Laird aims for handicap double
THE Vaal Outside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and there are some interesting runners turning out, especially a few first-timers in the earlier races. The meeting kicks off with a Maiden over 1 000m and here the Johan Janse van Vuurentrained Jet Path makes appeal after an eyecatching debut, in which he was surging late after being cramped for room.
This nice type should improve for the run and on strict formlines he has the measure of Captain My Captain on a line through Premier Show.
Jet Path beat Premier Show by 4,8 lengths, while Captain My Captain only beat Premier Show by a shorthead over 1 200m, although the latter did come on from his debut and preferred the 1 200m trip. Captain My Captain has been a touch disappointing in two runs on the Highveld after some useful two-year-old form in Cape Town, but this will be his third run after a layoff and gelding and he should start improving now.
Sweet Trial
Sweet Trial has a lot of pace and as this is his second run of this season he might not fold as tamely as he did last time, especially considering this is probably a weaker field.
In the second race, a fillies and mares maiden over 1 000m, there are two well-bred first-timers facing each other in an otherwise moderate field.
Triple It is by the former champion sire Trippi out of the twelvetime winning Kahal mare Mannequin, who won the Listed Banyana Handicap over 1 000m on the Vaal sand by 2,25 lengths carrying 58,5kg.
She could also perform on turf and finished a 0,5 length second in the Grade 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1 000m at Turffontein, despite giving the winner, the gelding Gold Site, 6,5kg.
Triple It should be full of speed and this Mike and Adam Azzietrained Drakenstein homebred has the champion apprentice Lyle Hewitson up.
Tia by Silvano is a full-sister to Tellina, who needs little introduction having won the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and being Grade 1 placed on numerous occasions including in South Africa’s three premier races, the Vodacom Durban July, the Sun Met and the Sansui Summer Cup.
Tellina finished third on debut over 1 200m and that was the only sprint he took part in, so Tia is likely to need further but she should have enough class to run into the places.
Ilha Da Var has moderate form to date, but is starting to improve and he looks the biggest threat to the two first-timers.
The third race, also a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1 000m, sees two Australian-bred first-timers clashing with a promising filly who did well on debut.
Mike de Kock has been turning out classy three-year-old first-timers in conveyor belt-like fashion this season and has another one here in Jazalaah.
She is by the top sire More Than Ready out of the Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Trust Antonia. Among the latter’s foals is a fullbrother to Jazalaah who finished third in the Grade 1 Caulfield Guineas.
However, the Azzie yard also have a first-timer worth noting in this field in Leopard Creek.
He is by Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom out of the former Charles Laird-trained Merlene De Lago.
The latter was full of class but was temperamental and had an aversion to the starting stalls. However, she did still manage to win the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery by two lengths from subsequent Allan Robertson dead-heater On Her Toes.
These two first-timers will have their work cut out to peg back Western Shamrock, who was backed on debut over 1 000m and was running on nicely for third. Ancient Spirit has ability too and moved up well on debut in May over 1 000m, but then found little extra.
Ancient Spirit
However, she was reported to have made a breathing noise and hasn’t run since. Gavin Lerena is aboard Ancient Spirit, while Donavan Mansour rides the yard’s Australian-bred first-timer Dreamsaremadeof, who is by European champion sprinter Dream Ahead and is a half-sister to the useful Gauteng Fillies Guineas fourthplaced Tamaanee.
De Kock could also win the eighth race over 1 400m with Mohallela, who was not disgraced on her handicap debut considering the 1 160m was too sharp for her.
She will relish the step up in trip and can handle an 85 merit rating, although the distance suited pair Rouge Allure and Costa Da Sol are probably advisable for the PA.
The highest rated race is the sixth, a MR 88 Handicap for three-yearolds over 1 400m, and Alec Laird’s Flying Winger could make it a hattrick having finished strongly last time to deny the well regarded Prince Of Kahal.
Silver Maple was backed to odds-on on debut and got up so is also a contender and Kurt’s Approval should not be ignored as he caught the eye on debut despite beating a moderate field.
Cashel Palace
The seventh also has some class in it, being a MR 82 Handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1 400m.
Laird could make it a quick double as his Fort Wood filly Cashel Palace won by over eight lengths second time out over 1 600m.
Laird’s horses continue to progress as youngsters, so she could still be ahead of the handicapper off an 82 merit rating.
La Bastide is 2kg better off for a 0,9 length beating and might prefer this shorter trip, considering she made a breathing noise. She could be the chief threat. Ninjara looks full of ability, but the concern is she over raced the first time she tried this 1400m trip. If she does settles she will be a big runner.