Racing apprentices raring to go
THREE apprentices who impressed trainers last season — Callan Murray, Louis Mxothwa and Ryan Munger — will be in action in the Highveld apprentice race at Turffontein.
THREE apprentices who impressed trainers last season — Callan Murray, Louis Mxothwa and Ryan Munger — will be in action in the first Highveld apprentice race of the new campaign at Turffontein.
No fewer than 15 youngsters will compete in Sunday’s race over 2,000m and the finish may be fought out by Gauteng-based Munger and Mxothwa, who is with the KZN Academy.
Munger would love to impress top trainer Mike de Kock and his mount, Noor Dubai, has bright prospects of defying top weight of 60.5kg.
A daughter of Archipenko, who is one of the best horses trained by De Kock, Noor Dubai hinted at a return to her best form when finishing a close fourth behind Casual at the Vaal last month.
Just a head behind Noor Dubai was Divine Wind, whom Mxothwa will partner for Gavin van Zyl’s stable. They meet on identical weight terms so there should be precious little between the two four-year-olds.
Murray was praised for his ride on 50-1 shot Savage Wind in last weekend’s eLan Gold Cup at Greyville. The youngster made the pace on Joe Soma’s six-year- old and the gelding was only overhauled late to finish third.
On Sunday, Murray is aboard another Soma inmate, Bright Bronte, and the mare could be a factor reverting to 2,000m.
Calvin Habib has an eachway shout on Shawl, representing the Ormond Ferraris stable, but he will have to overcome a wide draw on the daughter of Seventh Rock.
Habib’s best chance of a winner may lie in the eighth race with Oriental Blue, who should be competitive if not in need of the run. The gelding has not been out since March when finishing fourth in a stronger race. However, this 1,400m chase — also confined to apprentices — could go the way of Mathew Thackeray. He partners Max The Man for trainer Brian Wiid and the five-year-old is overdue for his third win following stout recent efforts.
Top weight Bee Keeper, the mount of Wesley Marwing, is a four-time winner and comes into contention, though the six-yearold is returning from a break.
Piere Strydom fans will look no further than Dream Galaxy for the seventh race winner. He won on the mare last month and even a 3kg swing in the weights in Featherfoot’s favour may not be enough for Devin Little’s mare to gain her revenge.