|
FORM PREVIEW:
The following performance rates were
generated by a computer programme
which weights the following factors
in order of preference as listed.
- Best in on
ratings
-
Weight-for-age advantage of
older horses
- Class
indicator
- Form at 2000
meters plus
- Proven
Greyville affinity
CURRENT PERFORMANCE RATES
-
LENGTHS
| JAGGED ICE
|
+ 2,5 |
| SUCCESFUL
BIDDER |
+ 2,2 |
| VEILED
ESSENCE |
+ 1,9 |
| HUNTING
TOWER |
+ 1,9 |
| BUY AND SELL |
+ 1,6 |
| RAVISHING |
+ 1,6 |
| KILDONAN |
+ 1,6 |
| POCKET POWER |
+ 1,6 |
| SILVER MIST |
+ 1,6 |
| HILGROVE |
+ 1,5 |
| ROYAL AIR
FORCE |
+ 1,6 |
| MALTEME |
+ 1,4 |
| JAY PEG |
+ 1,2 |
| SUN
CLASSIQUE |
+ 1,2 |
| PICK SIX |
+ 1,1 |
| SINGING
SWORD |
+ 1,0 |
| BIARRITZ |
+ 1,0 |
| DYNAMITE
MIKE |
+ 1,0 |
| NATURAL
SELECTION |
+ 1,0 |
| BADGER'S
GIFT |
+ 0.8 |
JAGGED ICE
Beaten a head by
Elusive Fort, beating Hunting Tower
(3/4 length) and subsequent July
winner EyeoftheTiger (2,5 lengths)
in the 2006 Daily News over this
Greyville 2200m. Put up tremendous
trial on 5 May when beating Royal
Air Force (received 2kg) by 2,5
lengths over 1900m at this track.
Confirmed his readiness when
charging from far back to finish
less than 2 lengths behind Succesful
Bidder in the Gold Challenge last
time out. To quote Dean Kannemeyer :
" Jagged Ice's final trial was up to
expectation's. He ran on with great
zest in the Gold Challenge and we
know that he likes this course and
distance. With the draw in his
favour, I think he is the horse to
beat this year. "
SUCCESFUL BIDDER
Has made vast
improvement since running 4th in J
and B Met in January. Raced 3 wide
throughout when winning Gold
Challenge ! Best handicapped horse
in the field , but will need luck in
running from no.15 draw. A very
tough nut to crack at the weights.
VEILED ESSENCE
This talented
filly has repeatedly proved her
merit against tough male opposition
- see Premiers Trophy (16 Dec) and
Cup Trial (9 June). She now enjoys a
substantial drop in the weights ,
and as a former Oaks (2400m) winner
, should be better over this extra.
Barend Vorster will drop her out
from a bad draw , so this should not
prove to be an insurmountable
obstacle. Expect a big run at long
odds.
HUNTING TOWER
As game and
consistent as they come. Beaten a
length by Elusive Fort in last
year's Daily News, and has
continually run to that mark under
big weight disadvantages since. Well
handicapped 4-y-o ! Well drawn !
Anton Marcus up!
BUY AND SELL
This fast
improving 3-y-o is difficult to
assess. Reeled off a hatrick when
romping home in this year's Daily
News 2200m. It is hard to know what
to make of this horse, but Felix
Coetzee has terrific July record.
RAVISHING
Another 3-y-o who
has yet to be tested against the
best. Impressive SA Derby winner.
Geoff Woodruff rates very highly.
Mark Khan's skill can overcome bad
draw. Clearly a progressive young
horse who stays well. Only the race
will tell.
KILDONAN
Money pouring onto
this 3-y-o suggests that his
powerful stable ranks him amongst
the all - time greats. They must
believe that he needed his last race
badly and/or will be far better over
this extra ground, because strictly
on that form , he can't win at the
weight here. Succesful Bidder ran
wide and piped him at weight-for-age
in the Gold Challenge, and now meets
him on 6 half-kilo better terms than
weight for age. Has won 5 of 7
starts and could well be far better
over this extra ground as he is not
bred to be a sprinter-miler. Rich
Man Gold Sired 2 winners of the
Chilean St Leger.
