Shenanigans to have an effect
THE Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1 800m heads the nine race meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and Shenanigans, who took Lyle Hewitson to a record number of wins as an apprentice last week, can follow up.
The four-year-old colt is improving in the typical style of a son of Dynasty and having won that last race going away over 1 700m he can handle an effective three point raise and the slight step up in trip will suit.
His tricky draw of six in an eleven horse field should be of no bother as he can come from off the pace. Secret Captain is full of ability but is an enigmatic type who had former trainer Duncan Howells tearing his hair out.
He moved yards on Howell’s suggestion and produced a flying finish in his second run for Mike de Kock over 1 600m.
On that evidence he should relish the step up to 1 800m and if h puts it in will be a big runner from pole position under Anthony Delpech.
Dawn Assault has become consistent in middle distance and staying events and lost by a long-head to a Grade 1-winning filly, Orchid Island, last time despite giving her 2kg.
On that performance he will be a big runner here.
Go Direct
Go Direct is by Go Deputy so will likely be at his peak as a five-year-old and he has produced a fine win over this course and distance before.
He has a plum draw of two under Gavin Lerena and should be running on strongly. Arctica is a horse who often appears to find extra when it counts and under Piere Strydom he can’t be discounted, although he would probably prefer 1 600m.
Fareeq beat Secret Captain last time and is only half-a-kilogram worse off but he has to prove he can stay beyond a mile and has a wide draw too.
The best bet could be Fort Ember in race six.
She takes quite a keen hold usually so needs a good draw and has landed one here. She can therefore reverse from with Orchid Island and Girl On The Run, who beat her over this 1800m course and distance last time easily.
She is 3kg better off with them and likely needed that last run.
Her Sansui Summer Cup runner up finish proved what she can do when well drawn.
The value bet is in the previous race over 2 850m.
Ali Bon Dubai has landed a good draw and the last time he was well drawn was in a 3000m event where he only just failed.
He has a strong finish and Gavin Lerena, who was the last rider to win on him, is back aboard.
The second race over 1 160m will be full of intrigue as the R5 million filly Ghaala makes her debut.
She is beautifully bred being by Var out of a Captain Al half-sister to Master Of My Fate.
She is drawn on the right side by trends. She faces mainly unraced runners, including Celtic Sea, a R325,000 filly by Captain Al who is a half-sister to the Grade 3 Fillies Mile third-placed Cashel Palace.
Affranchi
The first race is also for two-year-olds and on form Affranchi is the one to beat, having gone close to the impressive Bold Eagle first time out and then winning his second start easily.
The last race over 1 160m sees a clash between Penny Royal and Inyanga and from another good draw the former is taken to reverse the form of their last meeting as she should be improving rapidly.