Classy Mustaaqeem returns
CHAMPION Mustaaqeem makes his long-awaited reappearance at the Vaal tomorrow and will provide punters with a ready-made Pick 6 banker.
He runs in the second leg of the Pick 6 in a Progress Plate over 1200m and is comfortably the best treated horse at the weights, so should remain unbeaten despite returning from a nine month layoff. Mustaaqeem followed his impressive debut with a fourlength destruction of the field in the Grade 1 SA Nursery and he showed all the hallmarks of being top class in that race. Romi’s Boy has a lot of pace and the ability to stay on, so could be the main danger, despite being 5,5kg under sufferance with Mustaaqeem on official merit ratings.
Africa Rising
Africa Rising has a touch of class and won the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Greyville. He should have come on from his reappearance in the Merchants over 1160m, where he wasn’t disgraced. He finished a short-head behind Romi’s Boy in that race and is half-a-kilogram better off, so there should not be much between them.
In race 1 The Pink Panther should make amends for his debut in which he was backed into 18/10 but could not get to the winner Marcus Attilius. He raced green and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement, so can score yet another twoyear-old victory for Corné Spies.
In the second race Dancing Queen was unconsidered at 18/1 on debut but did well to finish a three length second after a slow start. She was running out of steam late in that 1000m race, so is not as confident a choice as The Pink Panther. Sean Tarry had an incredible strike rate with two-year-old first-timers last season and introduces the Trippi filly Riptide in this race. She would not have to be any great shakes to win this race.
Imperial Quest
The PA starts in the next race and the Tarry-trained Imperial Quest should be enough to get punters through. He has been staying on for second in both of his starts over 1160m and 1200m respectively and should run in the first three. For the risk averse Til Dawn and Pantsula could be added as they have also shown enough ability to earn here.
Nautic Spririt
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1 200m, Nautic Spririt looked to have the race won over 1160m last time when showing good cruising speed and a kick at juts after the halfway mark.
However, he began treading water close to home and was caught. That was his first outing for over two months and he should have benefitted from it, so can make amends. However, Get Your Grove On and Shiloh are also worth including. The first as always struck as having ability and gets blinkers on now, while Shiloh was staying on well over 1000m last time and now has her third run after a layoff over a more suitable trip.
In the sixth race Last Chirp mixed with some good sorts early in her career and has now dropped to an attractive merit rating of 69.
She takes a big drop in class here and looks capable of carrying 60,5kg to victory. However, it is a typically open fillies and mares sprint handicap. Lady Negra should be involved as she moved up well in her previous start over 1 400m with first-time blinkers on so will be interesting over this drop in trip.
Nightmare ran well first time out the maidens and remains on the same merit rating.
Burundi Bush is capable of popping up as she did two runs ago, albeit off a five point lower mark.
Espleratore makes some appeal dropping down in trip as she won her debut well over 1000m and has dropped 14 points from her initial mark of 80.
The next leg will be contested by some fair sorts over 1200m. Vicomte has a good turn of foot and might have been undone by a tough draw last time.
Keanan’s Rock was not disgraced in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over this trip and his two other 1 200m runs has a win and a close second to his name so he will go close off a mere 70 merit rating. Lauren Of Rochelle has always struck as one with ability and has come into his own. He now goes for his third win in his last five starts and must be included.
Little Magician
The last leg of the Jackpot is open and cases can be made for Little Magician, Lake Kinneret and Premier Show, and Like Astair and Dorman also make some appeal.
The last leg of the Pick 6 should be fought out by Nordic Rebel and Witch King who are both progressive four-year-olds, who are ideally suited to this 1 400m distance.