Sharpe’s Eagle to take flight
ANDRE NEL, successful with Head Honcho in the July Consolation last Saturday, steps out Sharpe’s Eagle in the opening leg of the Pick 6 at Scottsville today where the colt should take to the step up in trip.
After two modest showings in barrier trials, Sharpe’s Eagle has come into his own on the track proper, finishing close-up in two sprints which should have set him up nicely for his first crack over ground.
The son of Querari was out-paced late when trying to make all on the Greyville poly last time out but should much prefer this trip and jumps from a plum draw.
Holy Land
His most obvious threat is Dennis Driers charge Holy Land who finished with a rattle when fancied over course and distance last time out.
He runs in blinkers today so it would appear that Drier thinks Holy Land is better than that showing show Sharpe’s Eagle will have to be on his game.
Gone Baby Gone, a winner second run back for his old stable, can follow up in a highly competitive Natal Carbineers Handicap, opening leg of the jackpot.
The race is a mine field with almost every runner in with a winning chance but after a somewhat disappointing Highveld campaign Gone Baby Gone has come good again for Glen Kotzen, making all the running to win on the poly last time out.
He faces a much stiffer task this afternoon but does look capable of going to the well again.
Verdier over-raced when tried in blinkers and ran out of gas inside the last furlong in a race won by VDJ second Made To Conquer and looks a threat.
Mark Dixon has removed the blinkers and Verdier can turn in a better performance this time around.
Ballymaine has recorded all three of his wins at Scottsville, the two most recent over course and distance, and he has not been out of the money since being tried in blinkers by Ivan and Darryl Moore.
He was a game fourth in the recent Track & Ball Derby behind, It’s My Turn who followed up on Saturday with victory in the Gold Vase and with a drop in class he is a must inclusion in all exotic bets.
With little over a fortnight before the end of the season, two-year-olds could hold sway in the Natal Associated Agencies Maiden where current two-year-olds Pearl Tiara and Targaryen Queen could hold sway.
Pearl Tiara trialled well and carrier that form into her debut, made in feature company, where she finished close-up to Firdoas in the Devon Air Stakes.
She was a trifle unlucky not to have finished closer as she found traffic and can make amends here.
Targaryen Queen caught the eye on debut behind hot favourite Charge D’Affaires and she has a pedigree that suggests that she will much prefer this extra furlong.
Nauticus
Nauticus was deemed good enough to make the trip for the Western Cape summer but the Drier string did not enjoy the best of seasons.
He has had three races since his return and showed last time out why he had earned his place on the float to Cape Town.
He finished a close-up fourth and can make it home in front in the Blomeyers Electrical Handicap.
But in another tough race Royal Kaitrina is due a change of fortune and should be right there again while Ronnie Rocket takes a drop in class and is over his best trip.
Valedictorian was a reserve runner in a tough Pinnacle Stakes race on July day which was possibly an indication of how Vaughan Marshall rates the lightly raced gelding.
He was a good fourth in Graduation company at only his second start at Kenilworth and trialled well in his only outing this winter.
He takes on some more seasoned opposition in the Splash Distributors Handicap but could have a touch too much class.
Finally, Paul Lafferty is one of the principal proponents of barrier trials and his colt Celebration Rock turned in an eye-catching trial that is unlikely to have gone unnoticed.
The Australian-bred colt is likely to start favourite for the last.