BLINKERS HAVE IMPROVED INTANDOKAZI
Better run expected from Blazing Winter
TRAINER Barend Botes has his yard in cracking good form. He seems to have worked out Australian import Intandokazi and they can walk off with Race 8, a MR 70 Handicap over 1400m at the Vaal today.
The expensive Intandokazi had been heading nowhere until Botes decided to throw a pair of blinkers on him and the five-year-old gelding ran an improved fifth, only beaten one length by Nation Builder, in January this year.
Intandokazi was unlucky not to have finished much closer that day and next time out the expected (by the trainer) winning turn came through. Jockey Randall Simons clearly knew how best to ride Intandokazi as he held him up at the back of the field but was always travelling easily and when he pressed the horse the gelding quickened best to win well.
A five-point penalty for that win was a bit tough for the long time battler but it may not be enough to stop another win.
Blazing Winter and Tokyo Drift look the main dangers. Blazing Winter showed ability when picking up a maiden victory early on his career but has battled a bit since.
His last two starts proved to be disappointing but trainer Ormond Ferraris has dispensed of the blinkers he wore for those two runs.
Funnily enough blinkers have also been discarded from Tokyo Drift who was 8.50 lengths behind Intandokazi last time over this course and distance. He is, however, 3kg better off so it will be a lot closer this time and Tokyo Drift is better than that run would suggest.
Earlier on the card we could get decent runs out of Kilconnel Lass and Clever Guy. Both of those runners are trained by Stephen Moffatt, a man who does well at this course.
Kilconnel Lass in Race 3, a FM 68 Handicap over 1200m, has improving and followed up a good maiden win with a decent third place last time out behind My Friend Lee.
Clever Man runs in Race 4, a Graduation Plate over 1000m. This Argonaut gelding was an impressive winner of his second start and more was expected of him when only fifth behind Matador Man last time out.