Mr Roy on Wright track
ALYSON Wright, (pictured) Brett Crawford and Alistair Gordon each have one chance of Gr 1 glory at Scottsville's Festival Of Speed meeting on Saturday and were all quietly confident of good runs from their respective charges. Wright and Crawford also spoke about some of their other Champions Season hopefuls.
Wright runs the promising Western Winter colt Mr Roy in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m and he looks to have a tough task on paper as he will have to make up 3,5 lengths on the classy colt Seventh Plain from their meeting in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m, which was also run at Scottsville. However, Wright said the well regarded colt had not had a good preparation into the latter race due to a skin allergy and had consequently run “a flat race.”
He was backed on debut and after disappointing was found to be full of mucous. He then came out and won well over 1000m a couple of month later on April 15. The yard are now confident that he will do better than he did third time out in the Godolphin Barb. He put in some very good work on Tuesday and Wright said, “I am very pleased with him. He will be at his best and I think he will run a big race.’’
He jumps from draw 6 in the nine horse field and Johnny Geroudis rides. Wright felt that the yard’s Vodacom Durban July entry Kochka had put in “an amazing run’’ on Sunday at Greyville, where he was beaten just 1,75 lengths by July favourite Futura over 1600m at level weights.
The big Black Minnaloushe gelding was off with a virus for a while and only started normal work again two weeks ago, which emphasises just how fine an effort he put in on Sunday. He will be a big runner when stripping fitter next month in either the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m or the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.
Crawford runs Gulf Storm in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m on Saturday.
This four-year-old Sail From Seattle gelding earned bold black type for the first time in his nineteenth career outing last time out when winning the Listed In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m at Scottsville, so Crawford appears justified in being stunned by the handicapper's decision to raise him nine merit rated points.
That is the equivalent of 4,5kg, meaning he will now have to carry second topweight and give two Gr 1 winners 2,5kg each.
He hoped that he would be proven wrong on Saturday. Gulf Storm appeared to relish the tough Scottsville track in that last run and Crawford said, “He is doing very well, is fresh and fit and he has a nice draw.’’
Crawford’s Dynasty gelding De Kock “pulled up alright” after his disappointing tailed off last finish in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and the yard are “running bloods to try and find anything wrong, as it wasn't his run.’’ However, he added that it could have just been a case of him not staying the trip. Meanwhile, KRA Fillies Guineas winner Alexis is on track for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on Saturday week and impressive recent winner Maybe Yes is doing well ahead of the Tibouchina on her way to the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.
Alistair Gordon runs the two-year-old colt Beat The Retreat in the Gold Medallion.
He is by the disappointing sire Argonaut but Gordon pointed out that he was a sound horse and came from "a serious family," which includes the like of Gr 1 winners Rabiya and All Is Secret.
Gordon said, “He is doing very well and his prep has been good. He had a good gallop on Saturday on the grass and it went very well, I'm very happy.’’
Beat The Retreat won by 3,5 lengths on debut over 1000m and finished just 1,5 lengths behind Seventh Plain in the Godolphin Barb at level weights in his second career outing.
Gordon is not concerned by his very outside draw as it is only a small field of nine and he will likely get a clear run as opposed to being boxed in on the inside by horses moving over to seek the better going.