Forest Fox is fit and well
Gavin Lerena looking for third successive victory in R1-million race.
SECOND CLASH. Forest Fox (yellow and blue colours) gets up close home to touch off Classify in the WSB Grand Heritage at the Vaal last month. This time Classify is 3kg better off but trainer Paul Peter warns his charge is working very well. Picture: JC Photographics
Paul Peter, trainer of WSB Grand Heritage winner Forest Fox, says his charge came out that last race very well and he firmly expects the son of Dupont to be in the firing line in Saturday’s R1-million Peermont Emperors Challenge Charity Mile at Turffontein.
“He’s doing very well, he’s working well, everything is on track,” confirmed Peter yesterday.
“He definitely should be in the placings.”
Forest Fox has raced 35 times for five wins and 14 places and is rarely far behind the winner. Although his last two wins have been at the Vaal down the straight.
Peter is quick to point out that his charge has run very well at Turffontein.
“I’m not worried about the course. He’s won over 1600m at Turffontein and he also ran this in the Guineas behind Harry’s Son so the track and trip is not a concern.
“However, we do need to overcome a bit of a wide draw so we will need some luck in running.”
At this stage Forest Fox is drawn No 11 for the Grade 2 event but that could change if the reserve runners come out.
This will also be the first time Ryan Munger takes the ride on Forest Fox as it was Gavin Lerena who rode him in the Grand Heritage at the Vaal.
“Gavin can’t make the weight so we have given it to Ryan. He came out and worked him the other day.
He was happy with the worked and it looked as if they jelled. Of course, only the race will tell us.” Munger has been in good form of late as has the Peter yard so they look to be an in-form combination.
At this stage Forest Fox is the third favourite at 8-1 which could prove to be good value. He does meet Classify on 3kg worse terms than when they met in the Grand Heritage, so having won beaten him by just 0.40 lengths, the Port Elizabeth-based runner does appear to have the edge this time.
Last year’s winner, New Predator, remains favourite at 5-2 and should he win it will give jockey Gavin Lerena a treble in this race as he also won it two years ago on Bouclette Top for Alec Laird.
Current betting on the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday: 5-2 NEW PREDATOR;
6-1 CLASSIFY; 8-1 FOREST FOX; 10-1 FINCHATTON, KILRAIN; 12-1 BELLA SONATA; 14-1 IRISH PRIDE, BEZANOVA, TOP SHOT; 16-1 MAC DE LAGO, HAT
PUNTANO, FRENCH NAVY; 20-1 TAHINI, TILBURY FORT, HERMOSO MUNDO; 33-1 GO DIRECT
