare and was staying on well when finishing just ahead of Go Fly A Kite over1700m, but there is a now a reversal in draw fortunes. Gladiatore will be a runner having stayed on well from a handy position last time out with this same 4kg claimer up, although the wide draw is a concern. Superficial showed pace over 1400m but should enjoy this trip on pedigree so is an interesting runner. De Lujo is a big galloping type who stayed on well over 1600m last time, but the concern is he over raced a bit in the early stages and would be preferred if the blinkers came off. First-timer Reminiscence is stoutly bred being by Ideal World out of a Fort Wood mare and is another interesting contender.
The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 2450m and Wild Ash is the one to beat at the weights from pole position, with Marmalady tipped next best followed by Savage Wind, Orchestrated and Henry Higgins.
The sixth is an open MR 102 Handicap over 1000m in which the whole seven-horse field could be included although Prince Jazeem looks to have benefitted from a rest and rates the one to beat returning to sprint trips in which his record reads three wins and a second and a third in eight starts. Moofeed and Aurum Pot could follow him home.
The seventh is a MR 86 Handicap over 1160m and Just As I Said is interesting stepped back to this trip and is tipped to beat Master’s Spirit and Viking Hero, although the returning pair Fort Meyers and Seventh Heart must also be considered.
The last is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and Kalanchoe has the form to win so is tipped to beat La Digue, who is knocking on the door, and Redaire, One Yesterday and Wendish make most appeal of the rest.
By: David Thiselton
Christmas cheer for VDJ combo
PUBLISHED: December 28, 2015
The Kannemeyer and Randolph combo score again this time it’s the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap
