‘Stars’ ready to talk again
DOUBLE: DEFENDING CHAMPION FIT AND WELL AHEAD OF TSOGO SUN SPRINT DEFENCE
Janoobi to be tested over 1200m ahead of Dubai trip.
Last year’s Tsogo Sun Sprint winner Talktothestars is “healthy, fine and fit” and trainer Coenie de Beer is hoping for a good run in the R1-million Grade 1 sprint at Scottsville on Saturday.
The five-year-old Overlord gelding has followed nearly the same route to the 1200m feature as 12 months ago, although finishing eighth instead of first in the Senor Santa Handicap this time around. His last run was in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m, a race in which he has finished second two years running this year going down 1.30 lengths to Rafeef.
So it’s all systems go for Talktothestars, who handicappers believed ran to a merit rating of 121 here last year. His rating subsequently dipped as low as 110 but he is now back to 113 - his last Tsogo Sun winning mark. Bookmakers have him at 12-1.
One interesting runner in this year’s race is Janoobi, who will be off to Dubai at the end of the season. “He has two more runs in South Africa before he goes, the Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m,” said Mathew de Kock yesterday. “As far as the 1200m race is concerned we are testing the waters.
“He has such a high cruising speed and he’s well handicapped so he’s got to have a chance. How he performs is going to help us decide where to aim him next year.
“The only 1600m race on Dubai World Cup Night is the Godolphin Mile but that is on the dirt. If he does do well in sprints we have additional options but if not we can always look at races like the Hong Kong Mile, if he is good enough.”
De Kock also has Naafer running at Scottsville on Saturday in the R750,000 Tsogo Sun Medallion for two-year-olds and the stable is expecting a massive run. “Naafer’s had a very good prep and we’re very happy with him. He’s fit and well and he’ll go close, I’m sure,” said De Kock.
The stable’s Grade 1 SA Nursery winner Mustaqeem will be rested for the remainder of the season
while the future of his full brother, Computaform Sprint winner Rafeef, has yet to be decided. – Nicci Garner, Jack Milner