Warfarer raring to go
THE Blinkers Bar Handicap could provide one of the keys to unlocking some of the form behind the big staying races come Champions Season. The race has attracted a competitive field of mostly young horses on a seven-race card at Scottsville this afternoon.
Banner Hill was among the 57 first entries for the Vodacom Durban July and he did his chances of making the final field no harm when winning an excellent race at Greyville a fortnight back.
It was a race run at a solid gallop, a rare phenomenon these days, and the three-year-old Warfarer kept fighting doggedly to stay on for third after being handy throughout.
Warfarer gave the impression that today’s 2 400m would be right up his alley and a corresponding drop in class for Lezeanne Forbes’s runner should see him right there in spite of having to lump top weight.
Certain to see out the trip is Vaughan Marshall’s gelding Omaha Tribe.
He has some steady Cape form over the trip and comes off some good recent form over ground which makes him a must inclusion in all exotic bets.
Paul Gadsby has high hopes for Techno Captain but the gelding’s temperament often gets the better of him and consequently he’s not the easiest horse to train.
However, Sean Veale is back aboard and the pair are unbeaten in two starts together and he too should enjoy the step up in trip.
The Irish-bred Cape Fling was a late starter and lightly-raced which suggests that Dean Kannemeyer has had to sort out a few ‘issues’.
But he has won three of his four starts in the space of eight months and the form of his last start, when holding on narrowly from the progressive Chicago Beat, has been franked and he can go in again in the Itsarush.co.za Middle Stakes.
But it will not be easy as he faces a tough handicap field.
Heir Line is also lightly-raced but Dennis Drier’s runner followed up on his maiden win and second-placed Mr O’Neill has also paid tribute to that form. Heir Line looks to have plenty of scope and won well on his handicap debut, making all the running.
Of the balance, Roman Emperor still races very green and has cost himself on more than one occasion but the drop in class could see him put in a better effort while Lonelyarethebrave has shown up well in two recent starts over course and distance.
In the Racing It’s A Rush Divided Handicap, Dress For Success took on much stronger last start and was running on late. Her last three wins have been over course and distance.
Adorada has some useful Cape form who looks more comfortable over this trip after trying further at her last start.
Another possible is Hot Toddy who drifted in the market on debut but was a runaway winner.
It was soft ground that day but on that showing she looks capable of following up.
In the opening leg of the jackpot Seattle Spell has shown some promise and was in need of his last run, his first since gelding.
He meets a weak field in the All To Come Maiden Plate and could prove difficult to beat. Turf Conqueror has improved since joining his new stable having come on with each run. He looks ready now.