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The Three-Year-Olds A very strong contingent of 6 three-year-olds
includes (3 1/2 from maturing) |
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Mike De Kock rates this colt second only to Horse Chestnut amongst the very best he has ever trained. He is still 7 half-kilos from his full powers, so his 52,5 kg handicap represents 56 kg for an older horse. He gave Angus a 7 half-kilo w-f-a beating when in need of a race in the Clairwood Cup Trial. He meets Angus on 8 half-kilo worse terms than wfa here, so stricktly speaking the 4-y-o should turn the tables. However, expect good improvement in fitness here. Big ask for a 3-y-o to win with 52,5kg, but we suspect that he is destined for greatness. Carries same weight as In Full Flight carried to victory as 3-y-o. IPI TOMBE - 52,0 kg from No 15 draw makes this 3-y-o filly's task extremely tough. She is undoubtedly one of the best 3-y-o filly's ever to race in South Africa and considering Enchanted Garden's performance as a 3-y-o filly with 53 kg, we can expect a big run from this filly. FIERY FRED - goes for 5 in a row. Won the important 3-y-o trial - The Daily News - led all the way and refused to quit when challenged. No 12 draw is not bad, but with only 50,5 kg this shouldn't be too much of an obstacle. ULTRASOUND - Won the Cape Derby like a time champion!! Good draw, only 51,5 kg, world-class rider, but his 3 Durban trial runs have not been quite up to Cape Derby form. Is he within 1 kg of Flight Alert? He will have to be at his best, but definite chance. Must be included in exotics. KEY OF DESTINY - is 1 kg (1,3 lenghts) worse off with Fiery Fred for 0,75 beating in the Daily News. Top-class colt, but that form suggests he may be a length or two out of it at the weights. Must be considered for exotics. ROMAN CHARGER - this colt beat the best at wfa in the Green Point Stakes. Has tons of potential, excellent draw and only 51 kg. THE OLDER HORSE TYTOLA - remember Lightning Shot! an older horse who won the Greyville 1900 with 50 kg and then shocked everyone under 49 kg when downing the likes of 3-y-o Politician (51,5 kg) and older horses Bold Monarch (51,5 kg) and Beau Art (47,5 kg)! Tytola is a Gr 1 SW at Greyville! Bang in form, drawn 1, and an older horse with 50 kg. Deserves the greatest respect as he has proved that he stays 2400 metres. ANGUS - has got the measure of Flight Alert at the weights on their last run. Beaten only a length under 53 kg in J & B Met. Draw, weight, jockey - all in his favour. Big runner! POLO CLASSIC - working very well. Runs well at Greyville. Very bad draw. Won J & B Met with 53,0 kg. Only up 1/2 kg. Respect him. CELTIC GROVE - Champion of his generation last year at three. Terrific run in July last year. Good draw and not badly weighted at 55 kg. Loves Greyville. Big chance at brilliant best. GRANDE JETE - when he got to Durban he picked up a virus. Excellent trials in Drill Hall, Greyville 1900 (very wide). Choked up in running when tongue over the bit last time. Ignore that run. Working very well. Meets Flight Alert on 1,5 kg (2 length) better terms than w-f-a! Judged on J & B Met form this horse is the best handicapped horse in the field! Excellent draw! Top-class Jockey! TRADEMARK - smashed track record under 51,0 kg last year. Now carries an extra 3,0 kg (4,3 lenghts). Very fit! Excellent draw! Top-class rider! Difficult task at weights. SUMMARY - We are in for a great contest. At best GRANDE JETE is the horse to beat at the weights. Eric Sands is happy with his current work. ANGUS has everything going for him. TYTOLA is another older horse who appeals at the weights. He won his trial with authority. CELTIC GROVE at best will be hard to beat. TRADEMARK is another older horse with a chance. The 3-y-o contingent is exceptionally strong with two of the best 3-y-o's ever to have raced in South Africa in FLIGHT ALERT and IPI TOMBE. FIERY FRED will be a tough horse to beat. ULTRASOUND, at best, is a crackerjack. KEY OF DESTINY is truly top-class. ROMAN CHARGER is definitely a contender. |