Unagi ticks the right boxes

When one looks at the form of Unagi, the expression “horses for courses” comes to mind. Gary Alexander’s charge has raced seven times on the Turffontein Inside track for four wins and two places. However, when you throw the distance of 1600m into the mix that figure is even more impressive –five runs, four wins and one second place.

So when Unagi lines up in Race 5 on Sunday in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the Inside track, the four-year-old gelding has to top your list.

Even though it was on the Standside track, his last run, when a 4.25-length third behind Legal Eagle in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, was most encouraging. Mark Khan takes the ride and if one is looking for a banker in the Pick 6 with its R500,000 carryover and estimated pool of R2.7 million, then Unagi ticks all the right boxes.

He is not the best handicapped runner, though. The top two positions go to fillies Cascapedia and She’s A Giver but as we have seen so often lately, the ratings of the fillies against the colts has not been all that accurate. In most of these cases their ratings have been established in races against their own sex although in fairness to Cascapedia, she did win the London News Stakes in which she beat Premier’s Champions Challenge runner-up Abashiri by 1.40 lengths.

However, her one disappointing run was at this track where she finished fourth, beaten 2.75 lengths by Sylvan On Fire. There is also uncertainty as to whether she has fully recovered from a calamitous trip to the Western Cape with stablemate Heavenly Blue and picked up some mysterious illness which saw them pulled out of the Sun Met and having to be rested.

She’s had one run since then in which she finished down the field behind Nother Russia in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes.

She has Bernard Fayd’Herbe up which is in her favour but will have to carry 1kg overweight as a result.

A bigger threat could be Greek Fire from the Mike and Adam Azzie yard. He won on debut at this course and should go close.

Also on the card is the Listed Syringa Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and this is very tricky.

The draw could play a part in the outcome of this race and the value could lie with Candice Dawson-trained Varsity Girl. Also consider Oh My Darling and Kilauea while Redberry Lane and Mrs O have the form to win but are drawn wide.