Evening Bell should set the track ablaze
D’ Arrivee to resume winning ways
The jockey-trainer combination of Gavin Lerena and Geoff “The Guv” Woodruff are bang in form having teamed up 79 times for 30 wins and 34 places this season, and as a result have built an impressively high 25.32% win-strike rate.
They should increase this percentage when Evening Bell lines up in Race 4, a FM Maiden Plate over 1700m on the Vaal track today.
This daughter of Horse Chestnut returns from a minor 63-day stint off the racetrack – the only real chink in her armour. Considering this smashing three-year-old was squeezed out at the start, she ran an absolute cracker on debut when beaten 5.40 lengths into third place by Lady Lexington over 1200m.
That form line has produced a winner, and Evening Bell’s case is further strengthened by the fact she jumps from an advantageous No 3 draw in this 11-horse field. Lerena’s mount should relish the extra 500m of this contest and make winning improvement now that she knows a thing or two about racing. Evening Bell looks a worthy Pick 6 banker but if you are looking to go a bit wider, consider adding the Lucky Houdalakis-trained duo of Jungle Jane and Oh So Cold.
Following two consecutive close-up seconds, it appears the Clinton Binda-trained Setablaze is more than ready to shed his maiden tag when he teams up with jockey Calvin Habib in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1200m.
This Lateral gelding has been improving with each race run and he especially caught the eye when finishing no more than 0.50 lengths behind I Am Batman over 1400m in his most recent performances. The manner in which this three-year-old finished off that race strongly suggests he’ll prove most lethal over 1200m.
In fact, Setablaze ran over today’s course distance in his penultimate start when producing an impressive turn of foot to finish a diminishing length behind Palace Assembly. If he can reproduce that performance he’ll show his rivals a clean pair of heels.
Binda’s charge is the joint best-weighted runner in the field along with his main rival, Potjie.
This gelding gets the services of Randall Simons and has the right form credentials to win a race of this nature, however, he returns from a 65-day layoff so may be in need of a run or two.
The Candice Dawson-trained D’ Arrivee is as honest as the day is long and should register a fourth career triumph when he reunites with long-time collaborator Warran Kennedy in Race 5, a MR 83 Handicap over 1700m.
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