Tayba to take honours

Trainer Mike de Kock saddles three runners at tomorrow’s Vaal sand meeting – Tayba, who has won three of her five starts on the surface – as well as two newcomers in the form of Bang Sue and Electric Jet.

Tayba looks something of a standout bet in Race 5, a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m. Her form over the course and distance stands at two wins and a second placing from three runs and under the race conditions she is weighted to make it win number 3.

She had her supporters to win last year’s Emerald Cup and went off at 10-1 but she had a wide draw, which was exacerbated when her jockey lost a stirrup so it came as no surprise to see her well beaten. She had a seven-month break and came back in April to contest the Grade 2 Camellia Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein and did well to finish a 2.75-length third behind stablemate Honorine.

Tayba then took on the colts in a MR 91 Handicap over 1000m on the Vaal turf and finished a 4.50-length fifth behind Vulcan. Last time she returned to the sand and ran on well to run second, beaten 0.75 lengths by Secret Magok, to whom she was conceding 6kg.

This time she will have S’manga Khumalo on her back, and along with Tzigane is the best-weighted runner. The difference is Tzigane, who has only raced once on the sand and finished unplaced, is being rated on her turf rating as a horse needs to run at least three times on the surface to get a separate merit rating.

Tayba will jump from No 3 draw and stands out as a banker in all exotic bets.

Bang Sue was a very impressive winner on debut, going off at 11-20 and cruising in by 3.25 lengths. She was expected to follow on in her start and against started at 11-20 but could only manage a three-length third behind

Green Crest after leading for much of the journey. However, jockey Anthony Delpech had to deal with a slipped saddle so the run is best ignored.

On breeding she should enjoy the sand and should be hard to beat in a weak field in Race 1.

Electric Jet is very unsound and his last run was really bad so I would prefer to see how the full brother to E-Jet performs before suggesting people spend any money on him.