STRYDOM TO STRIKE ON MEISSA
Jumps from No 1 draw.
FIVE-YEAR-OLD Meissa from the Gary Alexander stable has a bright chance to recapture his best form at the Turffontein inside track today when he lines up in Race 6 and chief event, a MR 86 Handicap over 1600m with champion Piere Strydom in the saddle.
This gelded son of Jallad has the required credentials as he was a promising runner-up in his first two runs at the Vaal over 1200m and justified cramped odds in his next three runs with a decisive hat-trick at Turffontein when stepping up the distance. Strydom took over from Robbie Fradd in the gelding’s next outing when a fast-finishing second over 1800m at today’s course and, reunited with Fradd in his following outing, the gelding was a game runner-up to Heavy Metal in a Pinnacle contest over today’s course and distance.
Meissa was not disgraced in his two subsequent runs in feature events when switched to the standside track where he was a 2.65-length sixth over 1800m and, after a seven-month layoff, a creditable 3.75-length sixth over 1400m. With Strydom called on this time and having the advantage of pole position, the combination should be in the winner’s enclosure.
Expect a bold bid from Louis Goosen-trained Move Like Jagger (Fanie Chambers) who showed smart form in his last three outings in big fields over 1400m at the Vaal with Chambers up. The gelding followed up a gutsy hard-fought win with gallant 0.50-length second under 59.5kg and, in his most recent outing, he made light of 59kg with a resounding 2.50-length win.
Also in with claims is four-year-old American Storm (Ian Sturgeon) out of Spike Lerena’s stable. Sturgeon was aboard five runs back when the gelding finished strongly to score by 1.25 lengths over this course and distance. Sturgeon missed the ride next time when the gelding was unplaced in a feature event over 1800m at the standside track, but reunited in his following run, the gelding was a bright 0.75-length runner-up over 1600m at the same course.
Sturgeon was not aboard in the gelding’s subsequent two runs when switched to today’s course and distance where he was a creditable 4.50-length fourth and a 4.25-length sixth in a feature event.
Though guilty of some patchy form, Weiho Marwing;s charge, four-yearold Vitruvian Man (Rich- ard Fourie), could make his presence felt if in a galloping mood. The twotime winner went under by a short-head in his penultimate outing over 1600m at the Vaal but followed with a poor run over 1700m at the same course. He had shown inspiring form in his first four outings when third and second and then subsequently gelded, he stepped out with a splendid 3.75-length win over today’s course and distance.
And for good measure, the gelding followed up with an easy 1.75-length win over the same distance at the Vaal. A similar effort today should see the gelding involved in the finish.
In with place claims are Stars pangledemblem, Indian River, Territorial Waters and Kings Entourage.