Lucky Lad waltzing home in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
The Sean Tarry-trained Lucky Lad makes his long awaited comeback on Sunday at Turffontein Standside and it will stengthen his sire Gimmethegreenlight’s grip on the national sires championship (Gimmethegreenlight is attempting to win the championship for a second season in succession and a third time overall).
The top class Varsfontein Stud-bred colt Lucky Lad has only been defeated once in five starts.
Everything that could go wrong for him went wrong in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and he was eventually eased out of the race by Richard Fourie.
That was his first attempt beyond sprints and on Saturday he will attempt to make it a fifth career win and a fourth Graded win in the Gr 3 Betway National Currency Sprint over 1100m under regular pilot Fourie.
He has not been seen since that Champion Stakes calamity, seven months ago, and has to carry topweight of 60kg.
However, he is best in at the weights according to official merit ratings.
His draw of five is plum in the middle of the nine horse field (see field at the bottom of the article).
Meanwhile, Gimmethegreenlight is favoured to add three Gr 1 wins to his name in the space of a week and if that does happen he will reach the milestone mark of ten individual Gr 1 winners.
This Saturday in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Khaya Stables Gimmethegreenlight colt Green With Envy is the 18/10 favourite with Hollywoodbets.
In the ante-post betting for the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on March 2, the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Sandringham Summit, whom Varsfontein Stud originally sold and have now bought back, is a cramped 6/10 favourite.
In the ante-post betting for the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at the same meeting, the Mike de Kock-trained unbeaten Maurtitzfontein Stud homebred Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimme A Nother is even more cramped at odds of 3/10.
Sandringham Summit is also entered for the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes on March 2, but more likely to go for the SA Classic because his Triple Crown hopes are still alive.
If Lucky Lad gets back to winning ways it will strengthen Gimmethegreenlight’s already strong standing.
