Clairwood Analysis
Race 4.
1 FAST BURST - Getting closer and closer with every attempt and with more improvement one of the dangers here. 1st run after a rest.
2 EPURSIMUOVE - Same as above and also attracts betting support. Still green and a slow starter but looks to have ability and rates as the main danger to fav.
3 KIT ON - 3rd run after a rest and still has scope to improve. Should be thereabouts. *claimed
4 LONDON RETREAT - Excellent form, 4yr old against 3yr olds and hard to beat if fit and well
5 POTCHEEN - Unreliable and makes no appeal, could sneak a place at best
6 FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR - Improving steadily since the rest, watch
7 SEVEN BROTHERS - Makes no appeal
8 NICKLE DUEL - Makes no appeal
9 ROYAL SAMURAI - Rested for 2 years, could be anything
10 TAP ON TIME - Moderate form and ability
11 FAMILY MARCH - Moderate form and ability
12 WELO - Nothing to recommend yet but watch for improvement
13 C C RAIDER - Makes no appeal
14 AWESOME CHARM - Hopeless
15 SIYA VANA - Nothing yet
London Retreat was expected to win last time out but found one better on the day - costly! Track was very bad on that occasion at Scottsville so a good effort in the mud despite losing. The 2 runs prior to that were both impressive seconds to decent sorts which brings him into this race with by far the best credentials against a moderate bunch. Barring any major improvement from one of the others or some drastic occurrence, the result is in. Best bet on the card and anything over 1/1 offers value.
Race 5
1 MAKWETA - 3rd run after a rest, contender at this level
2 CAPE AGULHAS - 2nd run after a rest, obvious chance
3 RUN FOR ROYALTY - Highly regarded by trainer and has a winning chance at this level. *Claimed 2x
4 PEGASUS - Has everything in his favour and should improve further.
5 BONITO - Lightly raced, outside chance at best
6 CAPE GOLD - Watch for further improvement, a lurker here
7 MAC MUFTI - 4th run after rest and has been looking well. In with a chance
8 RESTLESS WIND - Outside chance like most here
9 LOOK SKYWARD - Outside chance like most here
10 YURAKING - 3rd run after a rest. won maiden impressively and can pop up in this field
11 SAN JOHAN - Multiple rests.
12 MASKED WONDER - Looked exceptionally well last time but tends to lose the race at the start by not galloping and getting caught too far back. If getting over this, big runner and the long straight an added advantage. Value bet
13 VIMBA - Is threatening to win another race but average ability it seems
14 SUDDEN TIME - Nothing to recommend
15 IN THE HOOP - Nothing to recommend
16 RAMBOS SECRET - Light weight and 'thereabouts' form, can steal a march here
Typical out of season racing - wide open, Masked Wonder will be a serious contender (at a good price too) here if getting around the problem of being slow away. Run for royalty is highly rated by trainer and should be watched closely. A case can be made for most of the runners in this race and it's wide open! Cape Gold is one to watch, last 3 races haven't gone his way.
Race 6
1 MONSIEUR DOMINIQUE - Not out of it
2 AVALANCHE WAY - Appears held at this level
3 KEATS DRIFT - Very impressive last when a perfect picture on the canter past
4 LONDON GUEST - Back from yet another rest, obvious contender on form
5 KEEYOURA - Never far off, meets stronger here
6 KING OF THE TRIBE - 3rd run after rest perhaps more to come, looks held though
7 PANTANEIRA - Could sneak in
8 ADAMY - 1st run after layout, a hard ask in this field on form but the scope is there. *Claimed 3x
9 MENDELSSOHN - Just making up the numbers
10 IRISH AFFAIRE - Just making up the numbers
The quality improves at last! Keat's Drift came to the track looking in a different class on the canter past last time out and won accordingly. If he returns to the track looking anything like he did last time, expect a huge run. Pantaneira arrived here last winter season with a bit of talk behind him but the walk never materialised. Has been starting to show in CPT since returning to racing, now back here for another attempt at earning in KZN - watch. Adamy has been claimed 3x and has obvious scope for further improvement; going against this company will have to be something decent to win. London Guest has impressive form is lightly raced and one of the stable's big hopes for a bite at the winter season's offerings.
Race 7
1 SKATER BOY - Nothing to recommend at this stage
2 EXECUTE - Threatens to show more, an impressive looker and surely must start earning again soon
3 SPLENDID NEWS - Could be anything
4 HAMBILE - Strong muscular sort who is sure to still improve - obvious chance against this mob
5 MIGHTY FINE - Moderate sort can only hope to earn in weak out of season racing such as this
6 HALE HOUSTON - As above
7 ERUDITE - Returns from a rest and has ability but on paper this appears to be nothing more than a prep run. Watch how he goes, may be worth noting for next time
8 CAPRIANO WARRIOR - Typical hard to assess lurker
9 PRIME DIRECTIVE - Little to recommend but must have an equal chance to the other battlers here
10 CRYSTAL KAHAL - Lightly raced, look for improvement but can't recommend at this stage
11 GREEK HERO - SCRATCHED
12 WILLIAM GRANT - If he's going to win again it will be against this type of average competition
13 LETS ROLL - Battling old man, much like many of the other here, outside chance
14 MARKET SHARE - Very little to recommend
15 WAR CABINET - Very little to recommend
16 SPEEDBAT – Needs to recapture earlier form, not out of it.
17 BISHOP - SCRATCHED
..and back to typical out of season fare. Execute looked exceptional on the canter past last time and had to race in the Scottsville mud, being slow away didn't help either. Must still be improvement to come and in this type of field he could squeeze in. Most have a chance in this race.
Race 8
1 RIVER PLATE - Grand old man still firing and in with a chance. *Claimed
2 BAYETE - Hard to assess returning from a 4 month rest so fitness level unknown
3 BLANK CHEQUE - Highly rated and looking for the extra. Slight concern about experience over this distance but a definite contender. *Claimed 1/2
4 TAMARINO BAY - Always a runner in this type of race
5 TYNE BRIDGE - Could sneak a place at best
6 ROYAL DAY - Impeccable form yet usually comes to the track looking less than impressive on the canter past. Must have a chance in this field and is well weighted
7 SER DE CARRERA - An outside chance of upsetting here.
8 SECRET HERO - Returning after a rest and weighted to beat Royal Day. Upset material if returning fighting fit
9 SEEKING THE STONE - Looks held at this level but carrying far less weight today so could sneak a place
10 RICHMOND PARK - Also down in the weights and could challenge the leaders
It's been said by assistant trainer Frank Robinson on numerous occasions that Blank Cheque will be best over the longer trip. His previous runs have been over distances short of his best in order to gather racing experience and learn to settle. Today we get to see what he can do over the more suitable 2000m and against decent opposition
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