In the money with Bankable Teddy
Changes make the difference
A few changes to the routine for Bankable Teddy has brought about a change in his fortunes and after a long spell without a win he returned to the winner’s enclosure after Race 5 at Turffontein on Saturday. This Bankable five-year-old gelding had been battling in the Brian Wiid yard with his rating clearly too high for what he had achieved but a switch to trainer David Nieuwenhuizen coupled with adding a tongue tie could have done the trick. Jockey Gavin Lerena took up the running early and seemed to doing enough aboard the Sean Tarry-trained Stonehenge but succumbed to the late challenge of Bankable Teddy, with Wild Horizon running on into third place. Earlier on the card there were two nice maiden winners in the form of Ice art in Race 2 and Vacquero in Race 3 who showed they have the ability to win more races. Another winner Sylvan Of Fire has won her last three races now so clearly is above the handicapper and has earned a shot at the forthcoming feature races in the Summer Season. At Flamingo Park the bang in-form combination of trainer Coerie Lensley and jockey Muzi Yeni look to be the ones to be with and both Venice In May in Race 8 and Beachmaster in Race 9 look the banker bets for the exotics. Venice In May may have just needed his local debut when third behind Natsuba in July but improved nicely off that run to smash Nice Chap by 2.50 lengths over 1400m at this track. His merit rating has actually gone down since that win so at his current mark at 58 looks likely to have at least one more win in him. His rivals look very moderate. Beachmaster looked a struggling sort earlier this year but has completely turned that around winning his last two starts. His most recent win was pretty impressive strolling clear to win by 11 lengths over 1800m at this track. Beachmaster is well enough drawn in stall No 5 so there is no reason he cannot go start to finish again.