Wild Wicket can make his mark
KZN has been drenched over the past few days but sun and wind yesterday should be enough to see the race stay on the turf.
However, a few trainers will be nibbling on their nails hoping that the race stays on the green stuff.
Duncan Howells is one of them as he has earmarked Wild Wicket as a possible for the Vodacom Durban July and will no doubt take his chances, ever which way.
Victory today in the Gr3 Kings Cup will go some way to strengthening the gelding’s July hand although it’s no ‘given’ – victory or the July.
With a furlong to run in the Michael Roberts Handicap, the stipendiary stewards were probably heading for the boardroom door to collar Marco van Rensburg before his feet even touched the ground on his return to the paddock.
Wild Wicket
Doing a startlingly good impression of a shop window mannequin on a racehorse, Van Rensburg was certainly viewing the backsides of the opposition on the fancied Duncan Howells-trained Wild Wicket.
Even the trainer was panicking – had his rider lost his mind?
But Van Rensburg either has ice water running through his veins or is a tremendous judge of what he has under him, much to the collective relief of all concerned.
With barely a flick of the reins, Wild Wicket picked up his gallop in an instant and roared through to win going away in a remarkable display by horse and rider.
That was then, today is today. Van Rensburg is back in the saddle against many of the horses he beat last time out.4
The shorter Greyville straight should hold no fears as he has shown a remarkable turn of foot and with only 54kg to shoulder he should get in a blow.
Redcarpet Captain seldom runs a bad race and Mark Dixon’s gelding was less than a length behind Hong Kongbound Monks Hood at his last start.
However, the winning margin was flattering as Monks Hood cruised to the front hard-held.
Given his head the margin could have been five or six lengths.
Meanwhile Stable companion Celtic Captain met progressive three-year-old Roy Had Enough over the Greyville mile last time out and it was only in the dying strides that ‘Roy’ got the upper hand.
Just how Celtic Captain shapes up here could provide a valuable key to blot Roy Had Enough’s chances in the SA Classic and Wild Wicket’s future.
Wild Wicket faces a hardknocking field but a reproduction of his last run could have hearts beating fast again but should be enough to see him home.
Haddington now steps up over a more suitable trip in the first leg of the PA and should prove a safe exotic bet banker.
He only got going late when beaten by Toltec last time out and the extra 300m will be in his favour.
It’s My Turn
Garth Puller could certainly hold the key to the Sports Betting Maiden plate, first leg of the Pick 6, with two runners, It’s My Turn and Los Barbados.
Both step up to a more suitable trip after showing up well in their pipe-openers.
However, Los Barbados has had many chances and the younger It’s My Turn should have more scope for improvement. The Air Products Handicap is a mine field but Whiteleaf Hills, who came from the clouds to shed his maiden, should prove better than his last run when taking a major step up in class and being ridden by an inexperienced apprentice.
Down in class and Callan Murray aboard could be enough to see him home in a very tricky contest.
The Howells stable appears to have turned the corner after battling a virus and Miziara can get his ball rolling in the Morris Vee Sports Bet handicap.
She is seldom out of the money and appeared just in need of her last start behind Ideal Winter.