We are in Cathedral County
HURDLE: ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THE INSIDE TRACK WILL SUIT THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD Peter’s runner looks the danger.
Cathedral County was priced up favourite to win last Saturday at Turffontein but was withdrawn because no transport was available. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge will line up in Race 6 at Turffontein tomorrow and once again he looks the best runner in this MR 80 Handicap over 1000m on the Inside track.
This four-year-old son of Trippi has only raced five times for two wins and two places. He has yet to race on the inside track but while he might have a few issues that would explain his relatively late introduction to racing and a five-month break from January to June, when he does race he is clearly very good.
Some runners have a problem with the tighter-turning Inside track and the short run-in and only the race will tell us if that is a hurdle but he is very talented and on paper looks the runner to beat.
These days one has to look to the up-and-coming three-yearolds who are getting better with each run. Paul Peter, whose runners are in top form, saddles Alpine Echo. He has only run three times. He won on debut over 800m and then contested the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m on the Standside track where he lost ground at the start and finished a 7.05-length fifth behind talented Barrack Street.
He was then gelded and in his first run back took on older horses in a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m at the Vaal, doing well to finish fourth, 3.40 lengths behind Tandava. That run in early June was very promising so one can expect some improvement. It could be construed significant that Peter has engaged Weichong Marwing to ride this son of Sail From Seattle and in addition, he will have the advantage of No 1 draw.
Starcraft Prince has some decent form at this track where he is a course-and-distance winner. When he won that race, Craig Zackey was aboard Candice Dawson’s runner and he takes the ride again this time.