Alec, Yeni headed straight to the top!
Dawson-trained D’Arrivee is set to regain winning form
Alec Laird-trained Green Top is clearly an above-average filly who proved her true worth when runner-up in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, beaten the whisker margin of 0.05 length superstar filly Takingthepeace.
Considering this fouryear-old daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was drawn worst of all and returning from a lengthy five-month stint off the racetrack, she wasn’t disgraced in her latest appearance, finishing a rapidly diminishing 1.25 lengths behind Grade 1 winner Redberry Lane.
As a result, Green Top looks very hard to beat tomorrow when she lines up in Race 5, a FM Assessment Plate over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track. Interestingly, she is only a one-time winner from 12 career starts! In fact, it’s been 625 days since we saw her in the winner’s enclosure, but this should all change.
Green Top should easily outclass her female rivals in this contest considering she runs off a merit rating of 103 while the average rating of this contest is 73! She is also the best-weighted runner in the field, shouldering 57kg and jumps from an advantageous No 2 draw.
The in-form jockey Muzi Yeni retains the ride.
Sean Tarry-trained Cordillera made light work of rivals on debut, defeating Pink by 2.25 lengths over 1400m in a work riders contest. This daughter of Skitt Skizzle could be absolutely anything so I advise you only take places on her. She shoulders 2kg less than Green Top.
Perhaps also take boxed Swingers and Exactas featuring the pair and float them with Dame Kelly, Piccadilly Square, Storm Destiny, Miss Pinkerton, Walnut Dash and Practical Cat.
Candice Dawson-trained D’ Arrivee has been extremely unlucky in his last two performances, beaten by no more than 0.25 lengths into second on both times. He was beaten by the highly rated G-BETS Summer Cup hopeful Pietro Mascagni in his penultimate starts, and simply couldn’t get his nose down first in his latest, finishing 0.20 lengths behind Warrior’s Rest, who he gave 2.5kg.
If those efforts are any indication, this Kahal gelding should repay his loyal supporters with a decent payday when he contests Race 3, a MR 84 Handicap over 1450m.
He is drawn at an advantageous No 3 and will shoulder a modest 55.5kg. That’s a massive 4kg less than his main danger, Morning Catch, who ran an absolute cracker in his Highveld debut, beaten 0.60 lengths into second by Pilou over 1600m on the Standside track.
Joey Ramsden’s charge was returning from a two-month layoff so will strip a lot fitter, expect improvement. My only concern is the fact this Await The Dawn gelding jumps from a No 10 draw in this 11-horse field.