Join Fortune for cocktails in Manhattan
Deerupt loves the Vaal and is hard to oppose
The Ashley Fortune stable sent out a fourpronged attack at Turffontein racecourse 12 days ago and each of those runners was forced to settle for the runner-up position. But Fortune’s luck should change when when Union Castle lines up today in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m up the Vaal straight track.
This two-year-old old colt finished an uninspiring seventh on debut but showed good improvement in his follow-up, being beaten a length into second place by Guantanamo Bay over today’s course and distance – at a healthy Place payout of R4.80, something we are unlikely to see today.
Jockey Ryan Munger takes the ride on the son of Capetown Noir, who has the best form in the field.
Union Castle’s biggest danger could be one of the five first timers in the 11-horse contest – possibly the Paul Peter-trained Fly Away (Warren Kennedy) – so keep an eagle eye on the betting for guidance. It could pay to take an All To Come bet featuring Places on Union Castle, onto Deerupt in Race 4, and then a Win on Pick 6 banker Manhattan Cocktail in Race 8. Considering she was returning from a four-month layoff last time out, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Deerupt produced an exceptional turn of foot over the last 250m to finish a diminishing 1.75 lengths behind Rock A Roll Dancer over 1200m at this track.
That form line has produced a winner, making Deerupt hard to oppose in Race 4, an Assessment Plate over the minimum trip.
She clearly loves this course, having finished runner-up in each of her three attempts to date. The three-year-old should improve many lengths with that run under the belt. Jockey Randall Simons steered the daughter of Snitzel to her only triumph and will retain the ride.
The filly tops the best-weighted column, shouldering bottom weight of 55kg. Fortune-trained Dalai’s Promise ran against tough opposition during her Cape feature-race season campaign, finishing an unaccustomed 16th in her penultimate effort behind Cirillo in the R5-million CTS 1200.
She got back to best but was an unlucky of loser in her most recent offering and if she can reproduce that performance she might give the selection a torrid time. For the Quartet, consider floating the pair with the small field.
Nobody is riding better than Gavin Lerena on the Highveld at the moment and the former champion jockey is likely to be seen in the winner’s enclosure with the Weiho Marwing-trained Manhattan Cocktail after Race 8, a MR 66 Handicap over 1400m.
This six-year-old Manhattan Rain gelding made light work of rivals in his latest performance, defeating Baahir by 2.25 lengths over this distance at Turffontein. The jockey-trainer combination of Lerena and Marwing will be looking to extend their unbeaten record together this season.