Vaal wins will help Khumalo climb up jockeys log
AFTER a slow start to the season S’manga Khumalo is back in contention in a bid to retain his jockeys title and the reigning champion should be among the winners at the Vaal today.
Khumalo has moved into second place on the jockeys log about 10 winners behind Piere Strydom with Muzi Yeni close behind in third.
Though his association with Sean Tarry is his main source of winners, Khumalo does get the call from time to time from the De Kock stable and he partners Aussie-bred Moofeed for the former champion trainer in today’s seventh race.
Moofeed and Khumalo are chasing a hat trick after wins at today’s course and Turffontein. The victory at the city track surprised pundits as the distance of 1,000m was expected to be too short.
But Moofeed showed good speed to get a narrow verdict over One Man’s Dream and reverting to 1,200m should be in the colt’s favour this afternoon.
Ironically, the horse likely to pose the main threat to Moofeed hails from Sean Tarry’s stable. The Toreador gelding, Prince Jazeem, will be fancied to turn the tables on the revised weight terms.
Trainer Scott Kenny has won seven races with the Kahal gelding, Vulcan, and he could take home a minor cheque. Interestingly, the last Kahals bred at Summerhill will be auctioned at the Mooi River Stud next Tuesday at their Emperors Palace Summer Ready-To-Run sale.
Trainer Alec Laird sends out Aurum Pot and the performance of this son of Judpot should be closely monitored. The four-year-old looks talented but has been sidelined since last June and may need the run.
There was plenty to like about Seventh Heart’s debut win here last month and Khumalo and Tarry will be hoping the daughter of Seventh Rock can remain unbeaten by capturing the sixth race.
Another De Kock inmate, Dashing Scarlet, could pose a real threat here as the filly is bred in the purple being by Western Winter out of the Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter.
Gavin Lerena is an eye-catching booking for La Manga and this filly also comes into the reckoning.
The Tarry stable holds a strong hand in the final leg of the jackpot with three runners and recent course and distance winner Olive Leaf looks the pick of the trio. Raymond Danielson retains the ride on the Jet Master filly.
Piere Strydom scored a facile won on stablemate Bernadine last time out and a reproduction of that form should see the Aussie-bred filly involved in the finish.
Another useful Aussie import is Ntombe and it might be dangerous to leave this member of Geoff Woodruff’s yard out of exotic bets.
Cape trainer Vaughan Marshall has sent horses for the Gauteng season and Zinnavar represents his stable in the third race where only six runners are set to face the starter.
Seattle Lady and Sir Cecil may prove the main threats to Zinnavar and the safe move would be to include both three-year-olds in bi-pot and place accumulator perms.
SELECTIONS
1st Race: (1) Captain’s Song (3) Frosted Honey (7) Nurse Harriet (5) La Strada 2nd Race: No Selection 3rd Race: (6) Seattle Lady (5) Sir Cecil (1) Zinnavar (3) Carter 4th Race: (9) Irish Grace (1) Bad Dream (2) Princess Milo (5) Seventh Sister 5th Race: (12) Scar Tissue (1) Respectable Ruler (8) Formal Request (7) Finchatton 6th Race: (3) Dashing Scarlet (8) Seventh Heart (6) La Manga (5) Raging Princess 7th Race: (5) Moofeed (4) Prince Jazeem (2) Vulcan (8) Aurum Pot 8th Race: (2) Olive Leaf (3) Bernadine (4) Ntombe (5) Sarve 9th Race: (2) Samba Serenade (7) Inventive Girl (3) Chocolate Eclair (5) Woodrose 10th Race: (2) Kalanchoe (1) Verge (7) Battle Heroine (9) Jackie’s Joy