Pepper adds the heat
CLASS ACT: IN-FORM GREEN PEPPER HAS THE FORM TO WIN SENOR SANTA
Carryover Pick 6 and Dubai World Cup make Turffontein meeting special.
For anybody close to Johannesburg, there is no better place to be on Saturday than Turffontein Racecourse. There are five local feature races on the 12race card which incorporates the world’s richest race, the $10-million Dubai World Cup, as Race 11.
There is also a Pick 6 carryover of R400,000 going into the Turffontein meeting with the pool estimated to reach R2.4 million.
Topping the local card are two Grade 2 events – the Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m and the Colorado King Stakes over 2000m – and both look very competitive.
Green Pepper was one of the most talented three-year-old sprinters in the country, winning five of her first six starts and going down a short head in the other. While she has not run a bad race, she did seem to lose some of zip later in the season but after a lengthy rest has come back really well. In her last start this daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was touched off by Romi’s Boy but the run was good enough to indicate she was coming back to form.
The Senor Santa will be her third run after a layoff and with Gavin Lerena up, she stands out as the runner they all have to beat.
Champagne Haze was a shock winner of his last start, the Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m at the same venue. This five-yearold was languishing in last place at the halfway stage but even at that point apprentice Lyle Hewitson said he had so much horse under him he felt as long as he got a clear run, he could not lose.
Champagne Haze went away to beat Greasepaint by 1.70 lengths and if he can repeat that performance, especially over the additional 160m, this Gary Alexandertrained gelding cannot be left out of any bet.
Romi’s Boy is 1kg worse off with Green Pepper so the filly should have his measure this time but Alec Laird’s charge should not be too far off them. Muzi Yeni rode him to victory last time and has picked up the ride again.
Joey Ramsden has brought Professor Brian to the Highveld and this five-year-old gelding is a five-time winner. He carries just 52kg and talented jockey Richard Fourie knows how to make use of that light weight.
Also consider Zouaves, Arabian Beat and Sir David Baird.
The Colorado King Stakes is seen as a precursor to the R4-million Premier’s Champions Challenge over the same course and distance on 5 May. Trainer Paul Peter said Fort Ember was still in need of a run when she finished a one-length second to Orchid Island over 1800m in a Pinnacle Stakes.
Champion trainer Sean Tarry sends out French Navy and although this six-year has not won a race since the London News Stakes in January 2016, he should feature prominently in this event.