Meridius has much to prove
THE highest rated race at the Vaal Classic track meeting today is a MR96 Handicap over 1600m and it provides Meridius with an opportunity to prove he is feature class.
The Ashley Fortune-trained Canford Cliffs gelding looked to be a reluctant leader in the Jonsson Workwear Dingaans and compounding the problem was he had blinkers on for the first time and took too strong a hold before fading. The blinkers were off in his next start and he bounced back with a good win over 1500m before staying on strongly the next time out over 1450m off this 94 mark to be narrowly denied. He should relish the step back up to 1600m, which he won his maiden over in comfortable fashion, and he has a plum draw.
Trident King
Trident King is a horse on the up and the manner of his last two easy wins over 1400m from handy positions suggests he will enjoy this trip. He has formed a good partnership with Muzi Yeni who stays aboard.
Fateful Day has had three runs on the Highveld and two of them at this venue gave the impression he would enjoy the step up to this trip as does his pedigree as he is by Master Of My Fate out of a Captain Al maiden whose damsire was by Badger Land. Those three should be enough to get punters, through although the one-eyed Ndlamu is always hard to ignore. Expressfromtheus also has the ability to be a contender over a suitable trip if bouncing back.
The first leg of the Pick 6 is a Graduation Plate that is a touch tricky because recent form goes against what would be the prediction on paper according to the official weights. Mover And Shaker ran in his first handicap last time and beat the progressive Umthombo Wolwazi. A formline through Umthombo Wolwazi suggests the pacey son of Rafeef has the measure of Twin Strike, who is the only other realistic winner of this race at the weights.
Beaded Gown
The second leg of the Pick 6 is a competitive 1000m handicap and the improving Beaded Gown comes out ahead on recent formlines. In The Ether is right up there with the latter and his last run can probably be ignored as he was drawn one on the Turffontein Standside course, which is by trends a tough draw to do well from. The consistent Samoa should be flying up late as usual.
Aniara is 2kg worse off with Beaded Gown after beating her by 0,75 lengths, but it must be taken into account she is a three-year-old so should have made some weight for age improvement since that run about a month ago. She also now has her third run with headgear on. Tangerine Pearl has ability and could improve in her fourth start on the Highveld after a significant drop in the ratings. In the third leg of the Pick 6 it is probably wise to include the whole field of six runners because the form is muddling. Rose For Trippi was slow away last time and stayed on well under that circumstance so has a shout if jumping on terms. May Queen is an enigmatic sort who is capable of classy performance if it pans out well for her and she has a good record with Strydom aboard. Second Breath ran well the last time she went over this trip and can still improve.
Those are the first three selections but Rozara, Fennec Fox and Queen Of Gaul have all shown ability in the past and it would be no great surprise if any of them prevailed.
Southern Blaze
In the fourth leg of the Pick 6 Southern Blaze looks to be the banker of the day. He was just a quarter of a length behind Eye Of The Prophet when last going over this trip and the latter went on to win the Gauteng Guineas. Global View's progeny are likely to come into their own only as four-year-olds, which Southern Blaze now is, and Stuart Pettigrew is also know as a trainer whose progeny improve slowly but surely.
Furthermore, Southern Blaze is drawn in pole. Indus Night has a winning chance on paper being 3kg better off for a three length beating by Southern Blaze and Gavin Lerena now rides. However, if the apprentice claim of that aforementioned clash is included he is only 1,5kg better off. He also has a fair draw of four. Duke Of Rain is in good form but does have a tough draw to overcome. In the last leg of the Pick 6 Smith And Wesson produced a fine effort from a tough low draw over the Turffontein 1160m last time and now has a fair draw over 1200m in a lower class. On formlines Stroke Of Mercy actually has the measure of Smith And Wesson but is unfortunately widely drawn. Written In Stone is an admirable sort who is off a competitive merit rating at present and well drawn.
Covert Operator
Covert Operator has come into his own and can't be ignored. Power Ranger is capable of earning here. Big City Girl has won over this trip off a 68 before and is now rated 53 so is hard to ignore.
In the first leg of the PA, an intriguing Graduation Plate over 2000m, Diesel And Dust is a typically big and rangy and progressive sort by Futura so is selected to win jumping from pole position over an ideal trip. Billy Spellbound officially has a tough task at the weights but comes off a fine run in the Gold Rush, so could surprise. Total Protection is full of ability but is not one to rely on because he has a problem at the pens and in his last two starts has refused to jump and then been slowly away. Laguna Verde is well regarded but continuously disappoints so despite him being the best weighted male officially he also has to be treated with caution. Perfect Witness would not be a surprise winner at all because she is comfortably the best in at the weights officially. but can she put some below par recent form behind her?