Judd’s Rocket could go all the way
A MR83 Handicap over 1600m heads a low key eight race meeting at the Vaal Classic track tomorrow and Muzi Yeni could follow on from where he left off on the weekend by winning it aboard Judd’s Rocket.
This three-year-old Judpot gelding was drawn on the wrong side last time over this trip on the Outside track and had to run on the inside of horses, so he put up a fine performance to stay on and only be beaten by 1,25 lengths.
He now has a draw of two and from a handy position could kick for home when it counts and hold on carrying just 53kg.
The three-year-old Tapit gelding Wheel Of Time was quite unfavourably drawn in that aforementioned race and beat Judd’s Rocket home by a head.
He should also be in the shake up from pole position and will likely be closing on Judd’s Rocket late.
Prince Swarovski
The three-year-old Silvano gelding Prince Swarovski got going too late last time over 1500m on the Vaal Classic track but was finishing fastest for a 2,1 length fifth.
He remains on the same 77 merit rating which is competitive and he has a fair draw of four. Marco van Rensburg remains aboard.
Till Dawn took seven runs to win his maiden but had faced decent sorts and cruised in just over a week ago by 4,6 lengths.
He is a progressive sort as one would expect as he is by the decent late sire Await The Dawn.
He should certainly stay this trip and is drawn on the right side so is another one with a chance.
Notting Hill has come down four points in the merit ratings after leading and running out of steam in the race in which Judd’s Rocket and Wheel Of Time ran.
He is a big horse who should be at his peak after three runs on the Highveld and he could improve on that performance, but he does have to make up 2,75 lengths on Judd’s Rocket and is 2kg better off and there is a reversal in draw fortunes.
Those five are fancied in an open race.
The next race, a MR 72 Handicap over 1500m, looks to be tough on the card. Bubbly Reply’s win in November was with Lyle Hewitson aboard and this is the first time he has ridden him since.
He has a fair draw and dropped to an attractive merit rating.
Humble Addict flew home from way back over 1160m last time to win his maiden and the form has been franked.
Reward For Effort
His sire Reward For Effort was a sprinter but he is from the same family as Brazuca, so he has a chance of staying the trip.
He has to carry topweight first time out the maidens, although he looks likely to rise above his current merit rating of 79.
He has a tricky draw of nine by trends too. Lock Him Up is better than his last run when widely drawn over this course and distance.
He has a better draw this time but will need some luck.
Those are the three most fancied runners but the advice is to go as wide as possible.
The meeting opens with a maiden over 1500m where hard-knocking Agent Kay at last has everything in his favour.
He has on occasion been a bit strong in the running over further so this trip should be ideal and he now gets a good draw too.
Nuntius Oratorion has scope for improvement and could be the chief threat along with first-timer Power Beauty, who is by Fastnet Rock out of a mare who won the prestigious Grade 1 Prix de l’Abbaye over 1000m on Arc day at Longchamp.
The first leg of the PA is tricky as the fancied horses are all drawn wide.
However, Kick Butt and Evangeline look to be coming into their own and are the two first choices with Regal Girl the back up.
Tirkan
In the first leg of the Pick 6, SA Classicwinning combination Joe Soma and Muzi Yeni will attempt a hattrick with Tirzan and they could well do it as his last two wins over this 2000m trip have been wide margin ones and he could still be ahead of the handicapper despite having been given the maximum eight point raise.
In the last race of the day the impressive Buffalo Bill Cody still looked immature when beating none other than Saturday’s SA Classic winner Lobo’s Legend on debut over 1160m last November.
He would likely have benefitted from the subsequent layoff, so is the one to beat in this 1000m handicap with Great Shaka the back up.