Snaith plans July assault
ONE of the arts in training a thoroughbred racehorse is to be able to gauge its ability and plot accordingly. Two trainers who are masters of their trade are Justin Snaith and Brett Crawford who have their sights firmly set on the Hollywoodbets Durban July after Saturday’s World Sports Betting 1900. Of course they need the horse to accomplish their goal and then plans to dodge the handicappers.
Future Swing and Oriental Charm fall into this category with both trainers doing a masterful job of getting their charges into the country’s premier race with bottom weight for their age group - at this stage anyway.
Future Swing loomed dangerous for a few strides in The Sledgehammer behind Narina Trogon in what was an obvious warm-up for the 1900. The gelding went into Saturday’s race with only 54kg to shoulder and no stamina doubts. With Richard Fourie sweeping all before him he was always going to be a factor in a 14horse field of July entries.
Oriental Charm
Oriental Charm ran a cracking second after making most of the running. A year younger and giving Future Swing 2kg, Crawford will have been well pleased with his effort although victory will have been sweeter. Oriental Charm had his merit rating jump from 87 to 103 after his third to Green With Envy in the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby and is unlikely to get a rating increase although Future Swing is likely to be around the 110 mark come Monday.
Master Redoute stayed on well for third while Ponte Pietra came from almost last for a close-up fourth and Dean Kannemeyer will now have a line-horse as he lines up Green With Envy for a crack at the July.
Earlier, Saartjie defied top weight in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup, Andre Nel’s filly setting herself up for a crack at the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in two weeks’ time.
Up there in the top echelons of her age group, the race went her way as Julie Tango set a modest early gallop tracked by the favourite Hold My Hand. Both of the front runners folded early in the straight and Corne Orffer took the shortest way home. The daughter of Dynasty quickened smartly from off the pace. She was pressed to the line by rank outsider Future Girl and Brett Crawford’s strategy of prepping them on the Highveld and raiding is paying handsome dividends as Future Girl also put up her hand for the Woolavington 2000.
Mountain High and Sorceress Supreme were the only two in the betting for the first. At the line Sorceress Supreme was the only one in the picture. Muzi Yeni had no hesitation in taking Michelle Rix’s filly to the front and she put eight lengths over her rivals, the form behind Little Ballerina proving nearly infallible.
Great Plains
Great Plains was another to frank the Little Ballerina form, winning his next race after finishing two lengths off the filly on debut. Richard Fourie rode a confident race on Justin Snaith’s gelding in the second, sitting well back in the pack in the early exchanges before giving Great Plains a clear run at the line. The grey quickened smartly under joint top weight and went to the line unchallenged.
Great Plains has earned a reputation of being a little ‘hot’ but if Snaith can keep the lid on he must be a challenger for the big juvenile features.
The Specialist came in for strong market support at his second start but bumped his mouth in the gate and let the side down. Fourie deserting to ride Rototo will have weighed on some punter’s minds but S’Manga Khumalo took full advantage as he sent MJ Odendaal’s colt up the inside rail and he stretched clear to hold off a flying challenge from the poorly drawn Industrialstrength who made a cracking debut from his outside gate. Rototo was all at sea form most of the race so should benefit from the outing.
Tienie Prinsloo has one of the smallest strings in Summerveld but his talents are way under rated.
Policy Of Truth
Policy Of Truth had not gone further than a mile before he stepped out first time over a mile-and-a-half on debut for Prinsloo and the gelding added to Fourie’s ever growing tally. Riding a confident race in a field lacking depth, Policy Of Truth sailed clear at the top of the straight to win as he liked.
Mascherina is up there with some of the best local fillies around as she proved when quickening smartly to land the fifth to give Fourie a third winner. She was a worthy favourite after finishing second to the promising Celtic Beauty last time out. Diana The Huntress, a late reserve entry after the scratching of Kisshoten, finished strongly under Athandiwe Mgudlwa with a game Bosnay staying on for third.
Fourie looked to have his fifth winner on the day sewn up after making all the running on The Grey King. There were no challengers over the final furlong until Serino Moodley extricated Flag Man out of a sandwich press.
Judged on the market, stable companion Golden Peace was the stable elect probably going on Flag Man’s wide draw, however, Flag Man accelerated like Brad Binda in Moto GP and put a sword through The Grey King’s heart. This was the Clifton Stud-bred son of Flying The Flag’s third straight win from just five previous starts and his name must be in the hat for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and a possible supplementary entry for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.