Rest believers banking on Charlie Strong
BELIEVERS in the second and third-run-after-a-rest theory will be wading in on Charlie Strong in the Rugby 5 Maiden at Kenilworth today - and with good reason.
This gelding ran a cracker when he reappeared 19 months after his debut to beat all except the useful Saint Donan in a 1 200m maiden here in March. Five weeks later, though, when he was backed down to 22-10 second favourite, he proved a bitterly expensive disappointment.
“I thought it was just a question of how far,’’ recalls Adam Marcus ruefully. “But what I think happened was that other horses came across towards him and he became a bit intimidated. But he is fit and well and this race looks quite winnable.’’
Indeed it does and Gavin Lerena, travelling far and wide in his search for title-bringing winners, has reason to fancy his chances. He is on the 14-10 favourite and, although Betting World makes the five month-absent Baksteen second favourite at 22-10, the selection probably has most to fear from the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Last Tiger (7-2) who ran as if he found 1 200m too short last time.
S’Manga Khumalo is also hungry for winners and Greg Ennion is pleased to have the champion aboard Northern Corner in the opening maiden juvenile. This colt has arguably better form than Ready To Attack and Victorius Jay and last time's fourth to Macduff (with subsequent winner Black Tractor third) reads well.
“He was a bit unlucky that day because he raced on his own for a while but he really ran on when he joined the others. He has done very well since,’’ says Ennion.
Eleven of the 17 runners are newcomers with Angkor Wat catching the eye as Joey Ramsden's two-year-old crop is particularly strong.
The morning performances of Purple Mountains (by Var) have attracted the attention of a number of rival trainers but Glen Puller says: “He and Larimar are nice types but I think they will both need the experience. I haven’t pushed them at all.’’
Sugar Frosted
So maybe Northern Corner will be good enough but Ramsden’s Sugar Frosted should be able to reverse her debut running with Nordic Wind, and confirm with Khumalo’s mount Frenni, in the Soccer 13 Maiden Juvenile. Septima also has the form to win but she has been off for four months.
Roman Silvanus ran well in a sprint last time but the 18-10 favourite appeals in the 1 800m Soccer 6 Maiden.
“That last race was his first run back (since December),’’ says Candice Robinson. This is his type of distance and he will have a good chance.’’
Bono Vox (9-2) is drawn wide but 5-1 chance Hurricane Attack is, intriguingly, fitted with blinkers for the first time after showing signs of improvement on his most recent run.
“I am putting them on because he ran in snatches last time,’’ explains Paddy Kruyer. “But I can't be confident.’’
Perini (33-10) and Alascan Maiden (7-2) head the market for the Racing.It's A Rush Handicap but at 7-1 Khumalo's mount Thaler Point makes considerable each way appeal.