The often shoeless champion Talktothestars (pictured winning last year’s Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint) will have a fine chance of defending his crown in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday.
The current KZN-bred Equus Champion Sprinter’s last run in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m where he flew home for second in much the same manner as he had when runner up last year, should see him on song for the Gr1 double. The strapping son of Overlord who didnt attract a single bid at the National 2YO Sale and left the ring unsold, went on to win the Tsogo Sun last year off a merit rating of 116, so has a fine chance this year off a 113 merit rating. Chase Maujean retains the ride for owner and trainer Coenie De Beer.
Spring Valley’s London Call, unbeaten in four starts this season, was beautifully relaxed in the running when winning a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1100m at Scottsville last time out and he then showed an effortless turn of foot in a quality field of horses consisting of several Gr1 winners.
This lightly raced six-year-old Kahal gelding out of Fancy Fantasy has improved and has a chance for trainer Mark Dixon and his connections (pictured above), despite having to run off a 111. London Call is certainly deserving of a Gr1 win and relishes the course and distance with an outstanding turn of foot.
Toreador’s Bull Valley will be a massive runner at his best as he has class as well as a good cruising speed and a fine turn of foot. Last November he finished just 0,3 lengths behind Trip To Heaven in the Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein when receiving 3,5 kg a and he was 2,1 lengths clear of Talktothestars, but will now be 4kg worse off. He is a previous winner of the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein.
Jane Trotter’s consistent son of Captain Al, seven-year-old Barbosa loves the Scottsville straight. The 10-time winner trained by Dennis Drier and owned in partnership by his breeder, RE Alexander, Bruce Campbell and The Apache Syndicate (Nom: Mr JW Trotter) has been four lengths off the likes of Red Ray and Carry On Alice previously and could be up there with them at the finish.
Keep a look out for the 3rd leg (of four) of the KZN Breeders “Level The Playing Fields” Series, with the penultimate pools to be run on Saturday in the 2nd and 3rd race of the big Gr1 sprinting card. The recently engaged Billy Jacobson will be seeking a third win to secure his already dominant lead towards the jockey prize of the R50 000 (each for the winning trainer, jockey, owner and breeder).
Billy is aboard Paul Gadsby’s Roy’s Power in the second pool of the day (3rd race) – a winner who has placed nine times and finished just two lengths off over the last two starts of 1200m. Roy’s Power has yet to attempt the distance of 1600m and it will be a brilliant race to follow on the day. Previous winner Putchini who is on the leaderboard of the series will be in the same pool (3rd race), ridden by Jarred Samuel.
The second race (1st pool of two on the day) will see the three previous winners contesting each other – The Poet, Brave And Bold and Royal Agree. Sean Veale has been drawn to ride Wendy Whitehead’s filly Brave And Bold, previous winning jockey Morne Winnaar will be on Glen Kotzen’s Mogok filly Royal Agree whilst The Poet will be ridden by Craig Zackey – who finished second a very close second aboard Putchini in an exciting dual between The Poet (Billy Jacobson) and Putchini last time out.
The previous winning jockey aboard Royal Agree, Athandiwe Magudlwa will be aboard Charles Laird’s entry of Storm Outgoing. A stable Athandiwe is familiar with riding for, the son of Visionaire has won at Grevyille over 1600m previously in February and finished four lengths off over the coming course and distance in May.
This third leg will be thrilling to follow, as the outcome of both races will indicate the final field for the final leg of a stake of R200 000 on KZN Breeders Race Day (R1-million overall for the series), to be run over 1400m on the turf. Thereafter, the prizegiving for the overall winning jockey, trainer, breeder and winner will take place.
Be there on Saturday at Scottsville to select your winners for the KZN Breeders “Level The Playing Fields” Series and see who will be through to the final!
The current log below of the Level The Playing Fields Series.
– extract goldcircle.co.za