Main Defender appears at the midweek meeting at the Vaal Classic track. (JC Photos).
The Thursday meeting at the Vaal Classic track will have some bearing on the WSB Met as it sees the comeback from injury of Piere Strydom, who is booked to ride See It Again in the Met, and hopefully the raceriding will help him to work the remaining bruising he still has out of his system. He suffered a bad fall at the Vaal on December 31.
Main Defender will be the other talking point of the meeting. He runs in race 5 over 1500m and might not have it all his own way as he faces a horse who has beaten him before, Melech.
Strydom’s first two rides back could both be winners.
He rides the hard knocking Legendary in the first and the hard knocking Mountain High in the second.
Legendary has finished second in his last two starts and his best run was over 1400m, so he is the one to beat over 1450m in the first race from draw two.
In the second race, also over 1450m, Mountain High has a tricky draw of seven out of ten. Mountain High is no great shakes which is probably why she usually finds one to beat her, but on this occasion she faces a particularly uninspiring field and could get it right after three successive seconds. Title-chasing Craig Zackey rode her last time but is now on the chief danger, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Gimme Passion, who faded late over 1400m last time to finish fifth in her second start, having finished a 4,20 length third on debut over 1400m. Interestingly, she was 4,30 lengths clear of Kalikaa on debut and the latter beat Mountain High narrowly last time. Gimme Passion also has a good draw of five. Asiah’s Tiara and Lady Bomber could be in the shake up too and Gimme A Green Card has Gavin Lerena up and is open to improvement.
The highest rated race is the 8th over 1200m. Wyzeact could well enjoy the step down in trip and has a 1,5kg claimer up, but he does have a tough draw. Tsar Bomba also has a wide draw, but he has an easier task than in his last race in the Grand Heritage and will be right there. Black Egret has returned from Cape Town and has an easier task here than for both his starts down there and he should be a big runner from a fair draw.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m Ampersand won a good race last time, beating a decent field, and he was only given a two point raise and he now has a 1.5kg claimer up from a good draw so can folllow up. Lets Play Poker is in fine form and should go close again, although the wide draw makes it tough. Sovereigns Call should be right there on formlines too, but he also has a tricky draw. Guerilla Warfare has gone close over course and distance before and warrants consideration. Lava Fire could also be in the mix if producing his best.
In the fifth race over 1500m Main Defender should be hard to beat despite gaving to carry 62kg. However, one point of interest is Melech has beaten him before, albeit over 1200m, so perhaps Melech can be included as he is also effective over this trip and has a better draw than Main Defender, who is drawn in the extreme outside barrier in the field which has cut up to just seven runners.
In the sixth over 2000m Another Universe has always caught the eye as a big scopey sort with plenty of upside. He has a good draw and should relish this course and distance. Silvano’s Song proved last time when winning easily after a long layoff that Silvano’s can get better with age and the five-year-old could defy the handicapper, who gave him a seven point raise. Hazlo Grande is in fair form and is distance suited. One More Star looks promising and should relish the step up in trip. Guy Alexander is in fine form but does have a wide draw to overcome and the handicapper is obviously making it harder for him after a few wins.
In the seventh over 1450m Call Me Master is widely drawn and has a three point raise to overcome after winning last time, but this is an uninspiring field. The consistent Great Barrier should place here. Vava Vegas faces easier than recent and could earn. Red Knot is also capable of earning in this field. Mix The Magic could earn if able to overcome a wide draw.
In the ninth over 1200m Hammies Hero has his third run after a layoff and should go close in his third run on the Highveld. Written In Stone is a consistent distance-suited sort and should run on well from a tricky draw. Take Your Place is knocking on the door and has a good draw over a suitable trip.
In the first leg of the PA Fast Duty can beat There She Goes and Secret Recipe.
In the last race Sakhala Is’Cathulo makes most appeal.
