Bosch got your back in the exotics
THERE will be more than just apprentice Denis Schwarz riding on Got Your Back when the filly lines up in the Helen Lucre Resourcing Qualified Maiden at Greyville this evening.
Dennis Bosch’s charge will be a popular exotic bet banker and looks well capable of snapping a string of runnerup berths. Only once out of the money in six outings, she was well fancied to shed her maiden over course and distance last time out, but was unfortunate enough to find the frustrating On The Bounce eventually find form and Got Your Back finished up second best for the third time running.
There is not a lot of depth among the opposition with only Arran Isles, another who has been expensive to follow, the most likely threat.
The Huhcor Handicap looks to be a more competitive event where plenty are in with chances.
Out My Way is bidding for a fifth victory and should come on from his fourth-place finish behind Al Ciberano.
That was the geldings first outing in three months and looks better suited to tonight’s trip.
Suzie’s Soldier
Three years younger is Suzie’s Soldier who made a smart handicap debut for Doug Campbell finishing two lengths off the vastly more experience Royalsecuritypower.
His maiden form has held up quite nicely and you leave him out of calculations at your peril. Marriot, Captain Ellio and Sapphire Petunia are others to consider.
Apprentices take centre stage on the night and Akshay Balloo will have his riding skills tested when he partners Flight Mode in the Campbell’s Cargo Handicap.
The gelding is prone to taking a hold and if allowed to get away in the prerace parade, Balloo could find himself hanging on.
However, Flight Mode has come on nicely at recent starts, finishing a closeup second last time out and looks well capable in this line-up.
Another potential banker on the card is Pure Logic.
Dean Kannemeyer was in fine spirits at the launch of The Sun Met in Cape Town on Wednesday night after Last Winter turned in another smashing performance at Durbanville, giving notice that he will be a factor this summer.
Assistant Barbara Bardenhorst is likely to be doing the saddling this evening and Pure Logic is back on his favourite surface. He has been up against stronger opposition at recent outings and should feature here.
Among the more obvious dangers are Viking Red, Crime Victim, Icy Avalanche and Cat’s Legacy.
Viking Red was well fancied to snap his run of seconds over course and distance last time out, but arrived on the scene too late to catch surprise winner Ataturk. Frank Robinson will be looking for his charge to go one better.
Crime Victim has been dropping steadily in the ratings and his form has been consistent.
The handicappers have dropped him a further three pounds since his last start and he looks competitive off his new mark.
Top weight Cat’s Legacy is lightly raced and will have his supporters. He showed up nicely in some competitive fields last season and was probably in need of the outing at his seasonal debut behind the promising Zen Arcade.
He goes this trip for the first time but should see it out.
Icy Avalanche
Icy Avalanche looked to have come to the end of his career in Port Elizabeth but Tony Nassif is a shrewd judge and the gelding has taken a new lease on life, finishing close-up second in both recent outings. Nassif has engaged poly specialist Anton Marcus for the ride so the inference is obvious.
Apprentices round off the evening where Ashburton trainers could dominate. Lowan Denyssechen saddles Zilla, who showed up well on her return from a break and Ashton Arries could be defending his lead come the line from Craig Bantam on the Duncan Howells runner Miss Suey who was a close-up third behind stable companion Mythical Magic last time out.