MATADOR READY TO FIGHT AT VAAL
Has no stamina doubts
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Silver Matador out of Weiho Marwing’s stable is long overdue for a second career win but his winning turn could come at Vaal turf course today when he steps up in class with a low weight and teams up with Ryan Munger in Race 6 and main event, the R110 000 Racing. It’s A Rush Open MR 80 Handicap over 2400m.
This son of Toreador has no stamina doubts as five runs back he came from near last to finish a two-length second over 2600m at the Turffontein inside track. There was much to like about his two most recent runs as he made late headway in a 2450m Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein where he finished 3.30-length fourth. The gelding followed up with a fast-finishing 0.25-length second in a 2000m MR 72 Handicap at today’s venue where he carried 56kg in a field of 14.
The gelding will relish carrying 52.5kg and could go one better this time despite stepping up in class.
A bold bid can be expected from top-weight The Elmo Effect (S’manga Khumalo) from Gary Alexander’s yard. The two-time winner’s last run at this course was five runs back when he posted a gutsy close win under 59kg in a MR 74 Handicap over 2400m.
The four-year-old has been threatening a third career win since and was not disgraced in his most recent outing in a 2450m minor feature event at Turffontein where he led for much of the race and finished a 3.50-length fifth.
A similar effort today should have him in the final call.
Another in with claims is Devin Little-trained two-time winner Fortune Fella with Muzi Yeni up. The four-year-old had Yeni aboard three runs back when a gutsy close winner in a 2600m MR 80 Handicap at the Turffontein inside track. His next run when unplaced in a 3200m feature event can be ignored as he met with interference in the final stages. The gelding was in need of the run in his subsequent outing after rest when a creditable 3.30-length third with Callan Murray aboard in a MR 81 Handicap over 2400m at today’s venue. Yeni has been recalled and the combination deserves respect.
The Little stable sends out another lively contender in six-year-old Rocky Stallone (Ian Sturgeon) whose indifferent last run when unplaced in a 2450m minor feature event at Turffontein should be overlooked as he raced with his tongue over the bit. The six-time winner’s previous four runs brings him right into contention as he followed up two seconds with a smart double over today’s course and distance.
Also worthy of consideration is six-time winner Noble Star (Marco van Rensburg) who has shown some encouraging form in his four runs since joining Lucky Houdalakis’ stable. The six-year-old was a 1.60-length fourth in a 1400m MR 84 Handicap at today’s venue and followed up with a third in an 1800m MR 91 Handicap at Turffontein.
The gelding was not disgraced in his subsequent two runs when fifth at Scottsville in a 2400m Pinnacle Stakes and then fifth in a 2000m MR80 Handicap.