Lerena to stoke Greek Fire on Classic track

Greek Fire still looked in need of the run when he won an Assessment Plate over 1400m at Turffontein on 17 December but he should be at peak fitness when he contests a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow.

The four-year-old son of Dynasty showed a lot of ability early in his career but was clearly not yet ready to take on Grade 1 and 2 opposition when unplaced in both the Gauteng Guineas, won by Monk’s Hood, and SA Classic, won by Lobo’s Legend.

He was then given a seven-month break during which he was gelded and the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained runner has come back well, even against strong company.

He finished fourth on his return over 1700m at the Vaal behind The Dazzler and then was desperately unlucky when going down 0.50 lengths to Polar Ice over 1450m at the Classic track.

However, he came back to almost his best in his next start, an Assessment Plate over 1400m at Turffontein on the Standside track, when beating Dhabyaan by quite a comfortable 1.50 lengths in the end.

He appeared to hit a dead spot about 300m from home but once Gavin Lerena got busy on him, Greek Fire responded well and he won with authority.

Gavin Lerena is back on board for this run and there is little doubt Greek Fire will be fitter and better suited to the extra 200m.

That form line also appears to have worked out well as two winners have come from it.

Runner-up Dhabyaan won his next start, beating Norland, and then ran a 0.50-length second behind Shogun.

In addition, fourth-placed Hero’s Honour, the Grade 1 SA Derby champion, went on to win his next start in a very strong field.

main threat should come from Pilou and Morning Catch. Very much like his more illustrious stable companion Legal Eagle, Pilou has turned into a 1600m specialist.

All six of his wins have been over that distance and he has really come good with Sean tarry’s decision to remove the blinkers, winning his last three.

In two of those events he beat Morning Catch, the first time by 0.50 lengths and the second, which was over this course and distance, by 0.60 lengths.

Morning Catch is now 0.5kg better off so on paper there should be very little between the pair.

Lyle Hewitson takes the ride on Pilou while S’manga Khumalo, who has also won on this son of Western Winter, taking the ride on Joey Ramsden’s runner, Morning Catch.

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