Either way, Seventh Rock should rule
Railtrip can make amends in Race 5
Following two consecutive second-place finishes, the Ashley Fortune-trained Seventh Rule cruised to an impressive triumph over 1100m in his most recent performance, defeating half-brother Seventh Son by 1.75 lengths at the Vaal.
The gelding should confirm superiority over his rival when they line up in Race 9, a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m at the same track today. Jockey Deon Sampson takes the ride aboard this four-year-old, who outclassed Seventh Son despite shouldering 2kg.
Unfortunately Seventh Rule will have to carry 4kg more than Clinton Binda’s charge in this contest. The only real chink in his armour.
Fortune’s charge seems to have found his niche over sprint trips and if he can reproduce anything close to that last performance, will be very hard to peg back. You can put a line through Seventh Son’s latest performance when beaten 2.25 lengths by Singaswewin over the minimum trip as he was bumped and unbalanced in running, taking away from his momentum. He still managed to stay on for second place. An effort full of merit.
Place Accumulator players should banker Seventh Rule but for the Pick 6 ensure you include Seventh Son. Model-of-consistency Railtrip is far better than her most recent performance when pulled out of the race by Piere Strydom in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile suggests. There were valid excuses, though, as she was reported as coughing.
If hassle free today, this Chesney van Zyltrained three-year-old is a great each-way prospect when she teams up with Keagan de Melo in Race 5, a FM 83 Handicap over 1700m.
Prior to that performance, she contested four features and held her own against tough opposition, most notably finishing 1.75 lengths behind Equus Champion Return Flight in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes. Railtrip is clearly an above-average sort but will have to beat hat-trick hopeful Artemisia (Strydom) who tries the 1700m for the first time. This six-year-old daughter of Silvano is in exquisite form at the moment, and the manner in which she quickened over 1600m last time suggests she’ll relish the extra 100m.
Add the fact she is smartly drawn at No 4 as opposed to Railtrip’s wide No 7 and Grant Maroun’s mount looks a massive contender for top honours. Take Swingers and Exactas featuring the pair and float then with the field in your Quartet. Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson is riding at the top of his game and could be seen in the winner’s enclosure with the Sean Tarry-trained Volcanic Sunset following the running of Race 3, a MR 66 Handicap over 1400m.
This Visionaire gelding seemed to find 1800m a touch too far in his most recent effort when beaten 3.75 lengths into third place by Bosphorus. He should prove most lethal over this trip.