Isolezwe

Gadsby on the hunt with Gunner

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GUNNER has not managed to find the winner’s enclosure since he won the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Stakes two season’s back where he became the first Gr1 winner for his sire Gimmethegr­eenlight.

Paul Gadsby has had a frustratin­g time since that win but it could all change at Greyville today where Gunner runs in the Delago Delux Handicap. The handicappe­rs have been slow to give him any relief, probably with his Gr1 victory in mind, but the gelding has dropped to his lowest rating today and has given notice at recent outings that he is coming back to his peak. Gadsby has stretched him to 1 400m at his last two with apprentice Khanya Sakayi aboard and he has shown improvemen­t in both races.

He was a length off the useful Legend two runs back which saw his merit rating bounce back to 80 and although Sakhayi dropped his stick last time out, he was under three lengths back to the promising Anthony Hotspur and was dropped to a 77 MR.

Top rider Bernhard Fayd’Herbe takes over in the saddle and Gunner looks primed for this event.

Today’s race meeting honours training legend Charles Laird and the races have been named after the horses that have made an impact on his career and also Summerhill Stud who bred many of his top horses. Summerhill also stood top sire National Emblem who was the first feature race winner for Laird on his first day as a fully fledged trainer. Duncan Howells has been chasing hard for his third KZN trainer’s title but his efforts have been hampered by a virus that affected the yard for over a month and saw many of his horses run below their best form.

One was Girl In Gold who runs in the Summerhill Stud Handicap.

She is way better than her last start when racing wide throughout and can do much better here.

Top weight Kahula has been racing in feature company and has not been far back. She has a fair weight to shoulder but has red-hot apprentice and Champion Jockey elect, apprentice Lyle Hewitson aboard which is a big plus.

Arizona Sunset has only been out of the money once for Ashburton-based Kom Naidoo and daughter of Mogok is well suited to the 1 800m trip and with apprentice Serino Moodley taking 1.5kg off her back, she looks well in with only 53kg to shoulder. Of the balance, Star Evolution and Pumpkin Queen are others to consider. Apprentice Luke Ferraris has been making the most of his opportunit­ies and has a fine chance in the card opener where he partners Glen Kotzen’s filly Majestica. She was a close-up second when taking on winners at Scottsvill­e recently and from a good draw has a lot going for her.

The second appears to be a more difficult propositio­n although a set of blinkers could bring out the best in Vaughan Marshall’s runner Provocateu­r.

He has shown some promise but has twice been run out of it in the finish and blinkers could do the trick.

Out side of Provocateu­r, Farland and Rumbleinth­ejungle look to be obvious threats.

Sharpe’s Eagle was given two barrier trials by Andre Nel before making his debut proper and the lightly raced colt has improved with each outing.

He started at long odds when staying on well on debut and once can expect further improvemen­t.

In the opening leg of the jackpot, Fieldmarsh­al Fenix takes a drop in class after showing up well against stronger last time out.

He has a big weight to shoulder but should be competitiv­e. Good To Give was a close-up second when tried in blinkers and is seldom far back. Open Court is lightly raced and has taken to the poly track. He also made a smart handicap debut and a repeat should see him in the firing line along with Royal Rustler who has recorded both of his wins over course and distance and has been consistent and is a must for all exotic bets.

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