This gelding has substance and struck last season as one who would train on, even after winning three of his first five starts as a two-year-old.

 

He ended his juvenile career with a 0,35 length third in the Grade 2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf.

 

This year his lack of a win up until Saturday in  the non-Black type Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m was partly due to the quality of opposition he has been facing i.e. the like of William Robertson, Anfields Rocket (X2) and the progressive Chyavana (X2), whilst he had to give 5.5kg (if apprentice claims are ignored) to the promising Flowerbomb when beaten by her.

 

Richard Fourie made a difference too as he did not chase him until about the 350m mark in the 1100m contest on Saturday.

 

The speedy pacemaker Mover And Shaker duly faded.

 

Mercantour responded well to Fourie when asked the question and ran away from them to win by three lengths from the decent sort Wind Water, to whom he gave 6,5kg.

 

The promising Trompie, who has always been held in high regard, made a fair Highveld debut for new trainer Brett Crawford and can improve on his 4,25 length third (receiving 2kg from Mercantour), although his two best runs have come over 1000m.

 

Mercantour is owned by Vicky Veeramootoo and was bred by Varsfontein Stud.

 

He is out of the twice-placed (from only four starts) Western Winter mare Winter Wood, who is a half-sister to the Grade 2-winning pair Royal Vintage (Rich Man’s Gold) and Alderry (Al Mufti). 

 

Alderry is the dam of the Grade 1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem as well as stakes winner Seehaam.

 

It will be interesting to see how far Mercantour can stay, considering his pedigree.

 

However, the handicappers were impressed enough to give him a 110 merit rating, up seven points, and if he wins again he could become a possible for races like the Grade 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint and the Grade 2 Post Mechants, both run in KZN during the SA Champions Season.