Irish Pride looks ready to strike
Great Shaka a worthy Pick 6 banker today
JOCKEY Gavin Lerena’s rich vein of form is set to continue at the Vaal today courtesy of two good horses, Irish Pride in race 6 and Mardi Gras in race 8 – making for a tempting fixed-odds double.
Both runners are trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren.
Following a return to form in his latest outing, when he was only 0,40 lengths back in third behind Fareeq, Irish Pride is a major contender for top honours in the MR 100 Handicap over 1 500m on the Classic track.
The five-year-old son of Ideal World is never far off his rivals and he finished his last race, over 1 600m, like he’d benefit from a drop back in trip.
The Classic course should suit his style of running, plus he is well in at the weights with 56.5kg and jumps from the No 4 stall.
Van Vuuren sends out a twopronged attack in this event, his other runner being Doosra. A Swinger with the pair might be worth taking. However, solely on form, Dan The Lad should be Irish Pride’s main threat.
He was in need of his last outing after a two-month rest, but produced a noteworthy performance – being beaten just 0,90 lengths into second by Full Mast in a 1 400m contest.
This trip should suit the son of Dan De Lago – he has won over 1 475m and was narrowly beaten 0,30 lengths into second by Bold Coast in a 1 450m event under Gunter Wrogemann.
Dan The Lad appears better than currently rated (92) and, with 56kg on his shoulders and a perfect No 1 draw to jump from, warrants inclusion in Pick 6s.
For Quartets, float Irish Pride and Dan The Lad with Doosra, Trading Profit, Count Tassilo and Daffiq.
Mardi Gras justified 3-4 favouritism in emphatic fashion at the second time of asking – destroying his opposition by three lengths over 1 000m.
The expensive, R3,2-million Oratorio colt faces stronger opposition today but he seems to be above average and is worth a bet as he lines up in race 8, a MR 80 Handicap over 1 200m.
He is well weighted, carrying 56.5kg, and concerns about him running around the bend for the first time should be erased by the advantageous No 4 draw.
He could prove better than his 78 merit rating and should love the 1 200m. Should he fumble his chance, any of the other runners can win.
So, for the Pick 6 add Arabian Beat, Galactic Warrior and Wild Curve – all of whom have good form credentials.
Great Shaka is a worthy Pick 6 banker with Marco van Rensburg aboard in the last leg, race 9, a MR 72 Handicap over 1 000m.
Grant Maroun’s charge is a 1 000m specialist and on form should defeat this field with ease. His last six outings have been a fourth, four seconds and a victory.
Champion jockey Anthony Delpech should draw first blood aboard Quick Glimpse in Race 1, a FM Maiden Plate over 1 600m.
You can put a line through her poor seventh-place finish last time. She found 1 200m far too short and her form suggests she’ll be hard to beat over the mile.