Take a chance on Vix Princess
FORTUNE: PETER-TRAINED FILLY LOOKED AN UNLUCKY LOSER LAST TIME OUT
East Coast looks ready to pay another visit to the No 1 box.
Tomorrow’s Vaal card is expected to provide a challenge to bettors and there is no obvious standout bet on the card. But one runner was a very unlucky loser last time out and as a result it could be worth giving Vix Princess a second chance.
Tony Peter’s charge lines up in Race 8, a MR 96 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m on the Classic track. She was previously trained in the Western Cape where she won her maiden over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville at the fourth time of asking before moving to the Highveld.
The three-year-old daughter of Vercingetorix had a great start in her new environment, beating Willow Express by 2.75 lengths over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track.
She was fully expected to follow up in her next start over this course and distance, and went off at odds of 83-100, but for whatever reason according to the stipes report she “raced with an awkward head carriage around the turn and into the straight”.
In the end, she went down 0.40 lengths to In The Beginning who went off at 33-1 for trainer Joe Soma.
Many pundits have expressed the view that but for that incident around the turn Vix Princess would have won.
Hopefully Peter will have sorted out what may have troubled the filly and we will see the best of her on this occasion.
She will face In The Beginning again and they will meet at the same weight differential and it is worth noting that although In The Beginning went off at a big price, it was her first start in blinkers and that might account for her improvement and she should run well again.
On the other hand, Vix Princess was having her second race after a layoff last time and that may have had some sort of negative effect.
Calvin Habib retains the ride and they will jump from No 2 draw.
Mike de Kock-trained East Coast ought to record the third win of his career in Race 2, a Graduation Plate over 2000m. As a three-year-old, this son of The United States finished second in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Gauteng Guineas, but it has been almost 500 days since his last victory.
While his merit rating has come down as a result, the decision to geld East Coast prior to his penultimate outing appears to have done him the world of good.
In two starts this year as a gelding, De Kock's charge has acquitted himself well and in good company too. He was just 3.50 lengths off unbeaten Taegan's Champ over 1600m last month before finishing fifth (5.50 lengths) behind Zeus over 2400m just over a fortnight ago.
The drop in distance together with the favourable conditions of the race – he comes in as the best weighted runner by at least 6.5kg better off with the opposition – will suit East Coast.
Ryan Munger has been making merry on his busman’s holiday from Canadian racing, and he will take the ride on this gelding for the first time.