David Thiselton

THE Pick 6 is tricky at first sight on the Vaal Straight course today although it could be catchable for those who do their homework. 

In the opening leg Supreme Dance is a lot better than his last start and will be hard to beat if repeating his debut. Jet Cat goes well for claimer Jeffrey Syster and could pick up the pieces if he fluffs his lines again. Lazy Guy makes most appeal of the rest.  

In the second leg over 1200m Golden Spoon should be running on strongly dropped back to this trip and should fight it out with the hard-knocking Bat Out Of Hell.

In the fifth race over 2400m Don’t Look Back has relished the long straights of the Highveld so can make it four-in-a-row despite being 2kg under sufferance with best weighted horse Fife. He won extending over this trip last time and it is interesting to note he has a victory over Gold Cup winner Paths Of Victory to his name over this trip. Fife will be a big threat as she has likely benefited from her last start. The inside horses also stole a march o her that day and she could have otherwise got closer although she does have another tricky draw. Captain Chorus can never be ignored over this trip. Earth Shaker has been in fine form over shorter and is a half-brother to Gold Vase runner up Before Noon so might stay the trip although being by Capetown Noir is a detractor. Ocean Forest is an interesting runner over this trip being by Duke Of Marmalade out of  half-sister to Listed Winter Oaks winner Fresnaye.     

In the sixth race Dr Doolittle is a decent sort and the last time he ran in a handicap over this trip he defied topweight. He didn’t shape in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes next time out. However, he is by Ideal World so should be improving all the time and can defy topweight again off a four point higher mark than his last win, especially as he jumps from a good draw of two. Our Coys beat the talented Nartje the last time he tried this trip and on formlines he comes out better than Prospector. Prospector is a scopey sort and is by Traffic Guard so should enjoy this trip and can do better than his last attempt at it. August Rain is an interesting runner as he is a rangy front-running type and being by Soft Falling Rain out of a Jet Master half-sister to the champion stayer Hermoso Mundo might enable him to stay this trip. War Jewel has good recent form over 1600m but has to prove he stays this trip and there must be some doubt on pedigree being by Vercingetorix out of a Captain Al sprinter. Bepop enjoys this trip and could give some cheek with a light weight.      

In the seventh race 1600m Dawn Of A New Era won comfortably over 1400m in the maidens last time when finishing strongly and starts off on a reasonable 78 merit rating. That puts him 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse in this Classified Stakes race but he should relish the step up in trip. Un Deux Trois was doing good late work last time over 1450m in a fillies and mares handicap and is now the best weighted horse over a step up in trip she should relish. Picadilly Square ran on strongly last time over 2000m for third and in the current slowish conditions this trip might not be too sharp. Sun Giant is a big horse with not much pace and does not have an electric turn of foot but he certainly stays on so could become a threat in the latter stages. There is not much between him and Manitoba on form.  

In the last race over 1600m Drummer Dude is dropped down in trip to a course and distance over which he has placed in all three starts. The last time he ran over this distance he made good late progress. He is officially only 1kg out with the best weighted pair but this is alleviated by the 1.5kg claim of Jeffrey Syster who knows him well. Pucker Up is 1.5kg under sufferance with the best weighted but finished strongly over 1800m last time behind a promising sort and she was 0,85 lengths ahead of Drummer Dude and is now half-a-kilogram better off. The trip will be on he sharp side but she should be charging late. Contrail is 1.5kg out at the weights with the best weighted pair Anatura and Land of Rubies but he has the same 4kg claimer aboard as he had last time when running on well for second. Land Of Rubies should have benefitted from her last start which followed a three month layoff and she should relish the step up in trip. Kapama was not disgraced last time out over 1500m in a stronger fillies and mares handicap field than this and after her two points lowered merit rating she is still only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. Anatura can’t be written off having run on from last for second place over this trip at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.