Racing returns to normal in UK
TEASER: PUNTERS HAVE TO SOLVE AN INTRIGUING DISTANCE PUZZLE
Protea Paradise and Jackaroo could challenge.
The Egoli Mile (Non-Black Type) for three-yearolds heads up the card at the Vaal tomorrow but the problem for bettors is the race contains very few specialist milers.
Most of the runners appear to perform best over distances further while some need to show they will actually stay 1600m so finding a winner is not easy.
However, perhaps the best performed runner is Captain Of Tortuga. He has proved himself over shorter distances but has won over 1400m and ran well enough over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track last time to indicate this straight 1600m could suit him.
He is impeccably bred, being by Captain Al out of Grade 1 winning mare Ebony Flyer and cost R4.5-million as a yearling. Both of his parents won the respective Grade 1 Guineas in Cape Town and 1600m should be within his compass.
He has had one run over the distance which was around the turn at Turffontein in an Assessment Plate and finished third, beaten 3.05 lengths.
He started his career in Cape Town with Justin Snaith but after four runs in which he failed to win his maiden, Captain Of Tortuga was gelded and then moved to Ormond Ferraris in Johannesburg. He won his maiden by 4.20 lengths on his local debut over 1400m at this track and placed in his next three starts.
Ferraris has engaged Piere Strydom to ride the gelding and if anybody can make him see out the trip, it is Strydom.
The danger could come from Mike de Kock-trained Protea Paradise. He won his maiden in his second run and that was over this course and distance. However, his last two starts have been over 2000m and 1800m and in his penultimate run was narrowly beaten by stablemate Atyaab who won the Grade 1 Cape Derby at Kenilworth.
He comes back to 1600m but if he does not find the distance too short, Protea Paradise must be a contender.
The third possibility is Lumber Jackaroo. This Candice Dawson-trained runner has only run twice, finishing unplaced on debut and then winning over 1600m. To take a bet Go to or