Park PE raider for Dingaans
TIMES: NATIONAL PARK WAS A FACILE WINNER OVER 1400M IN A VERY GOOD TIME
Return Flight looks best in Fillies Mile.
Does one swallow make a summer? If you believe it does then do not look beyond National Park to win the Grade 2 Dingaans over 1600m at Turffontein tomorrow.
This son of Gimmethegreenlight has already made a name for himself by winning the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein and with the scratching of Soqrat, Betting World have him at 11-10 to win the Dingaans, probably making him the shortest-priced Port Elizabeth-trained runner to compete in a Grade 2 race.
The question many people are asking is will the Graham Beck Stakes form hold up? Yvette Bremner’s charge could not have been more impressive when beating Chimichuri Run by 5.80 lengths. It was on a day when the track was running fast and not too many runners were coming from behind.
However, what one cannot argue with are times. National Park completed the 1400m in 82.59 sec which, on a day when five races were run over the distance, was the fastest of the lot. The second fastest on the day was Hawwaam, who competed in the no-whip race and won in 83.07 sec.
On times National Park is the runner to beat as long as he sees out the extra 200m. Ryan Munger takes the ride and they will jump from barrier No 9. For the record, he has stayed on the Highveld so there are no travelling issues to worry about.
Hawwaam looks an interesting runner. He was still pretty dumb on debut but still ran on well to beat Reach For The Line by one length. Mike de Kock’s charge is a half-brother to Rainbow Bridge who is setting the Western Cape alight with some brilliant performances. Unfortunately he is drawn No 14 which is a concern. We will know lot more about this son of Silvano after this race.
Mike Azzie has a high regard for Reach For The line who was also making his debut in the nowhip race. He was only caught late by Hawwaam and there was nine lengths back to third-placed Owlinthetree which indicates the first two are useful.
This time Reach For The Line is drawn No 2 which could give apprentice Luke Ferraris he ability to turn the tables on De Kock’s charge.
The Grade 3 Fillies Mile could be decided by whether Return Flight is at her best after a 119-day rest. While Sean Tarry might be looking at events like the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas he does not bring unfit horses to the racetrack, so while she might have some ring rust she should be fresh enough to win this race.