Sheriff to show his Polytrack mettle

The decision to give the Jacques Strydom-trained runner that honour is supported by his form on that surface. He has raced six times on the Polytrack for five wins and one second place. One of those wins was over 1600m.

This son of Go Deputy has a lot going for him. Other than his excellent performance on the surface he is well drawn at No 3 and has Greg Cheyne, the Eastern Cape’s Champion Jockey, in the irons.

In his last start, which was over 1400m on the turf, Gogetthesheriff lost two lengths at the start but then took off late to snare favourite Sir Duke on the line to win going away by a neck. Boosting that form line is that Sir Duke won three awards including Horse Of The Year.

What does weigh against Gogetthesheriff is he has to carry 62.5kg against some very good horses.

The main threat could come from Lockheed Jetstar, who recently joined the Grant Paddock yard from Geoff Woodruff. He first raced at Kenilworth in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m but did drift significantly in the betting to indicate all was not well. Lockheed Jetstar sat in second place for most of the trip but failed to kick on and finished a 3.20-length sixth behind Castlethorpe.

It was then he moved to Paddock’s Port Elizabeth yard and has only raced once, finishing 5.90 lengths behind Vauclair over 1200m on the Polytrack. That trip was far too short and we should see a better performance from the seven-year-old son of Jet Master over this distance.

Others to consider are King Jace, who runs off a light weight, Way Clear, a course and distance winner last time, and Astro News, a top-class performer if in a running mood.