On a wing and a prayer
HE R1million KZN Breeder’s Million Mile at Greyville on Sunday is a fine initiative put up by the KZN Breeders and the current board of the KZN Breeders Club have certainly made a good start in their quest to improve the profile of thoroughbred breeding in KwaZulu-Natal.
The best weighted horse in the race is Wishful Eye. However this four-year-old Var filly has never won beyond 1 000m and her speed places a serious question mark over her capacity to see out the 1 600m.
She will likely get to the front from her draw of five and her best chance will be if her jockey is able to dictate. However, with two other sprinting types involved, Furious Dancer and Coffee Sheik, as well as the frontrunning Miss Zummerudd, Wishful Eye is unlikely to have things her own way and the pace is likely to be furious up front.
Just 0,5kg worse off with Wishful Eye is Black Wing, who is the highest rated horse in the race but has to carry 60,5kg.
The four-year-old Kahal gelding has been aimed at this race from a long way out and trainer Brett Crawford has proved himself up with the best of them at getting them
Tready for their particular missions.
Furthermore, Black Wing won both of his races over this course and distance in commanding fashion as a three-year-old. His draw of eleven shouldn’t be a problem in a fast run race and he has a fine turn of foot, so the only negative is that he does have that big weight to lug.
The three-year-olds Baracah, Joshua’s Crown and Shahrukh are next best in and carry nice galloping weights of 53,5, although they are all 1,5kg under sufferance with Black Wing.
Strydom
Baracah was not disgraced in all three of the Triple Crown races in Gauteng this season. He is very widely drawn and might prefer a touch further, but does have Piere Strydom up.
Joshuas Crown won a 1 600m handicap at Scottsville in February in commanding style off a merit rating of 87 and was raised to a 95.
He hasn’t lived up to this rating yet, but is upset material if coming back to his best which he might do considering he is drawn well and reunited with JP van der Merwe who rode him the day he won at Scottsville.
He has also looked a bit keen on occasion so a fast pace will suit him.
Sharuhk looks a promising sort and is drawn in pole. He finished a 0,75 length second to the useful Brown Penny over 1 400m at Greyville in his last start.
He should enjoy the trip, but his yard reckoned that they were a bit short of time to get him to his peak.
The Jeff Freedman-trained Silver Age won the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m as a two-year-old and should come into his own over this trip this year.
He beat some fair sorts when second to Whiteline Fever over 1 400m at Scottsville last time, despite that being his second run after a ten month rest.
Winter Mischief
The Herman Brown/Frank Robinsontrained Winter Mischief has been disappointing after a bright start to his career, but has been found to be haemo-concentrating and probably needs gelding. On the plus side he has been working well. The Joe Soma-trained Acapella is a progressive three-year-old and as one that appears suited by the Turffontein 1 450m course he should enjoy the Greyville 1 600m.
He is very widely drawn but that hasn’t stopped him performing well in his last few starts.
The Mike de Kock-trained Checcetti is well drawn and although she would prefer a touch further she should be running at them and has a chance off a hot pace.
The Kumaran Naidoo-trained Furious Dancer hasn’t done well in two attempts beyond sprints.
The Wendy Whitehead-trained Coffee Sheik has proved a useful sprinter, but could prove versatile. He has run on well in his starts over the Greyville 1 200m and might be a surprise package.
Last year’s winner The Mouseketeer made a fair comeback in his first run after gelding and if he repeats his coastal form of last season he will be a factor from a good draw despite being 4,5kg under sufferance with the best in.
Knock On Wood is suited to the trip and appears to enjoy the tight Turffontein inside track so should enjoy Greyville, although he is 3,5kg under sufferance.
Enchanted Kingdom’s four wins have all come at Greyville and this trip is suitable, but he does have a tough task at the weights.
Penhaligon will love the fast pace as one that’s stays further and he has a good turn of foot, so could be the dark horse despite having a tough task at the weights.
The selection is Black Wing to beat Silver Age, with Checcetti, Shahruhk and Joshua’s Crown next best.