Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

  • Bob Brogan
  • Topic Author
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 82485
  • Thanks: 6450

Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 3 weeks ago
#93667

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • russelldewee
  • New Member
  • New Member
  • Thanks: 0

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 3 weeks ago
#93687
Warm White Night to mow them down... J J not gonna be effective as no run under the belt for this race for him..

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Bob Brogan
  • Topic Author
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 82485
  • Thanks: 6450

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 3 weeks ago
#93688
No hiding places in that field..go go the champ!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Dave Scott
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 43867
  • Thanks: 3338

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#93873
Its great racing at Scottsville on Sat, many stars in action plus a carry over pick 6 from the big T on Sat, should be a superb day. (:P)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • bad company
  • New Member
  • New Member
  • Thanks: 0

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#93876
Don't leave thunder key outa d p6

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Bob Brogan
  • Topic Author
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 82485
  • Thanks: 6450

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#93878
Dereck David riding for Yogas?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Chris van Buuren
  • Platinum Member
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 9804
  • Thanks: 202

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#93891
i have a funny feeling we should be looking a little further down the weights this year....Perhaps Moroccan or Captain Scott??? (Save maybe you can comment? ;) )

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Dave Scott
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 43867
  • Thanks: 3338

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#93892
Not sure about Captain Scott Tommy, but Moroccan might be the one to beam me up? (tu)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Dave Scott
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 43867
  • Thanks: 3338

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#94043
Saturday’s big Golden Horse Casino Sprint Raceday at Scottsville Racecourse is looming large in the minds of Champions Season enthusiasts and it augurs well for the Clairwood-base trainers whose horses appear to thrive at this training centre at this time of the year.



Charles Laird sends out the Grade 1 winning sprinter, Warm White Night, in the Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m.



Warm White Night disappointed in his last start when sent out as odds-on favourite in the Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein, finishing last.



The going was very soft on that occasion, but Laird, who was asked yesterday whether this had been the reason for the run, could not offer an explanation.



“He is doing fine. We gave him his final grass gallop last week at Clairwood. He has won at Scottsville before so knows the track.”



A line can probably be drawn through the long-striding son of Western Winter’s Computaform Sprint run and he should be a leading contender having won the Gold Reef Resorts Medallion over course and distance as a juvenile two years ago.



Another Laird horse who can have a line drawn through her last start is the Australian-bred two-year-old Street Cry filly, Hollywoodboulevard, who runs in the Allan Robertson.

“She also ran in the mud on Champions Day,” said Laird. “Anton (Marcus) said she was changing legs throughout. She is normally a very nice moving filly.”



Hollywoodboulevard beat a weak field by seven lengths on debut after being backed into 1-4.



Laird said it was always difficult to judge the two-year-olds until they had run against each other, but added that his two-year-old Jet Master colt, Sports Coach, who won by 9,25 lengths on debut in slightly soft going, was doing very well.



He rated him better than his other Medallion contender, The Assayer, at this stage and said the latter would be better when going over seven furlongs to a mile.



He said tongue-in-cheek that he would be “very excited” if Pagan Dance, a three-time winner from five starts, ran fourth in the strong Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint.



He added, “Gibraltar Blue and Val De Ra are both exceptional. The way Gibraltar Blue won the Guineas coming from draw 14 she looks something special. Val De Ra has done nothing wrong and has hardly come off the bit.”



Anton Marcus has ridden Gibraltar Blue in both her South African starts to date and felt she would be fine over the shorter trip. Anthony Delpech will ride her this time as Marcus is contracted to Laird.



Laird also runs Imperial Gesture in the Golden Horse and said, “It will be too sharp, but there is nothing else for him to run in.”

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • southpaw
  • New Member
  • New Member
  • Thanks: 0

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#94050
I can't wait for this race! (:D

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • African Betting Clan
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 823
  • Thanks: 20

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#94074
Trainer Comments

Trainer Sean Tarry will travel Captain’s Gal, Mythical Flight and Essential Oil down from Johannesburg on Friday ready for the Golden Horse Casino Sprint Raceday at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday.



