Trust Wind Chill to beat the boys
Bondiblu best in Java Handicap
It should be a case of “ladies first” in Race 2 at the Vaal today, a Progress Plate over 2000m on the Classic track. If the handicapper has got it right this race should be a walk in the park for Joe Soma-trained four-yearold filly Wind Chill.
Had this race been a handicap she would have to give at least 9kg to Bold Viking, the second best weighted runner after the scratching of Elevated.
She was clearly in need of the run last time when beaten 3.80 lengths into eighth place by Kilauea in a 1600m contest on the Turffontein Inside track. In her defence, that outing came after a four-month lay-off and the fact she lost a length at the start did not help her cause. Wind Chill should be in fine fettle today and on form should have absolutely no trouble outclassing this sort of field.
She will also have the services of Anton Marcus which makes Soma’s charge a BiPot banker and a good win bet. In her five starts over 2000m she has recorded one win and three seconds.
To prove her superiority over the field the average merit rating is 72 and this daughter of Silvano is currently running off a merit rating of 101.
The Java Handicap (Listed) over 2400m will headline proceedings and the Stanley Ferreira-trained Bondiblu can reward her supporters come Race 7. This five-year-old mare is in good form and has finished in the money in her last 10 starts. She is drawn No 6 in this 18-horse field and will shoulder just 52.5kg.
The competitive nature of this field is reflected by the fact that bookmakers have priced up the leading runners at 8-1.
Ilitshe returns from a lengthy 185-day rest, he is the class horse in the race and if race ready today he could prove hard to beat.