Lerena to play ‘Hard Ball’
The Australian-bred Hard Ball is long overdue a victory and that could change at the Vaal tomorrow when he lines up in the card opener over 1 400m. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s gelding has finished runner-up at his last two and blinkers do appear to have improved his focus, having only been run out of it late in those races.
Gavin Lerena has stuck with the ride he can get punters off to a winning start.
However, after giving many of his runners a break at the end of last season, Sean Tarry is starting to roll them out again and if Hard Ball runs into a straight bat it could be in the form of the Tarry-trained Cyrus.
He raced green in his debut sprint and will surely prefer this trip with Lyle Hewitson booked for the ride.
Hewitson partners the Mike and Adam Azzie runner Vanuatu in the second who will hopefully make marked improvement on his disappointing second start.
He was a promising second on debut but pulled up lame when down the field behind Boatswain.
The Azzie’s will fit blinkers and a tongue-tie tomorrow which will hopefully see him run an improved race. Also behind Boatswain was Sweet Trail who is definitely better than that last effort after a close-up second at his penultimate start.
Lerena rides for the third time which is always a good sign.
Western Shamrock
Candice Dawson is fast making a name for herself in her own right as a trainer and saddles Western Shamrock in the opening leg of the Pick 6.
The daughter of Philanthropist was well fancied on debut but was possibly just short of a run, fading late behind Sweet Juliet.
She is sure to improve on that run and most of the opposition are well exposed.
Although taking a big rise in trip, Mutawaary is likely to start among the fancied runners for the Supabets Maiden.
Mike de Kock kept the Aussie bred to sprints where he showed signs of getting off the mark before a well below par effort in a handicap sprint last time out.
His pedigree suggests that the step up in trip will be well within his compass.
The Azzie’s send out fellow Australian-bred Sess who disappointed badly when favourite last time out after a smart showing at his previous start.
It was obviously a performance well below what was expected and he does have the benefit of having been tried over ground.
The Interbet.co.za Handicap heads the card and it looks a bit of an open affair.
Banner Hill, who acquitted himself well during Champions Season, has his first outing for Geoff Woodruff, no doubt in preparation for the Highveld spring season where there are some lucrative opportunities for staying horses.
He has a big weight but could race fresh over this trip and Piere Strydom will get the best out of him.
Kilrain has come back well since a break and starting for his new stable, winning well over the Turffontein 1600m. With fitness on his side he could prove the better option as opposed to Banner Hill.
Stonehenge and Bankable Teddy met last time out with Bankable Teddy coming out on top. He is now 2kg worse off with the runner-up so there is not likely to be much between the two.