High Altar to have big say in Pinnacle at Greyville

TEAM: HOWELLS-TRAINED RUNNER HAS HIT PEAK FORM WITH YENI ABOARD Peter’s Gauteng raider could be the danger.

Five-time winner High Altar out of the Duncan Howells stable has struck peak form at Scottsville with leading jockey Muzi Yeni aboard, and though up in class the combination could be up to the task again on Sunday when switching to Greyville and contesting Race 4 and main event, a Pinnacle Stakes (F&M) over 1800m.

Yeni was aboard for the first time five runs back when she raced too keenly from the worst draw in a big field and just missed the frame. However, Yeni managed to settle the mare in her subsequent runs at the same venue where she won twice over 1600m and twice over 1950m.

Her last win was indeed a stout effort under 60.5kg as she stepped up in class and ran on strongly to score by an increasing 1.50 lengths in a MR 68 Handicap. It will be her first outing on grass at Greyville this time, but with only 52g on her back she will be hard to peg back.

Expect stiff rivalry from Gauteng raider Tammany Hall (Warren Kennedy) out of Paul Peter’s stable. Yeni will know the filly’s ability as he was up in her last two outings when a game runner-up over 1600m at the Vaal and then a clear-cut winner in a 1800m MR 92 Handicap at Turffontein. The filly is likely to be in the final call again.

Also worthy of consideration is Andre Nel-trained three-time winning mare Argenteus (Gareth Wright) who followed up a smart double at the Greyville Polytrack with two encouraging runs at Scottsville where she was fifth and then a runner-up under 60kg in a 1600m MR 81 Handicap.

Look for further improvement from Frank Robinson-trained twotime winner Roy’s Riviera (Serino Moodley) who steps down in class after competing in Graded events. This Australian-bred four-yearold comes off a promising last run in the Gold Bracelet (Grade 2) at Greyville where she lost three lengths at the start and was a fastfinishing 0.90-length second.

Best of the others are Parabola and Roy’s Stingray.