The SAF Connection

It’s a big day at Clairwood on Saturday as we see five graded races on the card with Sunday being officially the final day of the racing season in the southern hemisphere.

 

Joshua’s Princess (Joshua Dancer x Pedlar) is a class above her competitors in the lineup here and should prove too good, unless the wide draw of 15 from 17 proves too much. She’ll have to come from the back which can always be risky. Her merit rating of 98 is 10 clear of the next best, and her earnings of over R500 000 is nearly triple that of any other entrant.

 

Others given chances by the bookies are Aspen Secret (Fort Wood x Secret Prospector), Al Shama (Al Mufti x Elliodor), and Holly Oak (Fort Wood x Northfields). The balance are at 10/1 or better.

 

Zebra Crossing (Jallad x Northfields) is a clear favourite here, fresh from his close up sixth in the July. Oracle West (Western Winter x Noble Ambition), Counter Creek (Counter Action x Argosy), and Equal Image (Equalize x Candy Stripes) are considered his main opposition with the balance of the 18 strong field at 10/1 or better.

 

This event has a wide open look about it with 5 of the 17 runners almost level in the betting at 4/1 and 5/1. These chief contenders are the unbeaten  Alexandra Rose (Caesour x Darshaan), King’s Dancer (Rambo Dancer x Salaadim), Jet Danza (Jet Master x Flaming Rock), Roxanne (Western Winter x Royal Chalice), and Candy Critic (Candy Stripes x Tough Critic).

 

Ski Pass (Western Winter x Model Man) is the weak favourite here in another hotly contested event. Tiza (Goldkeeper x Elliodor) is next on the boards with Chardin (Dominion Royale x Foveros), Hard Astern (Hard Up x Jungle Rock), and First Flag (Classic Flag x Elliodor) seen as the main other contenders.

 

The Champions Cup is the last feature event of the season and, unlike the other four big races on the card, isn’t run at level weights. Instead, it is a conditions race with penalties for previous feature wins. As a result, we have wide open betting in the 14 horse field with some surprises amongst the leading contenders.

 

The top two on the boards are the fillies: 4 y/o Sabina Park (Sportsworld x Model Man) and 3 y/o Royal Aproval (Al Mufti x Fort Wood). The top weight Winter Solstice (Western Winter x Melun) and the De Kock trained entire Toreador (Danehill x Young Generation) are next at 5/1. Also fancied are Chamonix (Western Winter x Beldale Lustre) and National Spirit (National Emblem x Model Man). Only then do we find the July winner, Dunford (Shalford x Piaffer), at 10/1.

 

Being run at Clairwood, a track suited to a more galloping style, hopefully we won’t see a repeat of the slow pace debacle of the July. with a true run race, let’s hope to see a good finish to the 2004/05 season.