Delpech takes charge on Coys
TELLYTRACK television presenter Deez Dayanand was a popular choice as Personality of the Year at the recent KZN Racing awards. He is also an astute reader of form, chief beneficiary being champion jockey Anthony Delpech for whom Dayanand acts as agent.
It helps that Delpech is at the top of the tree as far as jockeys go so when Dayanand telephones for the ride there is hardly an argument on the trainer’s part.
But first he has to pick the right mount and he looks to have done that in the opener at Scottsville today where Delpech partners Paul Lafferty’s charge Coys.
The Australian-bred has improved with every outing and caught the eye with a terrific finish over the Greyville mile from a coffin draw last time out.
He hasn’t drawn much better today with only one on his outside, but it is a lot easier at Scottsville and draw aside, Coys ticks all the right boxes.
Gary Rich saddled his first winner of the new season at Scottsville on Sunday with Connect Me shedding her maiden at her second attempt.
Naked Truth is at the other end of the scale, having his 18th start without much luck.
He lines up in the second but has shown improved form at recent starts, running on nicely behind the highly rated Brighteyebushytail last time out.
Naked Truth was given a good workout last Friday to Rich’s satisfaction.
“That was good work. I think he has a big chance. My only concern is that this may be a bit sharp for him.”
Ashburton-based trainers won four of the eight races on Sunday and Paul Gadsby’s runner Majestic Moon could prove a threat although his recent improvement has come on the Greyville poly.
With big fields and open handicaps the order of the day punters will need to knuckle down to some serious homework.
Fashion Quest
Fashion Quest has been confined to sprints at recent starts but Michael Miller stretches her back to a mile in the Qualified Maiden and booked Anton Marcus for the mount.
She has shown consistent pace in all of her starts and now a year older looks to be crying out for the extra ground.
African Honey has her third outing after a break and could prove better than her form suggests and looks a threat along with French Toast and Kailua Beach.
In Clover is an Australian-bred daughter of the re-patriated Delago Deluxe who was trained by Charles Laird and also raced in the Mayfair Speculator silks. In Clover was well supported on debut, winning comfortably on the Greyville poly but she takes on stronger in the Soccer 13 Handicap where top weight Leisure Trip can record his first win in KZN.
He has been confined to the poly track but takes a hefty drop in class and Serino Moodley, currently lying joint second on the leading apprentice log, gives 2.5kg relief.
Duncan Howells and Dave MacLean are a formidable combination, recording a double at Scottsville on Sunday, and Girl In Gold could add another in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap.
She only shed her maiden last time out but takes on a weak handicap field and looks good enough to defy joint top weight.
Two that could threaten, although a little compromised by tricky draws, are Light House Lady and Captains Moll, the latter dropping in the ratings and with Delpech aboard.
Doug Campbell is another who had a winner on Sunday and is always a stable to keep tabs on at this time of the year.
He saddles Eden Garden Blitz in the White Horse Function Room Handicap.
She makes her seasonal debut after showing good form in useful company over Champions Season.
With Marcus aboard she can snap a two-race winning streak by Magic Memory who got a six-point handicap rise after her last win.
Ku Du Tu
The lightly raced Ku Du Tu won well at second time of asking and Garth Puller’s gelding should have more to come in the Jackpot Quickmix Handicap.
Selvan’s Jet has been racing over further and confined to the poly track at recent starts but has won five races and was a close-up second from a tricky draw last time out.
He will be a threat along with Valcar who has yet to finish out of the money but has been off for close on three months.
The last is something of a minefield but the adage, “when in doubt, back the top weight’ could hold true here with Roy’s Taxi in consistent form and has Delpech to help him along.