Elusive Silva goes on trial
DURBAN JULY: DELPECH COULD BE LOOKING AT SNAITH’S RUNNER AS A POSSIBLE JULY RIDE
Banking April has credentials to win Syringa Handicap.
There are feature races all over the country this weekend, the most significant being the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville this evening. In the past this race was seen as a pointer to the Vodacom Durban July but these days it is more about using the 1900m race to qualify for the “big one” to be run this year on 1 July.
There are also feature races at Turffontein tomorrow and Kenilworth on Sunday. The Listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m will be run on the Inside track at Turffontein while the Grade 3 Winter Classic over 1800m, the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m and Listed Stormsvlei Mile at take place at Kenilworth tomorrow. All three Cape races are sponsored by Highlands Stud.
There has been a lot of talk about Elusive Silva as a strong July candidate and Justin Snaith’s charge is currently trading at 8-1. Like Sun Met winner Whisky Baron, the word is this son of Silvano has improved significantly with gelding. He certainly impressed when winning the Listed Sledgehammer over 1800m last month in his first race back since capturing the Winter Derby at Kenilworth in June.
There are all sorts of stories doing the rounds that Anthony Delpech, who earlier declared Black Arthur as his July ride, was jumping ship to Elusive Silva. If that is true, he will be hoping for a massive run tonight. The fouryear-old is beautifully drawn at gate No 4 and that should give him the run of the race.
Once you look beyond him, this race becomes wide open. Ten Gun Salute is another who has been gelded and will be having his third run back. Ten Gun Salute and Muzi Yeni, who has the best record with this Australian import, are reunited and we could see a different horse this time around.
Snaith also saddles It’s My Turn and Prince Of Wales and it is the latter, who finished just two lengths behind Elusive Silva, who could go a lot closer now that he has a run under his belt and is 1kg better off. Greg Cheyne rides.
Banking April has turned into a quality performer and although she would probably prefer a touch further than 1600m, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge could be the answer to a tricky Syringa Handicap (Listed) on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow.
Banking April recently travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to contest the Listed Scarlet Lady over 1800m and finished a one-length second to Louisiana. She also finished third in the Grade 3 Jacaranda Handicap behind Polyphonic who has won since and all that form looks strong enough to win a race of this nature.
Simply Royal looks to have a bright future but she might not be ready to take on this strength of field just yet. Having said that, it would be pretty dumb to leave Sean Tarry’s charge out of any of the exotics.
If you like Simply Royal you have to consider Shatoosh who is now 3.5kg better off for a 4.60-length beating. Mike Azzie’s charge also suffered interference early in the race and that could have knocked her off her stride.
Others to consider include Heaps Of Fun, Kilauea, Al Hawraa, who has a shocking draw to overcome, The Smell Of Rain and Span Die Seile.
After quite a lengthy period in the doldrums, the Gavin Smith yard is finally beginning to show signs of its former glory with three winners at Fairview last Saturday.
One of those winners was Easy Street who spread-eagled a field of useful sprinters. Smith saddles Fly Peg Fly today, who ran a 2.75-length behind Easy Street in April, giving the five-year-old mare 2.5kg.
Fly Peg Fly will contest a MR 80 Handicap over 1400m on the Polytrack at Fairview and could continue the good run of the stable. Smith’s first-choice jockey these days appears to be JP van der Merwe who is on the six-year-old mare over two other options from the stable. Fly Peg Fly is perfectly drawn at gate No 2.
The main threat could come from Agterskot who also has form behind Easy Street.
The rain- postponed Scottsville meeting will be run tomorrow and on a tough card there is still a good bet in Race 8, a MR 70 Handicap over 1600m, writes Trevor Reid.
Trainer Paul Lafferty has had a good year so far and his threeyear-old Dark Moon Rising seems to have ability and the step up in distance could bring out the best in this Ideal World gelding.
Dark Moon Rising came from well back when winning on debut and the manner of that win was quite impressive.
Surprisingly his next start was a Scottsville 1200m which clearly did not suit the three-year-old gelding but Dark Moon Rising still managed a good third place.
He was slow away that day and suffered interference twice in the running. Jockey Anthony Delpech will be aboard Dark Moon Rising and we may see just how good he really is.