POCKET POWER
Improved
considerably since workmanlike
victories in Queen's Plate and J and
B Met to run a fast - finishing
short head 2nd in Gold Challenge.
Will need to be a great horse to win
at weights. Certainly the most
progressive of his crop. Good draw.
Ultra consistent. Classy 4-y-o.
SILVER MIST
Touched off a
whisker by Pocket Power in Queen's
Plate. Very well handicapped; but
which horse will turn up on the day?
Joey Ramsden: " He has let us down a
few times, but he is very well and I
think he is ideally suited to this
tight Greyville track. I am very
hopeful."
HILGROVE
Weighted with a
chance; game and consistent; good
draw; top-class jockey; prepped well
in Gold Challenge. In with a
definite chance.
ROYAL AIR FORCE
Big, late maturing
4-y-o colt. Has won 2 of last 3
starts making a quantum leap from E
division to Grade 2 of Astrapak.
Received a 9lb beating from Jagged
Ice over Greyville 1900 at
penultimate start and now receives
8lb from that strong candidate. We
expect him to improve over this
extra. Bad draw to beat. Big runner
at weights.
MALTEME
Beat Jagged Ice in
Natal Derby last year. Then beat a
solid field in the Steinhoff
International. Had Hunting Tower
(gave 11 lb) 3 lengths (4.5 lb)
behind him that day and is now 8lb
(5.5 lengths) worse off at the
weights. On that run Hunting Tower
has him well held here, but on Natal
Derby form he can't be excluded with
53.5 kg.
JAY PEG
Top-class 3-y-o
with a consistently high form line
in Gr 1 events , well drawn. Extra
will suit. Faces very big task as
3-y-o under 55 kg.
SUN CLASSIQUE
Best
middle-distance staying 3-y-o filly
in the country. Faces a very
difficult challenge under 52.5 kg
from no 17 draw.
PICK SIX
Has consistently
proved to be one of the very best of
the 3-y-o generation but is not well
in with 54.5 kg from no 13 draw.
When he won the Gomma Gomma he beat
the likes of Singing Sword by 1 3/4
lengths (3lb) on extra wfa terms.
Now meets Singing Sword on 7lb (41/2
lengths) worse terms than wfa
SINGING SWORD
Showed his class
when running Hunting Tower to a head
in the 2005 Gomma Gomma Dingaans.
Ran big races at the weights when
2nd in Colorado King St and 4th in
Gomma Gomma Challenge. Must be
respected at these weights with in-
form Gavin Lerena up.
BIARRITZ
Has developed into
one of the best 4-y-o in the
country. Was slow away and bumped
twice when beaten less than a length
in the Gold Challenge! Faces tough
task at the weights for a 3-y-o from
the worst draw.
DYNAMITE MIKE
Another much
improved late maturing 3-y-o. Beat
Jay Peg a length in KZN Guineas. Was
slow away when running on well 2.80
lengths behind Succesful Bidder in
Gold Challenge. Is now 2lb worse off
the weights with the older horses,
therefore difficult task despite a
low weight and good draw. Extra 600
meters may bring improvement.
NATURAL SELECTION
Impressed when
1.75 lengths 3rd to Pick Six in
Gomma Gomma Challenge on wfa terms.
Now has a 7lb (4.5 length) pull in
the weights relative to wfa. Chance
for exotics with favorable draw and
weight.
BADGER'S GIFT
Stunning victory
when running Paddock Stakes field
ragged in January , making all and
romping home by 2,5 lengths from
champion 3-y-o filly Sun Classique.
This is her first start beyond 1800
m , so we have no idea what to
expect. Being by Badger Lana and a
Gr 1 sw at 1800 meters, she can't be
totally discounted. |
