Poly in Top Form’s favour
TOP Form has top weight but also well-named as far as his top poly track form is concerned. Charles Laird’s gelding teams up with regular rider Anton Marcus for the Itsarush.co.za Divided Handicap at Greyville tomorrow and can build on his recent run of success on the synthetic surface although he faces a stern test.
Back on the turf for the first time since November last year, Top form was run out of it late over the Scottsville 1 100m, beaten just over three lengths by Attenborough, probably one of the more fancied runners in this coming Saturday’s Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.
Prior to that however, Top Form had won three on the bounce over tomorrow’s course and distance, up with the pace throughout and finding plenty when it counted.
He obviously enjoys the surface and although giving weight all round he looks a live contender.
The Australian-bred Professor Brian makes his poly debut and will be in receipt of 10 kg from Top Form which is a hefty amount of ‘pudding’ in anyone’s terms.
Coupled with the fact that Joey Ramsden’s charge is unbeaten since gelding it is pretty obvious that Top Form will be up against it.
Professor Brian
However, this will be Professor Brian’s debut on the poly from a tricky draw which could just edge things the way of Top Form.
But there is a long list of possible winners with Waltzed Home and Kingston Boy the only two whose recent form suggests that they will battle in this race.
The Lightning Shot Bar is a popular on-course watering hole-named after a former July winner and punters may need a couple of stiff ones to harden their resolve for the Lightning Shot Bar Handicap that has upset written all over it.
Dennis Drier could hold the whip hand with his pair of Lloyd’s Legacy and Rocky Valley as both were deemed good enough to be shipped to Cape Town for the Summer.
But the stable did not enjoy the best of raids and while Lloyd’s Legacy obliged at second time of asking, Rocky Valley didn’t trouble the judges in two outings.
Rocky Valley
But Rocky Valley did show early promise, form that booked his place on the float to Cape Town, and he can redeem himself tomorrow. He was tossed in at the deep end in the Cape and after finishing down the field in the Lanzerac Ready To Run where he had the worst of the draw, he came home and was gelded. He showed good pace in his first run back after a fivemonth spell when weakening late behind Purple Tractor at Scottsville and that run should have brought him on. If he realises some of his early promise he should be good enough to at least land a blow.