SHEER TROUBLE TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
VARUMBA MAKES APPEAL
THE scratching of strongly fancied Alpha Pegasi has opened the door for Mike Bass-trained Sheer Trouble to land a fourth career win at Kenilworth today when he teams up with Grant van Niekerk in Race 6 and top-rated event, the R83,000 Itsarush.co.za MR 95 Handicap over 1400m.
Van Niekerk was aboard three runs back when the four-year-old posted a gutsy 0.10-length win in a MR 99 Handicap over 1600m at Kenilworth, and after a break of almost four months when ridden by Greg Cheyne, the gelding scored by 0.30 lengths in an Allowance Plate over 1400m at the same venue.
The Silvano gelding can be excused for missing the frame next time with Cheyne aboard in the 1400m Matchem Stakes (Grade 3) at Durbanville as he was unsettled in the starting stalls and was slow out.
However, reunited with his regular jockey Van Niekerk, the gelding could bounce right back to top form at Kenilworth.
Sheer Trouble’s principal rival is Joey Ramsden-trained three time winner Catkin (Sean Cormack) who snatched victory in his penultimate outing in a 1600m Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth.
The four-year-old was not disgraced in his subsequent run when unplaced in a 1600m MR 95 Handicap at Durbanville as it was his first outing after a threemonth layoff and he was seen to be doing his best work late.
He should be all the better with the benefit derived from that run and could pose a major threat this time.
Another who deserves respect lower down in the weights is Justin Snaith-trained two-time winner Ochoncar (MJ Byleveld).
The four-year-old was a fluent winner in a 1300m MR 80 Handicap at Durbanville three runs back in his first run after being gelded and rested for three months. He finished close up fifth in his two subsequent runs when competing in tougher company over 1600m at the same venue.
The Captain Al gelding has scope for improvement today as he is no stranger to Kenilworth where he was a smart winner over 1400m and was placed four times in his next eight runs at the venue.
The pick of the others are Tiger Tiger, Juddering Angel, Half Moon Hotel and In The Cruise.
Making most appeal in Race 4 and supporting topliner, is Vaughan Marshall-trained Varumba with Byleveld aboard in the R83,000 Racing.
It’s A Rush MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.
The Var filly started her career with a raid in Gauteng where she was a close runner-up over 1000m at the Vaal turf course with Byleveld up. Teamed up with Anton Marcus in her next three outings she was a runaway winner at Turffontein and followed up with bright third in the 1160m SA Nursery (Grade 1) at the same venue.
On her return to base she was backed into the red but had settle for third in the Kenilworth Nursery (Grade 3).