Tarry to dominate at Greyville

Sean Tarry had the Champion Trainer’s title wrapped up for the second successive year a long time before the end of the season and this time broke all sorts of records.

Now he has to start all over again and during a period with no Graded races up for grabs, Tarry could get a small boost in Race 5 at Greyville today, a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.

Racing is on the Polytrack and he saddles three runners who look set to fight out the finish. Top of the handicap is Lady Of Kildare who has enjoyed her runs on the Polytrack. She loved the Vaal sand but when that course was abolished she was allowed to run on her lower turf merit rating. She has raced eight times at the course for four wins and two places, with three of those victories coming over 1600m.

She was supported at long odds last time when she had Anthony Delpech up and despite his losing his irons which he did manage to regain, the six-year-old mare raced clear to beat Enchanted Silk by 1.75 lengths.

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson takes the ride this time and based on her winning time of 94.49sec, Lady Of Kildare should win again.

Chennai Babe is Tarry’s second runner and last time she finished 4.05 lengths behind Lady Of Kildare. With apprentice Diego de Gouveia claiming 4kg, she is now 5kg better off. That might not be enough to reverse the placings but the five-year-old Kahal mare should get a lot closer.

At the bottom of the handicap with just 52.5kg to carry is Wandie’s who has won her last three starts – two of them on the Polytrack – but at a lower level. She just got up last time and it will be interesting to see whether the 1.5kg penalty “does her in”. Muzi Yeni takes the ride.