Gelded Wonderwall faces big testto excel in the wet

While nobody is too happy about the lost meetings due to the rain, trainer Sean Tarry might want some of that wet track to still be a factor when they line up for Race 8 at the Vaal tomorrow, an Assessment Plate over 1100m.

He sends out Wonderwall, a horse who has been highly regarded, but a er an excellent start to his career, has failed to achieve what one may have expected of him.

His first few runs were out-standing – second to Dutch Philip on debut and a head second behind Bold Respect in his next start.

In his third start Wonderwall beat Mike de Kock-trained Naafer, who was making his debut, by 4.75 lengths and followed that up with a third place behind Mustaqeem in the Grade 1 SA Nursery.

He then returned from a five-month break to win the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the In-side track at Turffontein and ran well enough to finish a 4.55-length fourth behind stable companion Big Bear in the Ready To Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein, especially as he was drawn No 12 of the 16 runners over a distance where the draw is vital.

Wonderwall returned to Cape Town and did not disgrace himself when a 2.35-length fifth behind Tap O’ Noth in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, again drawn No 12.

Then things started going wrong and despite the occasional fl ash of good form, Wonderwall lacked that brilliance he had shown earlier.

Four days after finishing unplaced in the Grade 2 Merchants at Turffontein, Wonderwall was gelded, and hopefully that can bring about a return to form.

What is relevant about his two wins is that they were both in so going so all the rain could work in his favour.

After that run in the Merchants Wonderwall’s merit rating was dropped six points and despite that, he remains one of the best-handicapped runners.

The only horse better weighted is Russian Prince, and only by 0.5kg.

He has done little wrong and is the obvious danger. Trained by Mike and Adam Azzie, he has run five times for two easy wins, two narrowly beaten second places and a fourth place.

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