Jackman can take to the poly
THE rejuvenated poly track gets put to the test at Greyville this afternoon. The entire poly track has undergone a major overhaul so hopefully there won’t be any complaints by jockeys or trainers who were given an opportunity to gallop horses on the track yesterday morning but there were no takers.
Turffontein-based Brian Wiid has in the past been a successful raider on the poly and he saddles a brace with Jackman lining up in the fifth and Soldat next up in the sixth.
Jackman looks the more likely of the pair. He finished three lengths back in MR80 company last time out in his first start in blinkers and today drops to an MR64 handicap. He does have top weight but has drawn well and does not meet a particularly strong field.
Forbes
Lezeanne Forbes sends out the consistent Toltec who looks the most obvious threat. Toltec has hardly been out of the money in a dozen starts and has finished close-up in both outings since shedding his maiden. He has improved in blinkers and is no stranger to the synthetic surface.
Soldat faces a more difficult task. He took 21 runs to shed his maiden and that in a work riders plate where he kept going to win over the Vaal 1500m. He also does not have the best of draws but one gets the impression that the switch of surfaces may bring out the best in him. But it is a wide-open affair and the luckless Viking Red, down in trip and back on his favourite surface, could finally nail down his second win for Frank Robinson. He over-raced and compounded over 1950m at Scottsville last time out and the shorter trip could work in his favour.
Track & Ball have Dale House up as a weak 11-2 favourite. The Michael Roberts-trained gelding found one too good for him in the front-running Master Sam last time out and can do better here.
For exotic bet punters it’s not a race to go ‘light’ in.
Touch Of Magic
Timetoperfection and Touch Of Magic look the principal contenders in the seventh with the former at the top of the boards although easy to back at around 3-1.
The daughter of Judpot has plenty of miles on the clock for her two wins but made a promising local debut for Brett Crawford when third behind Miss Millionaire who was responsible for a major boilover that day.
Blinkers appear to have sharpened her up a little and the switch of surfaces could also prove a major plus.
Paul Lafferty thought enough of Touch Of Magic for her to take her place in the float for Cape Town for their summer.
She only had one start before her return and she was not too far behind Nanna Anna.
Lafferty has booked poly specialist Anton Marcus for the leg up and from a good draw looks a lively contender.
Arries
Apprentice Ashton Arries piloted home the 60th winner of his career when Statute scored at Scottsville on Sunday so Kahula will not get the benefit of his 1.5kg claim in the opening leg of the PA, that’s if she runs after she finished third behind Head Honcho on Sunday.
That could leave the way open for Craig Eudey’s game mare Mark My Card. She won first time out for her new stable and has since finished close-up on two further occasions.
She is always game and honest and has the benefit of Marcus in the irons.
Via Con Dios
Via Con Dios has attracted some early market support in a tricky closing leg of the jackpot and is now a marginal favourite while rank outsider Parasailor, a half-sister to the smart Isingamoya, and with absolutely no form to recommend, has found some long-shot support.