Flinders should find his range
Dawson also has a runner Ontheverge of shedding maiden tag
Today’s race meeting at the Vaal sees eight Maiden Plates being contested, four of which are reserved for three-year-olds.
While eleven of the runners in these four races will be making their debut, some have already gained some valuable experience having started their racing careers as juveniles.
The most experienced of the lot is the St John Gray trained Flinders Range, who lines up in the last race of the day over 1500m.
This Skitt Skizzle colt has ten races under the belt, finishing in the quartet in eight of them. To say that he is overdue, is somewhat of an understatement.
It is interesting to note that he has been in action four times already since the start of the new season on August 1, so today’s race will be his fifth in a calendar month.
S’manga Khumalo, who steered him to one of his four runner-up finishes, will be aboard again, and they will be jumping from gate 2.
As the racing will be on the Classic course, all the races, other than those over 1000m, will be run around the turn, so low number draws for these races are important.
Flinders Range has been expensive to follow, but he has every chance of making up for it today, unless of course he finds one better again.
That one might just be JP Two Thousand, trained by Paul Peter. He’s only had one run and, despite finishing 8.75 lengths off the winner first time out over 1160m, there was a lot to like about him.
He certainly can improve markedly over the extra and with that experience gained.
In Race 7, a contest reserved for threeyear-old fillies, Linganomore and Ontheverge look the most likely to contest the finish.
Ontheverge was very impressive on debut as a juvenile, finishing just 2.5 lengths behind Perfect Witness. The latter went on to contest the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m where she finished just 2.75 lengths behind Rain In Holland.
Based on that form line, Ontheverge’s second run was disappointing. She obviously has the talent, and it’s just a matter of time before trainer Candice Dawson will get her to perform to her true potential. The question however is what her best distance will be.
Linganomore, trained by Corne Spies, faded a bit towards the end in her only career run to date, but that was over 1400m. With improved fitness, and racing experience, she looks set to chase Ontheverge all the way to the line today.