Hero’s Honour sets his sights on Durban July
Burgundy Rose set to score her third win in a row
Trainer Gary Alexander, has made it clear that SA Derby winner, Hero’s Honour, will be aimed at the Vodacom Durban July, and although it’s too early to make any bold predictions, this gelding threw himself into the conversation on Saturday afternoon beating the Grade 1-winning Equus Champion, Return Flight, to justify 11-8 hotpot favouritism by 1.20 lengths over 1600m. The fact is, 1600m is far too short for this son of Await The Dawn. We will only see him at his very best once stepped up to 1800m and further. Therefore, should he qualify for the prestigious Grade 1 spectacle on July Day, chances are he will be a lively contender for top honours. As predicted by many the Sean Tarry-trained Return Flight set a honest pace upfront under Piere Strydom, skipping about 1.50 lengths clear of Rocky Path (Luke Ferraris) and Roll Of Drums (Muzi Yeni), with Hero’s Honour confidently stationed a further five lengths behind the leader turning for home, but that quickly changed. Alexander’s charge impressively passed rivals with each stride taken passing the 250m marker, almost as though they were standing still, under a motionless Schwarz. He ended up winning a lot easier than the 1.20-length margin suggests. Return Flight was a clear second, with Roll Of Drums well beaten in third and Rocky Path rounding off the Quartet a further 6.40 lengths adrift. Grade 1 winner Redberry Lane defied top-weight under master tactician Piere Strydom – going start-to-finish in a Fillies and Mares Pinnacle Stakes also over 1600m. She beat a fast finishing Being Fabulous by 0.25 lengths. It should pay to follow Sean Tarry’s charge. The jockey-trainer combination of Marco van Rensburg and Cliffie Miller have teamed up 83 times for 12 wins and 26 places this season, and are likely to add on to this rising tally when hattrick hopeful, Burgundy Rose, lines up in Race 2, a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m at Flamingo Park today. The only chink in this daughter of King’s Chapel’s armour is that she shoulders top weight of 60kg. That is 8kg more than her main danger, Roman Evening. The latter showed tremendous heart when defeating Zip Line by a gutsy 0.20 lengths over this course and distance last time out. In fact Matthew Thackeray’s mount does exceptionally well in Kimberley. She finished a commendable third in her only other effort at this track. Quartet players should perhaps float Burgundy Rose and Roman Evening with Basilius, Pillar Of Hercules, On Your Life, Waterloo Warrior and Movie Show.