WATCH OUT FOR RAMSDEN’S RAIDER
Greasepaint can upstage favourite
THREE-YEAR-OLD Cape raider Speedpoint, out of Joey Ramsden’s stable, could be up to the task at the Vaal track today when teamed up with champion apprentice Lyle Hewitson in race 6, a MR 95 Handicap over 1 000m.
This son of Var showed smart twoyear-old form at Kenilworth where, second time out, he proved too good for his 15 rivals over 1 000m. He was bold in defeat in his next two outings when a runner-up to Dutch Philip in both the 1 200m Nursery (Grade 3) and the 1 500m Langerman.
Rested for almost four months, he started his three-year-old season friendless in the betting at Durbanville but still finished a creditable fifth. Then back at Kenilworth he followed up with an encouraging close second in a 1 000m Graduation Plate, and then a game win in a 1 000m NonBlack Type event for three-year-olds.
The colt turned in another good effort in his subsequent outing when up with the speed for much of the race and finishing a 3.35-length fifth out of 17 in the $500 000 The CTS 1 200, a Non-Black Type contest for threeyear-olds over 1 200m.
Having his first run after a 82-day break should not be a concern, as the booking of talented Hewitson for ride gives an indication that the colt is fit and ready.
Nevertheless, Ramsden’s charge will have to be on guard against topweight Greasepaint (Francois Herholdt) from Roy Magner’s stable. This seasoned campaigner is an eight-time winner, four of which were over this course and distance.
Herholdt was aboard in the sevenyear-old’s last four starts when placed – two of which were seconds in Grade 3 events. The gelding comes off a good second in a 14-strong 1 000m MR 96 Handicap at the Vaal and rates a major threat.
Expect improvement from Brett Warren three-time winner Sporting Monarch (Craig Zackey) who had been threatening a win but was not up to scratch in his last two outings. With the benefit of his month’s break from competition he could be involved in the finish this time.
Also to be included in Pick 6 and Jackpot bets is Paul Peter-trained Seven Lives with Keagan de Melo up. This lightly raced three-year-old was twice a winner at the Vaal which he followed up with a creditable threelength fifth in the 14-strong 1 100m Gold Rush Sprint at Turffontein.