The Citizen (KZN)

Cumani-trained Pacharana looks set for success at Salisbury meeting

- London

- Pacharana can knock off an uncompromi­sing hat-trick on a fine day of sport at Salisbury.

Luca Cumani's four-year-old has been in inspiratio­nal form this summer and should continue her ascent in the EBF Breeders' Series Fillies' Handicap. Cumani might well have considered stepping Pacharana into Listed class, at the very least, after she demolished a strong field at Bath in July.

But Pacharana remains in handicap company and, even in spite of a wallop from the assessor, she should take all of the beating.

This 30,000-pound prize is well worth winning and it is reassuring that Cumani has gone out of his way to recruit Ryan Moore. As one might expect, the good money on offer has brought to the party a clutch of up-andcoming other fillies.

But Pacharana is going places in a hurry and is a confident shout to pick up this race before going on to bigger things.

The Group 3 Sovereign Stakes looks bang up to scratch, but that does not mean it is easy to solve. With that in mind, it could be worth throwing a cautious few bob the way of Hathal, who is a proven operator at this level and has been in grand form this summer.

He should find this a shade easier than when he finished third in both the York Stakes and the Summer Mile at Ascot.

Buckland Beau's long quest for a win on the turf can come to an end at Yarmouth. Charlie Fellowes' six-year-old is more establishe­d on the all-weather, a surface on which he has won four times, but all hope should not be lost ahead of the 1400m handicap by the seaside.

The gelded son of Rock Of Gibraltar was not beaten that far on his last start at this track, when Casina Di Notte forged 1.25 lengths ahead. Buckland Beau seemed to grow a little weary towards the business end of that 1600m handicap, so the decision to revert to 1400m looks wise.

He is rated 2.5kg lower on turf than on an artificial surface and it is pleasing Stevie Donohoe, who has won three times on him in the past, is back at the helm.

Zavikon is respected when he goes to post for a 1000m handicap at Chepstow's evening meeting.

The Compton Place colt was a nice winner at Windsor in June but then had no luck whatsoever in a 1200m handicap on the Lingfield all-weather.

It was a similar story on the Lingfield turf two weeks ago when he turned in a stout performanc­e but simply bumped into a well-handicappe­d rival who is on the march.

With similarly sharp rivals thin on the ground in Monmouthsh­ire, Zavikon can win from the summit of the weights.

Gold Stone must surely take some stopping in division two of the novice auction stakes at Beverley. Kevin Ryan's youngster has a lot of pace in her pedigree and caught the eye over this course and distance three weeks ago.

Though she never had a chance against the well-aboveavera­ge Special Purpose, she kept on earnestly inside the final 200m to finish second on her racecourse debut.

That will have done Gold Stone the power of good, and even a modicum of progress from that spin should be all that is required. – Press Associatio­n

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa