Born To Perform has something special
THE Greyville polytrack hosts an eight race meeting today and the Dennis Bosch-trained Born To Perform, a son of Vodacom Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter, will provide the purists with something to savour in the ffith race over 1600m.
Bosch and his team had to put in hours of hard work to just get this problematic horse to the races.
Jockey Warren Kennedy believed he could have won his debut by even further than 4,70 lengths and rates him “above average”.
He has a merit rating of just 65 and Kennedy said the grey should “despatch this field”, although he added “It depends how he behaves on the day.”
The four-year-old gelding had been “exceptionally well behaved” both rimes he's visited the racecourse, much to the yard's relief.
Kennedy said this horse must just be left alone to race where he was happy. That strategy was adopted on debut from a similarly tricky draw to this one and he he found a handy position comfortably before drawing away in the straight.
He was certainly not stopping at the line.
Don Pierro looks to be the main danger, despite a wide draw, as he is capable of running on and is off a competitive mark. Epic Sword has a good draw and will also be running on.
However, Born To Perform looks to be a banker consideration.
The first leg if the PA over 1 200m should be a three-corned contest between the hard-knocking Hey Jude, the improved Starlight and Little Bristol, who had some fair form before putting in a good barrier trial on New Year’s day.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1 400m The Master is interesting with Marcus up.
He just failed when leading over 1 200m in his penultimate start so should be able to lead here and is more suited to this trip on pedigree.
Wordbuster makes most appeal of the rest as an improving sort who should be cherry ripe and he has Hewitson aboard.
The next leg is also a Maiden but is over 1600m. Mokoko makes appeal on form but the Paul Lafferty yard have warned that there yard might have been hit by a virus.
Prince Charming is the selection to win as he drops to a more suitable trip and has Hewitson up from a plum draw.
Carlton Heights faced some good sorts in Cape Town and his best run was over this trip at Durbanville.
If he repeats that run he should be involved. Grey Street disappointed on the turf over this trip last time but has the ability to earn here.
Jurist strikes as one who is better than his form suggests and can be included in a race which could yield an upset.
Pina Colada
In race six over 1 400m Pina Colada can be forgiven a below par run last time as she was drawn widest of all over 1 600m.
In fact she has had a succession of poor draws and now gets draw two over a step down in trip she won’t mind, being by Kildonan.
Sheik’s Storm has some decent form over this trip and was unlucky with first time blinkers on last time over 1 200m so must have a shout here off a reduced merit rating.
Topweight Little Miss Me is a must include having run on well over this course and distance last time. Bridal Veil’s last run can be ignored as she was squeezed against the rail.
She was once quite well regarded and could make her presence felt over an ideal trip off a merit rating which has plummeted, although she does have a tough draw to overcome.
Liverpool Lass went close last time when dropped to this merit rating and can be included although the trip is likely a touch sharp.
In race seven over 1 200m Wendylle has been disappointing but the Louis Goosen yard is back in form and he could turn it around.
He likes to be in front so might appreciate the step up to 1 200m and the 4kg claimer up will help. Bedazzled Joker went close over course and distance last time and now has a better draw.
Noble Duke pulled over 1 400m last time so will appreciate the step down in trip.
Di Me won well over course and distance last time and is only two points higher in the merit ratings. Peter Piper has a plum draw and can never be ignored over a course and distance he has won three times over.
Captain Cobalt
Captain Cobalt has a chance too and Reserve runner The King Of Random must be included too if getting a run.
In the last leg over 1 000m with the Goosen yard back in form Di Mazzio, who has always had ability, is the one to beat.
Topweight Kingsmead has dropped to a competitive merit rating and from a good draw has a chance as he has won twice over course and distance.
His stablemate Charlie-Fox has been highly tried and put up a fine performance over course and distance in June last year, so he must be included with a 4kg claimer up despite returning from a layoff. Lelslie’s Pathtofame has turned the corner and goes for a hattrick off just a two point higher mark than his last win.
Mutawaary also has to be included.