Bank on Mr ‘Sandy’ Tobin

HILE it is a busy weekend for KwaZulu-Natal racegoers with back-to-back meetings at Clairwood tomorrow and Scottsville on Sunday, the main racing focus will on the sand track at the Vaal tomorrow where the R600 000, Grade 2 Emerald Cup will be run over 1 450m.

For punters, things look on the tough side for tomorrow’s two meetings and those that strike it lucky in the exotics could be in for some very healthy dividends.

The Emerald Cup meeting has some difficult races but trainer Sean Tarry, who won the big race last year with The Mouseketeer, could throw punters something of a lifeline with his sand specialist Mr Tobin backed up by Across The Ice, Follow The Piper and The Mouseketeer. debut over 1 200m at the Vaal last month where he ran on to be a wellbeaten second to Across The Ice.

He is drawn well and obviously handles the surface and if he stays the trip in these conditions he is not without a money chance.

Making his first appearance on the sand is the Joey Ramsden runner In A Rush. He won his last race over 1 600m at Scottsville and while he does have ability, he is drawn wide and that will make his task even more difficult on this surface.

So while one could make a pretty good argument for a number of the runners, it is still difficult in my book to see Mr Tobin being beaten particularly if he has more to offer than we have seen and what has been suggested in the manner that he has won.