Dixon ‘kicks for touch
A veteran trainer of yore, who often questioned the use of blinkers by his colleagues but himself using them effectively, labelled it ‘kicking for touch’.
The truth be told, blinkers don’t always have the desired effect especially if they are the last resort for a slow horse, but there is a plethora of evidence that shows that they do work for some horses who, for many reasons, are either shirking their duties or simply need to concentrate.
After a string of modest performances, Mark Dixon ‘kicked for touch’ and the result was instant. Narrowly beaten first time out in blinkers, Parallelogram can go one better when she runs in a qualified maiden at Greyville today.
However, given the fare on offer, a mix of weak maidens and lower handicaps, it’s not a card to stake your life on but Parallelogram should be one of the better bets on the card. She teams up with apprentice Ashton Arries again and from an inside draw she has a lot going for her.
The poly track was the saving grace for Ginger Biscuit who tries for a fourth win on the bounce in the Interbet Handicap. Keagan de Melo is unbeaten on Pat Lunn’s mare who has recorded six of her seven wins on the synthetic surface.
De Melo has obvious found the key and Ginger Biscuit has come from well off the pace in her last three.
And there should be pace aplenty with top weight Yaas and Flamboyant both likely to be up there from the jump.
Yaas is lightly raced and Louis Goosen’s filly was caught late over the Scottsville shortcut last time out with the going posted as yielding. Yaas is lightning quick on the poly and the addition of a tongue-tie appears to have made a difference so Ginger Biscuit could be hard-pressed to peg her back.
Lucky Veil is one-for-one over course and distance when he lines up in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap but this is not a race to go light in for the exotics. Darryl and Ivan Moore had a winner at Scottsville on Sunday and have a chance of a quick double with Lucky Veil.
The gelding nearly caused a major boil-over when a close-up third behind Q The Music last time at odds of 55-1. He is likely to start in single figures today after that showing and his chances look bright now that he is back on the poly. But as mentioned, not a race to go light in. Graduate has turned in two smart performances since starting out while Roy’s Marciano and course and distance specialist Fire The Rocket are others to consider.
Duncan Howells holds a strong hand in the Gold Circle Podcast Handicap with Crystal Ball and Roy’s Vogue both in with winning chances. Crystal Ball found traffic last run and will enjoy the extra while Roy’s Vogue pulled up coughing when down the field behind Haddington and is sure to put in a better performance this time around.
Both will need to get the better of Lady Li Lay, a facile winner over course and distance last time out while Zilla ran way below her best form last start and must have a chance judged on her previous form.
Quakeshake can get the Pick 6 off on a winning note as Dean Kannemeyer’s filly made marked improvement first up on the poly. She also found some market support that day after having showing little in the Cape so could not be coming to hand. The balance of the field are a fairly modest bunch but Fonteyn has done well over course and distance and does seem better than her last effort. The Gardner Girl has her first run for a new stable. She has shown some fair Highveld form and doesn’t have too be too good to feature here.