FINALLY. It took Alssakhra four tries to win a Maiden Plate but now he knows his job, could follow up in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup sponsored by CTS over 1400m at Turffontein tomorrow.
Well-liked trainer Paul Peter has made a phenomenal start to the racing season and is currently leading the Highveld trainers’ log.
Plus, anyone who had a R1 bet on all his 150 runners so far would have made a tidy profit of R116.
His stable is still holding form and Alssakhra could win his handler his biggest prize to date when he lines up in the R2.5-million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup sponsored by CTS over 1400m at Turffontein tomorrow.
The race is restricted to graduates of last year’s Cape Thoroughbred Sales Ready To Run Sale and there are a number of horses who have big chances, including Peter’s three-year-old Seventh Rock colt Alssakhra was drawn widest of all when only 11th behind reopposing Wonderwall in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate in April.
Then tried over a more suitable distance of 1600m in his next two starts, he made excellent improvement and finished second. He finally opened his account last time out, beating King’s County by 1.30 lengths. The form of that race has been well franked.
He steps up in class and is not fantastically drawn in stall No 10 but will have the services of ace veteran Anton Marcus and will again give a good account of himself.
Wonderwall is one of four horses from the Sean Tarry stable and quite a few punters will bank on him overcoming No 14 draw. After all, he did finish third behind Mustaaqeem in
the SA Nursery over 1160m this year and then made all the running to win the 1450m Joburg Spring Challenge last time out. This son of Querari has to be given utmost respect.
Tarry’s stable thinks the world of Big Bear, the mount of S’manga Khumalo who gets given quite a few of the yard’s plum rides. Big Bear is much better drawn than his stable companion and comes in with his confidence on a high after two good wins in a row, the latest over 1450m on the Inside track where he beat Ideal Secret and reopposing Cash Time.
Surcharge is another who could threaten for top honours if he can overcome a wide draw. Second on debut, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge has won his three races since. The form of all three has been franked and if any rider knows how to overcome a bad draw, it is Piere Strydom.
The fillies in the race include Grade 1 winner Brave Mary, but she goes beyond 1200m for the first time and there is no guarantee she will stay the extra 200m. She’s well drawn and fitter now in her second run after a layoff so could give the males a fright if she does stay.
Bets: Swingers/Boxed Exactas: 1x7x9
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