Born To Perform to show his worth
The Fever Tree Stakes (Nonblack Type) has attracted a useful field and one that will pose a tricky puzzle for punters at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. Some overnight light rain on Friday will have led to some give in the ground but the going should be pretty close to perfect. Dennis Bosch has done wonders with the grey Born To Perform who was almost unmanageable early in his career. He has since won five of his ten starts for Bosch and today is reunited with Warren Kennedy who guided him to his last three wins. A son of former Vodacom Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter by the stallion Silvano, whose tends to inject stamina into a pedigree, Born To Perform has disappointed when tried over ground, but a win may tempt Bosch into a crack at the July.
Born To Perform
Born To Perform is currently a weak 3-1 favourite with Tribal Fusion, Wynkelder and Solid Gold bracketed on 9-2. Form quite often goes in cycles and it has been exactly a year since Tribal Fusion won his last race, the Fever Tree Stakes, beating the useful filly Fiorella. Tribal Fusion has had two starts since a lengthy break but is showing all the signs of being cherry-ripe. Wynkelder is a smart sprinter but stays this trip and from a good draw should be a factor as should Solid Gold who has come to hand nicely of late for Michael Roberts and even though he faces stronger he has a chance of going in again. Some quick horses line up in the Soccer Any 15 Pinnacle Stakes where tactics will play a crucial role. Chantyman will be a popular choice as the game five-year-old is 1210 favourite as he bids for his seventh visit to the winner’s enclosure. Given his breathing issues he still boasts an exceptional record, having earned a cheque in all but two of his 18 races and Dennis Bosch has placed him carefully. Recent outings have been in set weights races where he is at an advantage, as is the case today where he is rated 3kg to the good. Something of a relentless galloper in the early part of his career, there was a subtle change of tactics at his last start over course and distance where Anton Marcus let him settle off the pace before pouncing to win going away. It was an impressive performance given that he was carrying 62 kg and giving second-place Calvary 8 kg. Chantyman again has a steadier on his back and he will be forced to carry it all the way to the line with quick horses in opposition and the going likely to be on the softer side of good. One that stands out is Effortless Reward who looks value at 20-1. At face value her form is nothing to write about except that is consistent. She receives 16 kg from Chantyman courtesy of Yuzae Ramzan’s 4kg claim and when questioned, Louis Goosen was forthcoming: “I’ve been planning this.” Goosen saddles two other sprinters in Captain’s Girl and Winter Blues, no slouches on their day but the one that could trouble them all is 4-1 second favourite Socrates. Shane Humby’s lightly raced gelding has only been out of the money once in nine starts and runner-up at his last two. Going back in his form, he has beaten Chantyman over course and distance, giving him weight. He too comes from off the pace and both could be chasing Effortless Reward.