Chad Cooke
The Gauteng feature race season is under way and good racing is the expectation come weekends. This weekend the Highveld meeting takes place at Turffontein where the standside track will be in use for the nine-race card which is headed by the Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1 800m and the Listed Gardenia Handicap over the minimum distance of 1000.
The horses that will contest the Victory Moon Stakes on Saturday have some way to go to emulate the performances, and earnings, of the horse in which this race is named. Now deceased, Victory Moon was one of the very first South African-bred horses that established South Africa on the world map with his scintillating performances in Dubai.
As good as this contest appears on paper, one has to pen one’s disappointment at the scratching of arguably the most talented thoroughbred in the country, Oracy. He promises so much but his obvious ailments continue to keep him off the tracks and one hopes that when we do next see him out he keeps his unbeaten record in tact.
The horse that makes most appeal is the Mike de Kock-trained Meet At Malamala. This four-year-old son of Western Winter has shown himself to be one of the best of his generation, if not of those around today, but his last performance is concerning. The bay colt contested the November Handicap and although he got going late he did not shine. The wide draw could be used as an excuse for the moderate performance but it was a little lack-lustre.
That was the colt’s third run after being rested and one expected better.
On Saturday Anthony Delpech gets another chance to show that the colt is better than that effort, the pairing having drawn well and distance should be no trouble at all.
What is interesting is the addition of blinkers and if they have the desired effect, Meet At Malamala could secure trainer De Kock this Grade 2 contest.
The main dangers to Meet At Malamala are the KZN-raider Thandolwami, Gary Alexander-trained Fanerbahce and the Charles Laird inmate Rudi Rocks.
The latter could pose the biggest threat. The son of Silvano has been rated as high as 102 and his last run which came off a rest showed that he could have regained his zest for the sport. He has drawn well but is not the stable elect for the race. Stable jockey Anton Marcus partners Australian-bred Eight Street here so that should be watched too.
The supporting feature of the afternoon comes a race later and has listed status. The Gardenia Handicap will be contested over 1 000m and twelve of the fairer sex will line up in this black-type contest. However, sadly it must be said, the quality of the field is poor.
The highest rated horse in the race is a 94 with the next best being 86 while the bottom weight is rated at a mere 72, but could well walk away form this contest with black-type and broodmare potential.
Picadilly Miss has the biggest weight of 60kg to shoulder here but her class is well beyond that of the rest of this field and even the handicap should not be enough to see her taste defeat.
The handicapping panel will not agree with that statement and they will argue that as this is a merit-rated handicap every horse has an equal chance of winning. Well, the result tomorrow will show if that is true or not.
Being a handicap, and a fillies and mares one at that, the best policy could be to go a little wider in exotic bets and include the likes of Captivating Party and Suzie.
Two races on the card that could prove to be more exciting than the features are the fifth and sixth events of the day.
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