Russian Prince to jump over Wonderwall
Trust MVR to deliver the goods in Race 8
You can trust Marco van Rensburg, one of the country’s most underrated jockeys, to safely steer Pick 6 banker Russian Prince to a comfortable triumph when the pair reunite in today’s Race 8, an Assessment Plate over 1100m up the Vaal straight. Following two unlucky runner-up finishes and a fourth place over trips ranging from 1400 to 1600m, veteran conditioner Mike Azzie decided to drop the promising son of Potala Palace to 1200m. He then proved he is an above-average thoroughbred, winning by a jaw-dropping 4.50 lengths under Gavin Lerena, and, despite making respiratory noises, then won by an extending 3.60 lengths under Van Rensburg.
Russian Prince is weighted to win and appears far better than his official merit rating of 97 might suggest.
The recently gelded Wonderwall appears to be the obvious danger, but Sean Tarry’s charge might be ring-rusty as he returns from 82 days off the racetrack.
Paul Peter-trained Sacred Castle shortened from 8-1 to 4-1 on debut – and rightfully so as he made a mockery of the competition in beating Palace Assembly by a commanding 2.25 lengths.
He takes a step up in class, but if jockey Carlos Herrera Gomez can get the threeyear-old Querari colt to reproduce anything like that debut performance he will give the selection a lot of cheek.
The runner he beat on debut, Palace Assembly, looks very hard to oppose as he lines up in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1200m.
This is Palace Assembly’s third run after gelding. He was his own worst enemy last time out, being slow out the gates, having to be switched and hanging out in the dying stages. He was 10th passing the 350m marker but made up a tremendous amount of ground to lose by a rapidly diminishing 2.25 lengths under apprentice jockey Luke Ferraris, who retains the ride. Quartet players should float Azzie’s charge and the Mike de Kock-trained Stockbridge with as many runners as the budget allows.
BiPot players can banker Alec Lairdtrained Boutique in Race 2, a FM Maiden Plate over 1200m, with Lerena in the irons. She was drawn worst of all on debut over today’s distance on the Turffontein Inside and was forced to come from off the pace – finishing a gallant fifth, beaten 3.20 lengths by Starlight-temptress. Lerena’s mount will have to be at her very best to outrun the best-weighted runner, It Takes Two, who, following a short layoff, was in need of a run when an unlucky loser to Florida Quays.
It was a run full of merit as she rolled in and was bumped in running. That form line has produced a winner, strengthening the case for the three-year-old daughter of Twice Over.