Draw concerns for Surcharge
TOP jockey Piere Strydom regards his Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas mount Surcharge as a “special” horse, but is concerned about his wide draw. The classy Gimmethegreenlight colt has a strong finish and has won the Listed Secretariat Stakes and the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes, both over the Turffontein Standside track, in impressive fashion in his last two starts.
Strydom said, “The way he runs he will be better over a mile.”
However, he lamented landing a draw of 14 out of 16.
He said, “He does not have a lot of speed and doesn’t jump too well. If he is slowly away, where is he going to be from that draw?
“He will either be caught wide or have to give them ten lengths start in the straight. It takes a special horse to do that. So the draw is not going to help.”
However, Strydom reiterated that he is indeed a special horse and added, “At the moment he is lacking gatespeed, but is still winning.
“He has a such a long, big stride. He is just talented and is only starting to know what he’s doing now, so has a lot of scope.”
If Surcharge is able to make up the ground, he will not be hitting the front too soon, because Strydom said the good looking bay’s acceleration was “gradual” rather than instantaneous.
Monks Hood
He mentioned the Investec Dingaans Monks Hood among the opposition.
He said, “He has a fair draw and the jockey (Anthony Delpech) will be able to place him.”
The Alistair Gordon-trained KZN raider had a tricky draw of nine out of 16 bin the Dingaans, but found a good position near the back.
However, he only saw daylight in front of him throughout the 700m of the straight so did well to win.
He also looks to be a special horse and might be handier this time from a draw of seven. winner
Strydom was most disappointed about the scratching of his original mount for the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the unbeaten Dean Kannemeyer-trained Hashtagyolo, although it was obviously the right decision as he confirmed the virus she had contracted had made her ill.
However, he has landed another ride, on the Sean Tarry-trained Aurelia Cotta.
She is midway down the betting board at 14-1 with Betting World. This Ashaawes filly is undoubtedly one of the dark horses of the race.
The champion yard have endured a largely frustrating season, finding themselves in second place on the national log having been dominant through- out the 2016/2017 term.
However, they have at last hit form and Tarry clinched a four-timer on Saturday and ran one-twothree in the highest class race of the day, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1 160m.
In her last start in the US$500,000 CTS Mile, Aurelia Cotta was too far back from a wide draw of 15 out of 16 on fast ground.
However, her Turffontein Standside form makes good reading.
On Sansui Summer Cup day she finished a three length second in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile to the Gauteng Fillies Guineas joint-favourite Folk Dance.
She had the run of the race that day and ran on well.
Folk Dance
In her favour is that Folk Dance over raced a bit early in the Fillies Mile, but from a good draw of four was soon able to find cover.
She has not raced since and is now drawn eleven out of 13, so Gavin Lerena might not have an easy task settling her.
Aurelia Cotta on the other hand has drawn in the middle in eight and usually settles well.
In her penultimate start she jumped from a wide draw of nine out of 11 in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1 800m against the boys.
She ran on well again for a far from disgraced 3,15 length fourth to the Gauteng Guineas favourite Majestic Mambo, from whom she received the weight for age allowance of 2,5kg.
Strydom rides the Gary Alexander-trained Kangaroo Jack in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1 400m.
The five-year-old Querari gelding has won over the course and distance before.
However, he has drawn wide on Saturday and Strydom said once again this would leave him with a tough task against top horses.
In last year’s race Kangaroo Jack was drawn nine out of nine and Andrew Fortune took him to the front where he sat on the flank of the leader New Predator.
He stayed on well but found no extra late in the yielding conditions and finished a 1,85 length fourth.
This horse usually settles well and has an exceptional turn of foot, so will be interesting with more conservative tactics employed in a race where there should be a good pace.