Enable will be ready for Arc
RECORD: JANSE VAN VUUREN’S CHARGE CAN EXTEND UNBEATEN RUNS
De Kock duo look the main dangers.
Divine Odyssey scored an excellent win over Arctica in his last start and is expected to keep his unbeaten record over 1600m intact when he lines up in Race 6, a MR 93 Handicap, on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow.
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren appears to have found the perfect distance for this lightly raced four-year-old gelding who has only raced seven times. He shed maiden tag in his third start at a racecourse and that was over 1400m on the Standside track at Turffontein where he beat Till Dawn by 3.25 lengths.
He then ran unplaced over 1450m on the Inside track at Turffontein but jumped from a wide draw on that occasion and lost ground at the start. His next outing was over 1400m on the Vaal straight and seemed to get outpaced but ran on well to end third, beaten just 1.20 lengths by Sail For Joy.
It was at that stage that he was tried over 1600m, first on the Inside track at Turffontein, where he scored a courageous victory over Mambo Symphony. Despite suffering interference, the gelding fought hard for a short-head victory. Then last time he ran over 1600m on the Standside track and got to the lead early in the straight and once again stayed on well to beat Arctica by 0.50 lengths.
This will be his first run on the Classic track but Divine Odyssey appears to be a versatile sort and should have no issue with the track. Calvin Habib takes the ride and they jump from no 4 draw.
He won’t be short of challengers and topping the list are the pair from the Mike de Kock yard, Secret Captain and Puget Sound. Secret Captain seems to lack heart when involved in a tight finish but Muzi Yeni found the right formula last time and managed to keep this half-brother to Bela-Bela going to ward off the challenge of Lord Silverio.
Despite a number of close finishes, that was only the second time Secret Captain had his head in front at the line. His only other win was by default when he was awarded the Daisy Guineas after Janoobi was disqualified.
Stable companion Puget Sound comes off two very good runs. In his penultimate start he beat Forest Express by 0.30 lengths over 2000m and then last time was touched off by Shogun over 1600m on the Inside track. Randall Simons takes the ride for the first time and he might well be able to extricate something extra from this son of Sail From Seattle.
Soldier On won his last start over this course and distance and is another who needs to be included in the reckoning. Based on average merit ratings he is taking a slight increase in class but has ability and could come out on top.