Parisian Walkway fights back to defeat Greaterix in the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas. (JC Photos).
In the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m on Saturday Alec Laird has a strong hand with three classy runners in Fire Attack, Parisan Walkway and Aristotle.
The Gr 2 SA Nursery winner and Gr 2 Betway Dingaans runner up Fire Attack should enjoy the step up in trip. His sire Fire Away won a Gr 3 over 1700m. His dam was a maiden by All Fired Up and she is from the family of the like of Dave The King, who has won Gr 1s from 1600m up to this trip. Fire Attack missed the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas due to a below par blood reading, but he did beat Parisian Walkway in the Dingaans. He finished strongly in the Dingaans, where he was beaten 2,50 lengths into second by champion filly Quid Pro Quo and he beat the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas runner up, Greaterix, by 2,50 lengths. Last time out in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m he ran on strongly from off the pace to be beaten 0,70 lengths by Greaterix and he was giving the latter 2kg. On paper it all points to Fire Attack being the likely winner, although he will be challenged from all sides.
His stablemate Parisan Walkway won the Gauteng Guineas and will relish the step up in trip for this race. He is a big runner from draw four.
His stablemate Aristotle was staying on well for third in the Gauteng Guineas and so is interesting stepped up further in trip again. He has drawn well in three.
Legend Of Arthur is a progressive sort who should relish the trip.
His Tarry-trained stablemate Don’t Cry For Me at last showed what he is truly made of last time when powering in over this course and distance. He could be a big runner here under Piere Strydom.
The Fabian Habib pair Confederate and Bacchus have a lot of class and could be involved, while Chestnut Bomber is better than his run in the Gauteng Guineas.
Grey Jet should relish the step up in trip and is an interesting runner, although he has a tough draw of nine. Rachel Venniker stays aboard after his 2,40 second over 1400m to Potberrie in which he gave the latter 3kg. That bit of form does not put him far behind Parisian Walkway and Fire Attack on collateral form.
Busstopinhounslow is an interesting runner as he has a nice big action and has come into his own since being tried over ground and he was particularly impressive when waltzing in by 3,30 lengths when stepped up to 1600m for the first time.
Miss Scaletta is the only filly in the race and is interesting as she improved last time over 1600m and a repeat could see her in the money.
The final field is shown below:
Race-7 (Turf) R1 500 000 1800m 15:35 Ref-625
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
TAB SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)
For 3 year-olds (2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown)No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
TAB SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)
For 3 year-olds (2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown)No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 4 | Parisian Walkway | 60 | 121 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Alec Laird | |
| 2 | 8 | Aristotle | 60 | 113 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Alec Laird | |
| 3 | 5 | Fire Attack | 60 | 111 | A | Gavin Lerena | Alec Laird | |
| 4 | 2 | Legend Of Arthur | 60 | 109 | A | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 5 | 1 | Confederate | 60 | 107 | A | Craig Zackey | Fabian Habib | |
| 6 | 3 | Chestnut Bomber | 60 | 106 | A | Aldo Domeyer | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 7 | 11 | Bacchus | 60 | 101 | HA | Muzi Yeni | Fabian Habib | |
| 8 | 6 | Don’t Cry For Me | 60 | 101 | A | Piere Strydom | Sean Tarry | |
| 9 | 9 | Grey Jet | 60 | 96 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Weichong Marwing | |
| 10 | 10 | Busstopinhounslow | 60 | 95 | A | Ryan Munger | Grant Maroun | |
| 11 | 7 | Miss Scaletta | 57.5 | 98 | A | Philasande Mxoli | Paul Matchett | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,2,3) (4,8) (5,7) | ||||||||
