Asstar to shine bright
MOVE TO KWAZULU-NATAL HAS BROUGHT TWO WINS ʂ London Call could make a bold bid.
Asstar relocated from the Cape to KwaZuluNatal in May and has shown his appreciation for the change of surroundings with two wins and a third for trainer Garth Puller.
The five-year-old Ashaawes gelding runs in a 1200m Pinnacle Stakes at Scottsville on Sunday and should have the measure of his rivals on his current form.
He made his debut for the stable over 1000m at this track and flew at the finish to beat Guiness a short head. He followed that with a third behind Kangaroo Jack in the 1200m Post Merchants and then got back on the winning trail when beating Isca by 1.50 lengths over 1000m on the Polytrack at Greyville.
He is drawn close enough to the inside rail, where the jockeys’ preferred going seems to be at this track, and must rate the one to beat.
London Call is not the soundest of individuals but on his day the six-year-old can go with the best. He was hampered when 11th behind Kangaroo Jack last time out but had previously run a good second, 2.50 lengths behind Muscatt over this course and distance. He has won three of the five races he has contested over this trip and, although not well drawn, could make a bold bid.
Executive Power rarely runs a bad race and, with a 4kg claim to lighten his burden, he should run well again.
Others with credentials include Redcarpet Captain, who finally regained the winning groove last time out, Natal, who has not been himself for quite a while but has ability, Unbelievable Chad, who tries shorter and might find himself run off his feet, Al Ciberano and Strummer, who returns from a long rest.
The meeting features a bumper 11-race card and a Pick 6 Megapool with a carryover of R311,983 and an expected pool of R2,1-million, starting with Race 4 at 1.35pm.