Light weight helps Nafaayes

DE KOCK RUNNER COULD BE A LOT BETTER THAN MERIT RATING SUGGESTS

Green Top looks the main danger.

Invariably in a stakes race punters are advised to go with the best handicapped runner based on merit ratings but in many cases the handicappers’ hands are tied as to how heavily they can penalise a runner.

That could well be the case in tomorrow’s Grade 2 World Sports Betting Ipi Tombe Challenge for fillies and mares over 1600m. Al Danza and Redberry Lane are the respective best handicapped runners but three-year-old Nafaayes from the Mike de Kock yard could be the filly to beat.

She has only raced four times for two wins, a second and a third place but is carrying just 51kg and could still be lot better than her 99 merit rating suggests.

“She is well treated at the weights and she’s coming off a pretty good form line so she must have a chance,” said De Kock. “My only concern is that she’s relatively unexposed with the older horses.”

Green Top is batting to win her second race but if one considers her neck second behind Takingthepeace over this course and distance in the Fillies Guineas, she must come into the reckoning.

The same applies to KZN raider Fiorella who beat Snowdance to win the Fillies Guineas at Greyville. Redberry Lane and Al Danza must also be considered for all exotic bets.

Picture: JC Photographics WELL WEIGHTED. Nafaayes could be a lot better than rated and with just 51kg to carry looks the runner to beat in the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m at Turffontein tomorrow.