National Park gunning for the Triple Crown
GAUTENG GUINEAS winner National Park will stay in Johannesburg until the second leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Grade 1 R2 million SA Classic over 1 800m to be run on March 2.
He is set for an almighty clash with Soqrat, who is also a Triple Crown contender having won the other joint first leg, the Grade 1 Cape Guineas.
Soqrat is by the sprinter to seven furlong horse Epaulette and has a lot of speed in his female line too. However, he has an ideal racing temperament and switches on and off at the jockey’s command so will have a chance of getting the trip.
National Park is by Gimmethegreenlight, who was best at a mile, but did finish third in the Met. His dam won from 1 400-1 600m.
However, he also has a good racing temperament and should stay 1 800m. He will not be staying for the third leg, the SA Derby over 2 450m even if he wins the SA Classic.,
The last time National Park stayed on the Highveld he appeared to run a flat race in the Dingaans.
This corresponded with a theory that coastal horses staying at high altitude hit a flat spot for about a week at roundabout the 19 day mark.
However, trainer Yvette Bremner believes that disappointing run had more to do with him being forced to go to the front as he was in danger of being caught wide. She believes under the circumstances he did well to finish fourth.
So, she is not concerned about him having to spend four weeks on the Highveld until the SA Classic. Top jockey Richard Fourie will keep the ride.
Soqrat
The handicappers assessed Soqrat to have run to a 118 merit rating in the Cape Guineas and gave National Park a 117 for his run on Saturday. However, Soqrat was later raised to 124 after his narrow loss in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
CTS 1600 winner One World, whose only loss to date was in the Cape Guineas, is merit rated 117. Politician Stakes winner and Cape Guineas and CTS 1600 runner up Twisted Fate is rated 115.
However, neither of that pair are likely to travel to the Highveld for the SA Classic.
Dingaans winner Hawwaam is merit rated 112 but cannot be written off.
He over raced for the second time in succession in the Guineas on Saturday and this blunted the devastating finish he is capable of and which was seen at its best in the Dingaans.
Hawwaam does not have the immaculate temperament of his stablemate Soqrat, but he does probably have more latent ability.
If he gets a good draw and settles well in the SA Classic he will be a huge threat.
The SA Triple Tiara is unlikely to be landed this season. Saturday’s Gauteng Fillies Guineas-winner Nafaayes is by speed influence Exceed And Excel out of a Grade 3-winning Dehere mare who was a sevenfurlong to miler type, so 1 800m might stretch her. Mike de Kock said, “The 1800m of the Fillies Classic will be okay for her, probably just within her reach, but beyond that we’d be stretching it.”
However, the yard might be tempted to run her in the SA Oaks over 2 450m if she does win the SA Fillies Classic as there will be a R1 million bonus at stake.
Front And Centre
The winner of the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, Front And Centre, is resting after a tough campaign and will next be seen in the KZN Champions Season.
The strength of the fillies crop clearly resides in Cape Town this season.
Front And Centre beat Clouds Unfold in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas but trainer Candice Bass-Robinson was of the opinion the latter had a better preparation going into the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes and she duly gained her revenge, but only by 1,7 lengths.
The meat in the sandwich was the four-year-old Grade 1 bridesmaid Lady In Black and further back was the defending champion and twice Grade 1-winning miler Snowdance, so there was no doubting the merit of the performance.
However, the form of the Johannesburg crop has not been altogether consistent, which points to questionable strength.
Nafaayes stayed on resolutely from a handy position to pip Running Brave in Saturday’s Gauteng Fillies Guineas with Celtic Sea third and Ronnie’s Candy fourth. Nafaayes did convert favouritism as was coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Ipi Tombi Stakes over the course and distance against useful older horses. The form of the latter race makes her look as strong as her Cape Town counterparts.
However, it falls apart when looking at other formlines from the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Running Brave and Celtic Sea were earlier beaten 3,55 lengths and 2,75 lengths into seventh and sixth respectively in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile on G-Bets Summer Cup day.
That race was won by Ghaalla and the form always looked suspect as Ronnie’s Candy had no luck in the running, yet still managed a close up third, and the runner up I Like It was an exposed 88 merit rated filly.
Ghaalla
Ghaalla was duly beaten 5,35 lengths into eighth place in the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Furthermore, Ronnie’s Candy gave Nafaayes 2kg and a 2,2 length beating in the Starling Stakes on November 3 last year.
Ronnie’s Candy was in fact a touch unlucky on Saturday. She settled well and looked set to use her tremendous turn of foot, but never had daylight in front of her and thus never had a chance to truly let herself down.
An inquiry has also been held into the jockey’s riding of her in the closing stages as he appeared to ease her down before the line which likely cost her third place.
The handicappers have accorded Clouds Unfold a 115 merit rating, Front And Centre a 112 and Nafaayes on 109. The best sprinting three-year-old filly, the Johannesburg-based Mighty High, is also rated 109.