The trio will stay overnight at Ashburton, while Lady Bequick and Captivating Party have both been staying at Clairwood.



Scott Kenny, Tarry’s assistant, said on Tuesday, “Everybody’s talking about the SA Fillies as a two horse race. But Captain’s Gal showed early pace in the Camelia Stakes over 1160m and Pierre Strydom eased her down before the line – she could have won by further. Val De Ra hasn’t been tested over 1200m this season, but Captain’s Gal has won a Graded race over a mile with ease so the tough 1200m will suit her.”



He said of Mythical Flight, “All his best form has come on fast ground. He hasn’t had the conditions that suit him since returning from overseas. He should get them at Scottsville. He has lost some of the blistering speed he had as a younger horse and Sean feels 1200m will suit him better now. He should have won his last start but was squeezed at the start and then had another horse run across him. He has been starting slowly lately but if getting into the race he will have a chance considering he nearly won with top-weight as a three-year-old, only just being caught by Kildonan.”



Kenny added, “Essential Oil is very pacey but it’s difficult to compare the two-year-olds at this stage.”



A very interesting runner in the Golden Horse is the Greg Ennion-trained Nocturnal Affair, who won the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Scottsville in his Champions Season debut.



He is at Clairwood and Ennion said, “He is very versatile, he could win over 1000m. He has improved a lot since the Byerley Turk and is looking an absolute picture. The tough 1200m is well within his scope.”



Darryl Hodgson said that he was very happy with his Golden Horse contender, Casey Cool.



He sends out Maureen De Lago, formerly with Justin Snaith, in the Allan Robertson and said, “She finished lame in her last start and has had a few problems, but is now sound and doing well.”



He felt his SA Fillies entry, Purple Orchid, would be an “also ran” considering the strength of that field.



Mike Bass’ Golden Horse pair, Blue Tiger and Gaultier, are both doing well.



Gaultier thrives in Durban from the moment he gets off the float so has to be considered everytime he runs.



Bass felt Blue Tiger had been disappointing in the Drill Hall, “We tried to settle him in behind but it didn’t work.”



He said that if Blue Tiger is allowed to use his stride he is fine. In the Golden Horse the pace should be strong enough for him to find a comfortable stride in which case he would find extra in the finish.



Dean Kannemeyer felt that Strawberry Ice, who runs in the SA Fillies, could prefer 1400m.



He felt Gibraltar Blue was the one to beat on what he’d seen but admitted that he hadn’t seen any of Val De Ra’s races.





Journalist: David Thiselton – Gold Circle Publishing

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • African Betting Clan
  • Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Posts: 823
  • Thanks: 20

Re: Re: Final Field & Draws - Golden Horse Casino Sprint

15 years 2 weeks ago
#94128
Trainer Duncan Howells said that top weight Tropical Empire's preparation for Saturday’s Golden Horse Casino Sprint (Gr 1) had gone very well and "more than according to plan".



He said the same for his unbeaten two-year-old filly Romantic Moon, who contests the Allan Robertson Championship.



Tropical Empire, despite being a seven-year-old, produced a probable career best performance in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville in his last start and was unlucky in the Golden Horse two years ago when having to be snatched up at a time he was travelling very well.



Howells said of his draw of seventeen, "It's not good on paper, but I don't want to go that route, it's the way the cookie crumbles. I hope we have luck in running."



Howells said last week that he had done his job and would now leave it to jockey Stuart Randolph.



He felt that his Silvano filly, Romantic Moon, could be something special.



"She has never come off the bit," he said. "She improved by a whole second in her last start and has improved again since."



Romantic Moon has won both her starts over the Scottsville 1200m course and distance of the Allan Robertson.



J J The Jet Plane, one of South Africa's most popular horses, will be travelling through the night on the eve of his attempt to become the first horse since Dambuster in 1984 to recapture the Golden Horse Casino Sprint crown.



