William Robertson lands the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, a much deserved win at the highest level, and he will attempt to land another Gr 1 on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Corne Spies-trained Computaform Sprint winner William Robertson is drawn in the middle in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and if he has better luck in running than he had in the Gr 3 Post Merchants on Hollywoodbets Durban July day he could land a second Gr 1 sprint prize and stake a claim to being named the Equus Champion Sprinter.
The yard also have chances on the day with both Elegantrix and Chocolate Soldier.
Xander Spies said about William Robertson, “Again we didn’t crack a draw with him.”
However, it has to be said that draw 8 out of 14 is better than the draw eleven out of 13 he had in the Post Merchants and he was actually drawn 10 out of 14 when he finished second in the Mercury Sprint to Equus Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom three years ago and he was 10 out of 12 when a 1,80 length fifth to Equus Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu two years ago.
William Robertson missed the Mercury Sprint last year.
However, in his comeback from a six month layoff, the six-year-old Rafeef gelding rattled off five wins, including the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, and two seconds in a nine start Spring and Summer campaign.
His winning run on that occasion began with his third run after the layoff and he now has his third run after a short layoff from March 29 to June 7.
Xander continued, “This is the most fillies I have seen in this race before, six of them, and it will be interesting to see whether they can keep up with the boys. The last female winner of this race was Captain’s Ransom and interestingly William Robertson finished second to her that year. His last two runs can have a line drawn through them as the 1600m of Gold Challenge was probably overly ambitious and from a wide draw he was caught five wide in stages on July day.”
Worse than being caught wide was that William Robertson didn’t get cover outside of runners in the Post Merchants and he duly found little extra when it counted.
He should have come on from that run and if getting that luck in running Xander speaks of the six-year-old Rafeef gelding will no doubt be producing his usual storming finish from off the pace.
William Robertson has won over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Greyville before and on that occasion at level weights he beat the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie as well as Isivunguvungu, who went on to become a duel Gr 1 winner.
The best sprinter in the country is undoubtedly Gimme A Prince, but Dean Kannemeyer, having brought the latter to Summerveld to prepare him for the Mercury Sprint, was “not quite happy” with where he had him on his “fitness levels” and he had one or two little issues too, so he is being saved for another Cape Racing Summer campaign.
If William Robertson does win the Mercury the Equus panelists will have a tough time deciding on the champion, but the one who has won more Gr 1s usually gets it and that will be William Robertson.
Corne also runs the talented filly Elegantrix and she comes down in trip for the Gr 2 World Pool with Race Coast Debutante over 1200m after disappointing in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. Before that she finished a 1,10 length second to the crack filly Diect Hit over this trip in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship.
Xander said, “She has amazing formlines and has beaten a Gr 1 winner (Good For You over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville), has finished second in a Gr 1 and was already a Gr 3 winner. She has seen the track, on July day, and the way that she runs I think currently the 1200m will suit her. She is not drawn badly (six out of 11), although she is not drawn the best. Gavin has decided to retain the ride, which gives confidence. I think she has an each-way chance. I don’t know how good Dean Kannemeyer’s filly is, but she will have to run to beat us on the day.”
They run the speedy One World gelding Chocolate Soldier over his favourite 1000m trip in the tenth race, the Listed HKIR In Decmember Umngeni Handicap, presuming there are no scratchings in the Mercury Sprint before early Friday morning, because he is first reserve in that race.
Xander said, “The race in which he came sixth last time (over 1100m at Turffontein Standside) was kind of a prep for him going into Gold Cup day, but sadly he is drawn very wide (ten out of 13).That is a very difficult draw to overcome over 1000m and he is carrying topweight. If he gets luck in running I think he will find the places, it wouldn’t suprise me if he pulls off a win, but it’s going to be very difficult for him.”
The Umngeni was won by a similarly speedy type last year, King Of The Gauls, from draw 14, but he only carried 56kg as a three-year-old off a 103 merit rating, whereas three-year-old Chocolate Soldier carries 60,5kg off a 112 rating.
King Of The Gauls is drawn 11 this year and carries 60.5kg off a 11 rating, so there could be a battle for the early lead from out wide.
