Stay with Trip To Africa
WEIGHT: HOWELL’S RUNNER DROPS 5.5KG AND THAT COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Kennedy replaces Marcus on Trippi four-year-old.
Trip To Africa disappointed in his last start when he could only manage fifth place behind Winter Chill over 1200m at Scottsville. However, he did have 62kg to shoulder and was only beaten 2.05 lengths. On Sunday, the Duncan Howells-trained gelding will line up in Race 6, a MR 99 Handicap, again over 1200m at Scottsville.
He does take a jump up in class but that does mean the four-yearold son of Trippi will carry 5.5kg less than last time. He has raced six times for two wins and a place and both victories came over 1200m.
He has shown good form at Scottsville and is nicely positioned in gate No 5.
What is of interest is that Anton
Marcus, who rode him last time, has opted to get aboard Pearl Of Asia for father-son training combination Robbie and Shannon Hill.
That could be a concern except Howells has now engaged champion jockey Warren Kennedy to ride his charge and he was aboard two runs back when Trip To Africa got up to beat Inn A Minute by 0.90 lengths over this course and distance.
Pearl Of Asia won his maiden at Scottsville but since then has been racing mainly at Greyville, on both the Polytrack and turf track. In his last start, which was over 1200m on the Polytrack, the four-year-old son of Pathfork finished second to Good Rhythm.
And therein lies one of the vagaries of horseracing. Both he and Trip To Africa were beaten 2.05 lengths in their last starts – Good Rhythm ran second and Trip To Africa fifth.
However, despite the jockey move, it could be worth giving Howells’ runner another chance.
Swingers and Exactas with the pair should shore up the bank balance.