Doosra has the right spin
SADDLING UP. TRAINER JOHAN JANSE VAN VUUREN IS GETTING HIS YARD READY FOR ACTION Kings Archer stands out as the main danger.
With spring just around the corner and the onset of the Highveld Summer season only six weeks away, trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren is starting to get his yard ready for some action.
Tomorrow he saddles four horses in Race 5, a MR 104 Handicap over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track, but it is likely to be too short for Brazuca and New Predator.
However, for his other two runners, Doosra and Irish Pride, this trip could be right up their street. Although he is drawn No 10 which is not ideal over this 1400m as it starts almost on the bend, preference is for Doosra. This son of Captain Al has a great record over 1400m with three of his five wins coming over the distance. He has also placed twice over the trip.
The other relevant piece of information is that Doosra tends to race well when fresh and this race should be right up his street. Keagan de Melo rode Doosra for the first time in his last start and won on him so we know he does get along with the five-year-old.
Irish Pride should also enjoy the distance and he was just touched off by Doosra last time. The only concern is that he seems to need a run or two after a layoff so it may pay to look elsewhere for the danger.
Kings Archer could fit the bill because he is course and distance suited and he has already had a run. As it happened, that race was over 1400m at this course and he did well to run a 3.70-length third behind Infamous Fox. That run should have brought him on and with regular jockey Piere Strydom in the irons this honest seven-year-old is worth including in all bets.
Splendid Garden was 0.60 lengths in front of Kings Archer last time and they meet at identical weights. However, Splendid Garden has raced through the winter on the Highveld and might just have been the fitter runner on the day.
Shukamisa ran fourth in the race behind Infamous Fox, another 0.50 lengths behind Kings Archer but he was well supported to win that day and will need to make some improvement if he is to reverse those placings.
An interesting runner is Wrecking Ball who could be looking for this extra distance. Trainer Grant Maroun has given Warren Kennedy the ride and it could be a shrewd move to put her in Trifectas and Quartets.