Loadshedder to put the lights out

Trainer Andre Nel appears to have a high opinion of Loadshedder but despite all that, he is still just a twotime winner.

The problem is that this son of Gimmethegreenlight runs well enough each time to prevent the handicapper from dropping his merit rating but not well enough to win a race. He performed well enough in the Winter Series in the Cape, finishing third in both the Grade 3 Winter Guineas over 1600m and the Winter Classic over 1800m. The Derby over 2400m was probably a touch too far but Winter Series winner African Night Sky looks well above average so those three performances were decent enough.

Loadshedder has had two runs after a rest, finishing a 3.25-length fourth behind Star Chestnut in a MR 94 Handicap over 1600m at Durbanville and then went travelling to Port Elizabeth to contest the Listed Algoa Cup. He had a wide draw and as a result drifted off the boards to but did well enough to finish sixth, beaten just 3.80 lengths by Nebula. That was also the first time Nel tried him out in blinkers.

He comes out in a MR 83 Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth tomorrow and this could be the ideal race for him. The distance looks perfect, he is drawn No 1, the blinkers stay on and he has Donovan Dillon in the irons for the first time. Dillon has recently taken over as Nel’s first-choice jockey and could make the necessary difference.

The main danger could come from Our Emperor who has been very consistent of late with two wins and two seconds in his last four runs. He has not raced against the same quality of runner as Loadshedder but will get 1.5kg from Nel’s charge.

Speed Of Africa has also run well in his last three runs with two wins and a second while I Travel Light has run two successive fourths in good company and must be in with a chance.