Nicklaus due a change of fortune
DUNCAN Howells will collect the trophy as KZN’S leading trainer by number of wins at the KZN Racing Awards to be held at the end of the month and the yard look to have a strong chance of adding to their current season’s record in the Global Labels & Tims Pinnacle Plate on the Greyville poly today.
Howells saddles Wild Wicket and poly specialist Nicklaus, both in with outstanding chances, but in a race that should be a tight affair.
Wild Wicket has won two of his nine outings and has not been out of the money since being gelded.
Last time out he was touched off by lesser fancied stable companion Chicago Beat but there was only a nod of the heads in it at the line and Chicago Beat is no slouch.
That was back in June and Wild Wicket may just be short of a gallop here.
Nicklaus
Nicklaus, on the other hand, has been in good form in feature company of late.
He is something of a course and distance specialist and Howells has engaged Anthony Delpech for the ride.
Judging by the betting, Nicklaus was given little chance at his last two but still managed runner-up behind Maximiser over course and distance in the Listed Darley Arabian and prior to that was only run out of it late in the Thukela Handicap.
Given that he is racing fit, he could prove to be the pick of the Howells runners.
The best weighted runner in the race is Lala. Doug Campbell’s mare has been off the boil of late and takes on males but is far better than her recent form would suggest and at the weights has an undeniable chance.
She is very well in, 7.5kg to be exact given apprentice Denis Schwarz’s 2.5kg claim.
At her first run back after a break she was good enough to run Nebula to within three lengths and a repeat of that showing should see her in the mix come the wire.
Seventh Plain has been disappointing after winning two Gr1s over 1 200m and 1 400m respectively in fine style as a two-year-old. It is interesting to see Dennis Drier now trying him over a mile.
Mumsy’s Jet
Mumsy’s Jet goes for a poly track hat-trick and has a good record over this course and distance.
Aboard is apprentice Ashton Arries who is making a name for himself and his 2,5kg claim is proving great value.
Paul Lafferty can get the meeting off to a winning start for punters when he saddles Turf Conqueror.
The gelding is long overdue and was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out.
Biggest threat could come in the form of the Howellstrained Zenzero who showed good improvement at his second start and looks set to come on further.
In the second over 2 000m Lucky At Last ran a good race last time from a wide draw over 1 800m and is the one to beat here from a better draw under Delpech.
Francesco could be a threat under the same 2,5kg claimer who went close on her last time over 1 600m.
Joey Ramsden has left his Australian-bred filly Yess time to pay her way before going back to Cape Town, although current weather conditions are pretty much similar to the Cape. Yess has made significant improvement at each outing and rates the filly to beat.
Roy’s Kaitrina jumped from a tricky draw last time out when taking on males and is a possible threat although stable companion The Matador strikes as a better proposition as she has only had three outings and likely to have improvement in her.
The open leg of the Pick 6 looks decidedly tricky with some promising fillies in the line-up.
The lighty raced Osprey has her third run after a break and should strip at her peak for this event. She should also benefit from the rise in trip.
Anton Marcus rode a cracking good race to get Crystal Ball home last time out and that form has held up quite well.
Second-placed Star Of Caesour, narrowly beaten by a head, is now 3kg better off and looks a serious threat to the selection.
Delpech has some plum rides on the day and partners Eina for Alyson Wright in the fifth.
‘Eina’ it was for those that backed her as she let the side down a little when failing to take advantage of a major drop in class last time out.
The blinkers had been removed for that race and are back on for the sixth where she takes a further drop in class.
James Goodman showed that patience does pay off when eight-year-old Priceless Gem scored on Wednesday after being out of the winner’s enclosure for close on three years. Goodman saddles Captains Moll in the seventh who looks to have a decent chance in what is another difficult event.
She has been dropping steadily in the ratings and her last outing, when taking on much stronger and tried in blinkers for the first time, is best ignored.