Masnoon, has won both of his races on the Vaal sand and should enjoy racing on the surface in Race 5 at Flamingo Park. Photo: Supplied.
Horses who move from the Highveld to Kimberley might often be better in that centre than their merit rating might suggest.
That could well be the case with Masnoon who will be having his second run at Flamingo Park after moving from Mike de Kock to Duncan McKenzie.
The four-year-old gelding could turn out to be a huge boost to the yard as his best form was always produced on the Vaal sand. His two wins came at that course where he scored victories over horses like Solar Triptych and Intandokazi. He is by American sire Big Brown who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, both run on sand, so on breeding he should love racing in Kimberley.
He has had one outing for McKenzie and that was over 1200m. However, he drew widest of all and that does not make life easy when a race is run around the turn.
Today will be the acid test because he runs in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m, in Race 5, and on merit rating is 3kg worse off with top-rated Pontedera. However, this is not the strongest Pinnacle Stakes put together at Flamingo Park and the top-rated runner has been in dismal form of late.
Jarryd Penny takes the ride and there could be some good value for punters.
Jaguar had a short trip to Port Elizabeth to run on the Polytrack and performed reasonably in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m to finish fifth behind Ochoncar. Coerie Lensley’s charge has a consistent record over the course and distance with two wins and six places from nine runs. JP van der Merwe takes the ride but he will have to overcome No 12 draw.
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