Pomodoro’s Jet has his third run after a layoff in the WSB Grand Heritage and might well still be ahead of the handicapper. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Cape horses relocating to other centres often bring with them favorable merit ratings as their ratings are suppressed by the better class of opposition they face in the former centre.
It is therefore surprising that the Barend Botes-trained Radicchio is a 12/1 shot for the WSB Grand Heritage to be run over 1475m at the Vaal on Saturday, while the Brett and James Crawford-trained Pomodoro’s Jet also makes appeal as the second favourite at 13/2 with the sponsor.
Radicchio had his first start on the Highveld in a Middle Stakes event over the Heritage course and distance and with a late surge got up by 0,25 lengths.
That was a significant win for three reasons.
Firstly, many horses don’t handle the extended straight races at the Vaal as they do too much in the running.
So he passed the test in that he can go over this trip on a straight course.
Secondly, he was drawn three in a field of 13 that day and that was on the unfavourable side on the day.
Thirdly, he was given a six point raise for the win, but as a horse coming from Cape Town his merit rating is likely a touch suppressed and he could still be ahead of the handicapper.
He is drawn highest of all in 24 on Saturday and high draws are often favourable on the day.
Marco van Rensburg rides for the highflying Botes yard.
Pomodoro’s Jet ran in that exact same race as Radicchio and had the worst draw of all, draw one.
He was used early to go handy, but only finished 1.05 lengths behind Radicchio and is now 3,5kg better off.
Pomodoro’s Jet will also be having his third run after a layoff.
The potential downside is he has a lowish draw of seven.
However, before last year’s Grand Heritage the meeting had appeared to favour high drawn horses and then the winner of the Grand Heritage, Unzen, won it by sticking to his station from draw two. The first five home all had single figure draws.
So the draw bias is difficult to predict, although seldom is a high draw unfavourable.
However, those two former Cape horses do make some appeal in the only race in SA every year which has more than 20 runners.
