Tarry in form for the Guineas

NATIONAL Champion trainer Sean Tarry has hit form at just the right time and goes into the big Guineas meeting at Turffontein on Saturday on the back of a four-timer last Saturday.

In the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (GFG) he said it would not surprise him if either of his pair, Rockin Russian and Aurelia Cotta, got into the finish.

He said, “Rockin Russian didn’t go well in Cape Town. I could not pinpoint the reason.

“She faced strong opposition, but I have no doubt she still preformed below her capabilities.

“However, since returning to Johannesburg her work has been good and her coat is looking good. If ignoring her Cape Town campaign her formline is good.”

Hewitson

Record-breaking apprentice Lyle Hewitson is aboard as he has done well on her in the past and they are drawn three.

Tarry continued, “We have always thought highly of Aurelia Cotta. She won her debut over 1 400m in good fashion and then came out and beat Mike de Kock’s horse Like A Panther. She made a bit of a breathing noise in her next start and we tried the tongue tie for a couple of runs, but it did not work.”

The tongue tie was removed and she finished a running on three-length runner up to ruling GFG favourite Folk Dance in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile and a far from disgraced 3,15 length fourth over 1800m to Gauteng Guineas favourite Majestic Mambo in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes.

She then raced in the CTS Mile at Kenilworth and never got into the race from a bad draw.

Aurelia Cotta has Piere Strydom up and is drawn eight.

Tarry concluded, “Both fillies did not appreciate the firm going in Cape Town.

There are one or two with better form, but neither filly is out of place. They are both close to their peak and both will be finishing well.”

Big Bear is the most fancied of Tarry’s Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas trio. He won the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1 400m in good style, but in the Investec Dingaans was a touch disappointing, although he was caught wide and cramped late in the race. He has not run since and Tarry said, “He had to have one testicle removed as it was troubling him. He might need this run. We had to take our chances because he had just come right from a fitness point of view. If he had a good draw we could have gone in a lot more hopeful. However, he should run well and we can use it as a preparation run too.”

He added, “Wonderwall and Big Bear are both good horses and are good enough here on ability. I think Wonderwall’s best trip is probably 1 400m, but there is not enough evidence to say he doesn’t get a mile. I don’t know yet whether Cape Town or Jo'burg form is better, but Wonderwall’s 2,5 length fifth in the Cape Guineas is one of the best runs of Saturday’s field.”

Silver God

The beautifully-bred Silver God disappointed the yard last time out and Tarry could find no solid reason for it.

“He is definitely the third best of my three, but has landed the best draw, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. He is taking longer to come into himself. He shows good work but disappoints on the racetrack, and might need gelding.”

Tarry said, “On form Folk Dance is definitely the one to beat in the fillies race.” He continued, “The colts race is strong.”

He mentioned Monk’s Hood, Surcharge, Majestic Mambo and “Mike de Kock’s coupling” in the latter race.

He said, “They all have their obstacles to overcome,” but added, considering draws Mike de Kock’s coupling had "everything in their favour.”

De Kock has four runners but Tarry was likely referring to Noble Secret, drawn nine, and Royal Crusade, drawn in pole.

Tarry said Africa Rising in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1 400m would be one of his best runners on the day.

He said, “He should have won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes but was produced too early and never finished, but having said that I think 1 400m is his best trip. He is in a good space and has a good draw.”

Matador Man

He also runs Matador Man, who has a tricky draw of eight, and said, “He has a lot of ability but has reserved his best form for Greyville. I don’t think he has seen out the distances in Johannesburg that he did at Greyville, but now I am bringing him back in trip and it would not surprise me if he won.”

Tarry believes he has a “very strong coupling” in the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1 600m and said, “they are hard to separate but I am confident Redberry Wood wants the mile, so on that basis I would lean towards her. Simply Royal on pedigree should want a mile, but she tends to race a bit hard.”

Redberry Lane is drawn in pole and carries only 53,5kg with Hewitson up, while Simply Royal is drawn three and carries 55,5kg with Raymond Danielson aboard.

Tarry also likes his coupling in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2 400m. He said, “Tambalang is interesting here because I believe she is looking for the distance and has had two nice runs going into the race. Witchcraft is very well and neither filly will be far off.”