Widely recognized as South Africa’s top sprint race, the Golden Horse Sprint will be run at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday.



J J, now back with his Vaal-based trainer Lucky Houdalakis, was unable to defend his crown last season as he was campaigning in England under Mike de Kock where he ran fourth and third in two Group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot and Newmarket respectively.



The former Equus Champion Sprinter by Champion Sire Jet Master had earlier won a place in the hearts of the horse-mad British public, partly due to a superb performance in winning a Listed race at Windsor and partly due to being the namesake of a popular children's storybook character.



J J, who was purchased for a mere R70,000 due to his Charlie Chaplin-like front feet, had the first gallop after his overseas journeys only a few weeks ago and unseasonal rain has also hindered the efforts to get him fit in time.



"He will not be at his peak," said Houdalakis. "He is about 85% fit and all we can do his hold thumbs."



Houdalakis said earlier this month that only the race would tell whether he retained his former ability as he had never been a good work horse and always worked on his own.

He was happy with his draw of six.



J J has been priced up as 11-2 second favourite by Betting World behind the Charles Laird-trained 3-1 shot Warm White Night.



TRAINER COMMENTS



Trainer Alec Laird was a couple of hours away from Summerveld on Wednesday with his Golden Horse Casino Sprint (Gr 1) contender, Captain Scott.



"We've come down earlier than normal as I want to get Jet Trail settled in before her run in the Woolavington," he said. "Captain Scott didn't enjoy the soft in the Champions Challenge. It's not ideal coming down from 2000m to a sprint. But he's showed us speed before and we're putting half-cup blinkers on too. We're hoping for a surprise. If Moroccan is fancied he must have a chance."



Captain Scott finished just 0,5 lengths behind Moroccan at level weights in an Allowance Plate over 1160m at Turffontein in February and the latter went on to win the Grade 2 Senor Santa over that same course and distance.



However, Captain Scott will now have to give Moroccan 1,5kg.



Moroccan, could make it two in a row for Zimbabwean-breds in the Golden Horse.

He is a four-year-old by Kitalpha and has won five of his last six starts.



Trainer Weiho Marwing said he was "fit and well" and would be travelling down on Friday.



The Yogas Govender-trained Jamaican Dream drops down in trip and the yard said that a line could be drawn through his last start when finishing last in the Drill Hall.



Byron Forster, the yard's Summerveld assistant trainer, said, "That last start was all wrong, he bolted down to the start. The stiff 1200m should suit him. We are hoping that he gets run off his feet early as he is a keen sort and that will help him settle. He is drawn in eight which will give him the option of going left or right. There is some speed around him which will help."



Alistair Gordon said that Red Flyer had been doing "very well" and he "couldn't be happier with him."



"He enjoys fast ground but not as hard as it was at Clairwood two runs ago. He is drawn in the middle which should allow him to tuck in behind. I'm not sure he's in the league of those who can win, but if he runs his best on the day he could place."



Louis Goosen's speedy two-year-old Allan Robertson contender, Waywest Goddess, will travel through Friday night and arrive on the morning of the race.



"She is very well and has done everything asked of her," he said. "The two-year-olds are all developing at different rates so it’s difficult to compare them. Hollywoodboulevard didn't run well in the soft last time but what I saw of her before she was a much bigger filly than Waywest Goddess and looked very scopey."



Goosen had heard different views on where the best draw would be but added, "The main danger of our draw is that we have the other pacey sort in the field, Ibrox Park, drawn right next to us and there's a chance they will cut each other's throats."



Paul Matchett's feature race contenders will arrive at Summerveld on Friday.



He felt Mary Lou, who runs in the SA Fillies Sprint, had a place chance in a "tough field"

and felt the same way about his juveniles Saint Pierre and Okeechobee, who run in the Medallion, and Oochee Agent who runs in the Allan Robertson.



He added that the "stiff 1200m" would suit Oochee Agent.











Journalist: David Thiselton, Gold Circle Publishing

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.110 seconds