Bank on Heavy Metal
BACKING horses on debut is a risky business especially in really big fields like the one Dangerous Liaison faced first up at Clairwood last month. That afternoon the word was out that Alec Laird’s runner would take some beating in the 20-horse field even though he was drawn on the “wrong” side of the track at 3.
Those that plunged knew their fate a long way out. Dangerous Liaison took a bump at the start and was never in the hunt in the early exchanges.
Hopes rose briefly as Stuart Randolph finally got his mount into stride two furlongs out and carved his way through the field but the bird had flown and the pair did well to finish third. The winner, Romantic Balladeer, is a really nice horse and one can expect Dangerous Liaison to have learnt from this experience and put in a better showing when he lines up in the tenth at Clairwood tomorrow in a meeting that was originally scheduled for Scottsville. However, he has again drawn on the inside of a 20horse field which is of concern.
Much interest will be centred on the seasonal debut of Greyville 1900 winner Beach Beauty who lines up in a Conditions Plate in the second. Her presence has scared off most of the opposition as only five runners take her on including stable companion Discordia.
With the Highveld spring season looming and another possible trip south for the Cape summer, it will be interesting to see how she fares. Beach Beauty was decidedly unlucky in the Victress Stakes and Paddock Stakes in Cape Town last season where she was a victim of circumstance and Dennis Drier is sure to be looking for his charge to make amends.
Drier seldom sends out a runner short of match fitness, no matter how long the lay-off, and Beach Beauty should prove very difficult to beat.
Drier also saddles the filly Schiffer in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where she comes up against some useful males.
The bookies have priced her up in the red, probably based on her demolition of the exciting Via Africa on debut, and then her third behind the smart grey Rumya in the Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day. Schiffer has not been out since and takes on some smart geldings mainly in the form of My Jelly Bean, Love Struck and Midnight Run.
My Jelly Bean has never been out of the money in a sprint and looks the biggest threat although the other two look to have plenty of scope and it may prove expedient for exotic bet punters to back up on Schiffer.
Sean Tarry will have been disappointed with the showing of his quartet of runners in the Emerald Cup where none got in a blow but that could be softened in the sixth where top weight Heavy Metal looks the part in a Progress Plate. Although coming down in trip he is very well in under the conditions and looks to have this race at his mercy.
If there is to be an upset it could come in the form of bottom weight Wind Trip. Although only recently shedding his maiden he showed enough against the Grade 1 winner The Hangman to suggest that he is a little above the average and with only 49kg to shoulder and in receipt of 11kg from Heavy Metal, he could make things testing for the odds-on ante post favourite.