Firdoas will be going Against The Grain
Sean Tarry-trained Against The Grain has managed to produce moments of brilliance over his last two performances, strongly suggesting he is an above-average sort, worth backing when he reunites with champion jockey Lyle Hewitson in Race 4, the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m.
Interestingly, although returning from a four-month layoff, fitness was no issue in his penultimate start when beaten a rapidly diminishing 0.10 lengths into second place by Bye Bye Rocket in the Monaco Maiden Million Sprint – a contest he was never supposed to lose – this three-year-old was unluckily denied a gap twice, and once it opened up he flew – but it was too late.
Against The Grain made no mistakes in his follow-up, over this trip at the Vaal, defeating Paused by 1.75 lengths, and if he overcomes the wide No 8 draw in this nine-horse field, this son of Curved Ball will be very hard to outclass.
He has a devastating turn of foot and seems to have found his niche over 1400m. He will also be aided by the modest 55.5kg on his back. That is 3.5kg less than his main danger, Firdoas, from the illustrious Mike de Kock stable.
You can put a line through her Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes run when beaten an uncanny 10.15 lengths into fifth place by National Park. She was drawn poorly and was returning from a lengthy fivemonth layoff.
This three-year-old was basically dropped in the deep end, pitted against hard knockers like Alyaasaat and Chimichuri Run. This daughter of Bernardini is clearly far better than that run suggests, and should improve many lengths now that she’s had a run under the belt.
Prior to that performance, Firdoas was on a two-run winning streak, most notably making light work of rivals to outclass Manousckas Beaut by an emphatic 6.60 lengths on the second time of asking. If she brings that mentality to the racetrack, Firdoas may give the boys a run for their money.
To be safe: for the Quartet, it could be wise to include trainer Chesney van Zyl’s smashing son of Bold Silvano, Bold Eagle, who will have Piere “Striker” Strydom in the irons.
In Race 3, a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m, punters may be faced with a bit of a conundrum when Great Shaka (Ryan Munger) and Alpine Glacier (Calvin Habib) lock horns.
Both share similar form over their last three performances, finishing fifth and following-up with two consecutive seconds.
At the time of writing, they are 19-10 joint favourites. The Place Accumulator has a likely pool of R1R.5acmei4lliTohne,Gan-BdetsoSwtaikneas sGhaallroepof the prize, ensure you include both ru nnHeorsrs
If bit iffy abo4u t ho0r.8s3es having a second run after layoff, it couFilrdopaas y(Atuo side with4.5the Peter-trained Alpine Glacier. He shoulders 1.5kg less than his main th reaAtg, ainsdt ering t his i0s.9t2he five-year-old son of Var’s fourth start after a layoff, he will without a douBblotnbde aVtispioe ak fitness
That last form line has produced a winner which only st renCgotrhdeillners the geldin7.g ’s c1.a3s8e. Add the fact he jumps from a cosy No 4 draw and a loss becomes unlikely.