JACK MILNER racing express
It takes something special to follow a Maiden Plate victory with a win in a MR 84 Handicap next time out. However, Sternberg had that quality about him when he beat National Hound by four lengths at the Vaal last time.
That was in an 1800m Maiden Plate at the Vaal, and in only his second appearance on a racetrack, and he will be tough to peg back in Race 6 over the same distance at the Vaal on Thursday.
Brett Webber’s runner is taking on a seasoned field comprising the likes of Major Champion, Ruckus, Man Of Atlantis and Tutenkhamen, but the combination of talent, a light weight of 52.5kg and the confident skills of apprentice Derreck David should be enough to steer him into the winner’s enclosure.
Sternberg made his first appearance on a racetrack in February over 1450m on the sand and was all at sea when running fifth, 7.75 lengths behind Woodstock SL. He was last of the nine runners going through the 400m mark, lying 17.60 lengths off the pacemaker, but made up 10 lengths in the latter stages.
He started at 33-1 on that occasion but when he returned to the track last month over 1800m, he was priced up at 3-1 before drifting to 9-2. He was again well back turning for home but when David asked for an effort, the son of Mogok accelerated stylishly and went clear in the closing stages.
This is his second start after the layoff but the manner in which he won gives the impression he is unlikely to go flat. If anything, he is likely to have benefited from his last run and there appears to be plenty room for improvement.
Man Of Atlantis was carded to run last week but the meeting was abandoned due to rain. Andre Kirsten’s runner won a good race from Showroom over 1600m last month and is even more effective at this trip.
It is questionable whether he will be able to give 4kg and a beating to Sternberg but he does have experience on his side. Deon Sampson takes the ride.
Whenever Piere Strydom throws a leg over Ruckus, one has to take note. He has ridden Bradley Maroun’s runner in 15 of his 23 races and has guided him to all four of his victories. He has finished second on six occasions, third on three occasions and only twice finished unplaced.
In his last start, which was over this course and distance, Ruckus looked a winner when Strydom edged him into the lead in last 100m. However, he was snared late by Kaleidoscopio, who won by a head from a flying Speech, and ended up another 0.75 lengths back in third.
Ruckus is 3.5kg and 0.5kg better off with Kaleidoscopio and Speech respectively and should reverse the placings with the Corne Spies-trained duo.
Major Champion has a superb record over this track and trip, recording two wins and two places in four outings. In August last year he beat Ruckus by 1.75 lengths but Maroun’s runner reversed that defeat in April this year, beating Geoff Woodruff’s charge by 4.50 lengths.
That was Major Champion’s first run following a three-month break and he should be a lot fitter on this occasion. Woodruff may have made a shrewd move by booking apprentice Menno Malherbe as his 1.5kg claim makes the Manshood gelding more competitive.
Tutenkhamen tries 1800m for the first time. He has done well over shorter trips on the sand but has given little indication that he is looking for further. However, he does have in-form Johnny Geroudis aboard and could finish in the money.
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