Tap O’Noth can pull a Capetown Noir
THE Vaughan Marshall-trained Tap O’ Noth will attempt to become the first horse since Capetown Noir five years ago to do the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby double and his class should pull him through, although he will have his work cut out fending off Eyes Wide Open.
The rangy Tap O’Noth hung in the straight in the Guineas and a number of horses closed on him in the final stages.
However, a closer look at the race suggests he was idling in front and still had a bit in the tank.
On pedigree he has a chance of staying the trip, for although he is by the sprint-miler Captain Al he is a half-brother to the Grade 3-winner over 2 500m, Strathdon.
The latter is admittedly by the stamina influence Silvano, but Captain Al has produced a Met winner before in Hill Fifty Four and Captain America was a Cape Derby runner up and twice third in the Met.
Furthermore, Tap O’ Noth now has a plum draw of three.
His jockey MJ Byleveld has developed into a top class big race rider over the last couple of seasons and has won the last two renewals of the Cape Guineas.
Eyes Wide Open
Eyes Wide Open, is a classy looking sort who won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1 600m as a two-year-old.
He proved his class last time when winning the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1 800m.
He was carrying only 52kg off a merit rating of 99, but the handicapper was impressed and raised him to 108, a four point higher mark than Tap O’ Noth.
He will be improving all the time being by Dynasty and should have come on from that last run.
He now has a good draw of five over a trip he should relish and Richard Fourie takes over from Anthony Andrews. Silver Coin is an interesting runner. He is the most expensive yearling in SA history at R6 million and will be looking for this trip being by Silvano out of a Fort Wood mare who is a half-sister to Smart Banker, who won the Grade 1 Champions Challenge and the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes twice. In his first run as a gelding last time, Silver Coin caught the eye with his rangy action and is good turn of foot to win easily.
He was only running off a 74 merit rating but he looks to have plenty more to come and could surprise.
White River took a bump in the early stages of the Cape Guineas but that didn’t stop him running on strongly for second. He will relish the step up in trip considering his running style and pedigree. He is by Trippi out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, who has some good middle distance sorts in her family.
Like A Panther has always had Derby horse written all over him, although perhaps more for the traditional Derby distance of a mile-and-ahalf.
He would also likely be at his best at an out-andout galloping track like Turffontein.
However, he finished well in the Guineas for third and will relish the step up in trip. He does have a tricky draw of eleven but seems to be a relaxed type who should settle wherever he is.
Do It Again
Do It Again is held in high regard and is crying out for this trip being by Twice Over out of a Casey Tibbs mare who won the Grade 3 Winter Derby over 2 400m.
He can improve on his Cape Guineas effort in which he stayed on at one pace.
Pack Leader came from last in the Cape Guineas for fifth and could repeat the feat here.
He should relish the step up in trip being by Philanthropist and a half-brother to Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner In The Fast Lane.
The filly Fresnaye finished strongly in the Paddock Stakes for a fine third to the top class Oh Susanna and she has won over this course and distance before.
Piere Strydom stays aboard, albeit from a tough draw of 12, and she could gain her third successive Grade 1 place.
Spring Man is unexposed and on the up. He held off the fair older horse Mister Colin over this course and distance in a handicap first time out the maidens. However, he was running off only a 78 merit rating and has a wide draw. Stable jockey Corne Orffer has chosen to ride White River.
Another dark horse could be Visigoth as this big colt by Visionaire is a long-striding galloping sort who is crying out for a step up in trip.
The furthest he has been is the 1800m of the Politician Stakes and he was not disgraced in fifth place. The blinkers are now off.
Steel Rose was ahead of Visigoth in the Politician after plugging on gamely for third, but he now has a tough draw as opposed to pole position that day.
The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises also has to be considered despite his wide draw as he finished second in the Politician Stakes, ahead of Steel Rose and Visigoth, but Strydom has stayed aboard Fresnaye.
Opera Royal Is a rangy sort who stayed on for fourth in the Politician Stakes and he should enjoy the step up in trip, so also has a place chance.
What A Joker ran on for a place over 1 600m last time off a 74 merit rating so will need a lot of improvement.
Kimberley Star is merit rated 94 based on his two-year-old Port Elizabeth form. He has never run beyond 1 400m but is by Ideal World out of a Strike Smartly full-sister to the Grade 2-winner over 2 000m Prestic, so he should relish this trip. However, he doesn’t look to have had an ideal preparation having had only one run since a four month layoff and gelding.