Surcharge to add value

Surcharge has everything in his favour in the R150,000 Supabets Secretariat Stakes (Listed) over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Stuart Pettigrew-trained colt has top weight of 60kg, but has earned the high impost with three wins and a second from his five career starts. All of his wins have been well franked with the runner-up in his first win, Zerodarkthirty, winning next time, two winners coming out of the formline of his second win and another two of his conquests in his third win coming out next time to win.

His most recent run was in CTS’s Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup and he had a coffin draw, No 15 out of 16, which certainly did not help his chances. He was dropped out, rather than racing handily as in his previous starts, and made late progress to finish fifth behind Big Bear. That was his first run round a turn and the experience will stand him in good stead. In this race Surcharge is drawn at No 4 and Gavin Lerena, who rides him for the first time, will be able to ride him in his preferred manner.

He has beaten three of these rivals before and even at the revised weights, should have their measure again. The meeting is a day-night meeting with a first at 3pm and the last Race 10 off at 8.05 pm.