Buffalo Bill Cody taken out of G2 Charity Mile
WITHDRAWAL OF FAVOURITE HAS JOCKEYS PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS
Zillzaal the new favourite for R1-million race.
Buffalo Bill Cody had been withdrawn from Saturday’s R1-million Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. In an announcement yesterday, the 2-1 favourite was pulled out of the Grade 2 race for being “unsound behind”. There were further changes to runners from the Mike de Kock stable as Anton Marcus, who was originally carded to ride Barahin in the Charity Mile, will be riding at Kenilworth.
As a result, Callan Murray, who was slated to ride Cascapedia, will now ride Barahin and Gavin Lerena, who was originally on Buffalo Bill Cody, is now aboard Cascapedia.
Of course, the scratching means that first reserve runner, Flying Winger from the Alec Laird yard, will now take his place in the final field. He will be ridden by Mpumelelo Mjoka.
The new favourite for the race is Sean Tarry-trained Zillzaal, who is at 22-10. He has been gelded and made a winning return to racing with a comfortable 2.75-length victory over Russian Beat. Piere Strydom takes the ride and this four-year-old son of
Silvano is nicely placed at gate No 7 and carries just 54.5kg.
“He has always had the ability but he wasn’t producing in his races,” Tarry told Gold Circle. “Although he was running decent races he wasn’t finishing them off. So, it was nice in his last race to see the gelding had the desired effect.
“He was well weighted there but he did what he had to do at the business end of the race. I think he is competitively weighted on Saturday and has a lot in his favour.
“This is part of his preparation for the Summer Cup but that doesn’t mean to say he can’t win.”
Barahin is quoted at 7-2 and it is interesting to see De Kock has retained the blinkers, which he first wore in a Pinnacle Stakes on 5 October.
He was a bit one-paced in that race but he was only beaten 5.15 lengths by Soqrat so that was a promising effort. De Kock is on record saying that his charge needs to be gelded but Barahin does have a good record at this course with a win and three places from four runs. He is nicely drawn at No 4.
Cascapedia is at 6-1 but she will need to improve on her last run in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Fillies And Mares Challenge. It is worth noting, though, that five of her six wins have come on the Standside track.