Rockin Russian can rock back
ROCKIN RUSSIAN, most disappointing on her two previous Cape Town starts, can take advantage of a significant drop in class to bounce back in the Betting World Progress Plate at Kenilworth today.
The Sean Tarry filly was considered good enough to be ridden by Piere Strydom in the Fillies Guineas but she raced wide on the bend, suffered interference and finished stone last.
Prior to that she was second last when the only filly in the Cape Classic.
Her previous Durban form is good and, although that now has more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese, she is well in at the weights and appeals at 28-10.
World Sports Betting has Elusive Heart favourite on 22-10.
The Glen Kotzen filly was seventh in the Fillies Guineas, is ridden by on-fire Richard Fourie (five winners here on Saturday) but has to concede 3kg to the selection.
Desert Rhythm
Tarry’s other runner Desert Rhythm (9-2) has not raced since finishing fourth in the Thekwini, a length and a half behind Rockin Russian who is a whopping 6kg better.
Freedom Charter (28-10) has been upped 2kg for winning a handicap over this trip last time, Salimah (5-1) finished last of seven when favourite for her last race and 16-1 shot Kenna looks out of it.
Vice Versa was my original choice for the TAB Telebet Handicap despite carrying a first-time-out-of-the-maidens red warning flag as she was so impressive when winning an admittedly modest maiden that she looked as if she could prove the exception to the golden rule.
However she has gone lame on her near fore.
Via Sacra, put up 2kg for winning over the trip after leading nearly 400m out, is now favourite at 16-10 and gets the vote. Also fancied at 2-1 is Best Kept Secret who was only raised a kilo for last time’s win and for whom Mike de Kock has snapped up Fourie.
Pata Pata
Pata Pata has losses to recover in the opening ItsARush Maiden after being beaten at 1-2 last time when she went to the front before halfway and was run out of it in the last 100m.
Her previous run was good but it is a little disconcerting that Brett Crawford’s stable jockey Corne Orffer is now on newcomer Pacific Trader.
The latter opened at 2-1 while Pata-Pata (ridden for the first time by Greg Cheyne) is again odds-on at 7-10.
Pearl Jam
In race three Pearl Jam (22-10 favourite) only has half a length in hand over 11-1 chance Eternal Night on last time’s running while 7-2 shot Spam Alert is badly drawn.
The once-raced Prairie Sky is suggested each way at 14-1. ROY HAD ENOUGH has always struck as a smart colt and he confirmed that opinion at Greyville yesterday.
Coming from the tail end of the field, the Australian import matched strides briefly with favourite Legend but soon left his rival for dead and apprentice Lyle Hewitson wagging a finger at the large crowd Boxing Day crowd as he skated home in the Listed Christmas Handicap.
Frank Robertson thought enough of his charge to try his luck in the Dingaans at Turffontein last month but his colt pulled a coffin draw and was only beaten just under four lengths by KZN counterpart Monks Hood.
With a better gate he may have finished closer in what was a seriously competitive Dingaans and a race that often turns out to be one of the defining races of the season.
Legend
Legend, back to his best last time out, took off from the back of the field alongside Roy Had Enough but could not match his younger rival and finished runner-up with pacemaker Redcarpet Captain staying on gamely for third.
Pick 6 punters took a body-blow first up as rank outsider Celestial Gold, paying R45 a win on the tote, finished like an express train to land the Secona Freight Logistics Handicap.
Although a surprise winner according to the betting, the race lacked depth and those punters who chose to go wide were rewarded.
A recent article in the Parade magazine documenting the trials and tribulations of small stables attracted scathing criticism from some quarters but for those trainers who are prepared to stick it out and enjoy what they do, a win is handsome reward no matter the starting price.
Lola Crawford and daughters, Tarryn and Hailey, put in the hard work at Ashburton and although Celestial Gold was not a popular result with most punters, nor would Swakopmund’s victory – R15 a win on the tote – in the following race have given much cheer and Dennis Drier boasts one of the biggest stings in KZN.
But horses are horse, no matter how big or small the stable.
Captain’s Girl
Ante-post favourite Captain’s Girl, a drifter before the start before late money for Rodney displaced her at the top of the boards, made a tardy start which may well have been the difference between winning and losing.
Stable companion Effortless Reward stretched the field early but Swakopmund stuck to his guns and went on with it as the leader fell away.
Captain’s Girl got going late from well off the pace but the hare had already bolted.
Louis Goosen may have been disappointed with Captain’s Girl but the gloom quickly lifted as Winter Blues made it onto the scoreboard, taking advantage of favourite Constantine missing the break and having to hunt for a clear passage when it counted.
Constantine only managed third but Winter Blues, having only his fourth outing, was produced with a telling late run by Gunter Wrogemann to snaffle Captain Ellio and win going away.