Tintin, pictured winning in March this year, made an eyecatching comeback at the Vaal today and will likely be near the top of the boards for the WSB Grand Heritage (JC Photos)
The Sean Tarry-trained Tintin put up possibly the most amazing performance in defeat of the season in the same race won by Secret Chord (7th race over 1450m at Vaal Classic 12 November).
The lightly raced four-time winning five-year-old was making his seasonal reappearance, having last been seen finishing fourth to Magic Verse in the Gr 3 Camapanajo 2200 on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.
After being dropped out from a wide draw the Rafeef gelding seemed reluctant to gallop and dropped further and further back.
It will be interesting to see the sectionals of this race as Tintin was completely tailed off entering the second half of the contest and dropped out of the camera footage.
It was thus a major surprise to see him flashing up on the outside in the finish line footage for a 3,65 length sixth.
The 93-rated horse was carrying an effective 50kg as he was set to carry 52,5kg and had 2,5kg claimer Girish Samo-Burthia aboard.
Based on this run he is a must to consider for the WSB Grand Heritage over 1475m.
Tintin made a belated start to his career in the April of his three-year-old career and finished a 1,40 length fourth over 1200m at the Vaal at 25/2 odds.
He was then off for six-and-a-half months before coming out to run a two length second to stablemate Grand Empire over 1160m. Gran Empire went on to win the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic.
In his next start he was 17/10 favourite over 1160m but was beaten 2,80 lengths into second and this time the winner was Splittheeights, who went on to win the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas.
He then rattled off three easy wins in succession from 1200m to 1450m.
He was fancied for the R5 million Race Coast Sales Big Cap despite being out at the weights off an 88 merit rating, but he did not feature.
He bounced back with a two length second over 1600m at even money, but in retrospect that was not disappointing at all because the winner was the highly regarded subsequent Gr 3 winner Errol Flynn.
Tintin then won over 1600m off his 88 merit rating and was then a decent 2,15 length fourth in the Gr 3 Campanajo 2200 when half-a-kilogram under sufferance carrying 52kg.
He was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is out of five-times-winning Captain Al mare Secretariat’s Girl.
He is a full-brother to his decent stablemate Secretary Bird, who won the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein Standside by 2,25 lengths before going on to finish a close 0,65 length third to Vibe Check in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The ante-post betting is not yet out for the WSB Grand Heritage, which takes place on December 20 at the Vaal, but Tintin is likely to at the top or close to the top of the boards.
