The Frank Robinson-trained Sid Moodley-owned pair Madison Valley (far side) and Shoot The Rapids finished one-two in last season’s Gr 3 Gold Vase. (Picture: Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Frank Robinson is avoiding the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge with his impressive Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup fourth-placed Madison Valley as the ultimate aim is to get the big son of Mambo In Seattle in to the Hollywoodbets Durban July with the minimum weight for a four-year-old of 54kg.
He also has plans for three other good horses in his yard, Shoot The Rapids, Cats Pajamas and Mocha Blend.
Frank said about Madison Valley, “He has done brilliantly, I’ve gelded him and he’s come back like a lion, I’m confident with him.”
Madison Valley will probably be running next in the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on March 23.
Madison Valley enjoys Greyville and his last four starts there have resulted in three wins, inlcuding in the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m, and an unlucky fifth in the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m. He was too far back in the Gold Cup and the same thing happened in the Summer Cup, but on both occasions he produced eyecatching finishes. His other two wins at Greyville have been over 1800n and 1900m respectively, so he is not just an out and out stayer.
Frank said, “He will maybe go for the 1900 and the Cup Trial into the July.”
Shoot The Rapids was last seen when an unlucky second in the Gold Cup. He had finished a 0,40 length second to Madison Valley in the Gold Vase, despite giving the latter 4kg, and then in the Gold Cup he was handy behind a strong pace and had he not been carried in by Future Swing late in the race he might well have won it, considering he lost by just a neck.
Frank said about this four-year-old son of Erupt, “He has also been gelded and he’s done brillaintly. He’s much better this year than he was last year and he will go the Lonsdale, Gold Vase and Gold Cup.”
Sid Moodley owns Madiosn Valley and Shoot The Rapids and also owns Cats Pajamas.
Cats Pajamas won the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m on Gold Cup day last year.
This smart Rafeef three-year-old gelding has had three starts in KZN this season from 1000m to 1400m and has won all three of them. He also had one start in Johannesburg in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants but took a bad knock in running and was going nowhere after that ,
Frank said about Cats Pajamas’ route, “He is going to go for the Byerley Turk (1400m) and then the WSB Guineas.”
Mocha Blend is a Mauritzfontein Stud-homebred Ideal World three-year-old filly who has won her second and third starts over 1950m and 1800m by 4,50 and 3,50 lengths respectively.
“I will aim her for the Woolavington 2000,” said Frank. “She is a very good filly.”
Frank lamented, “We have just been playing with horses here at Sumerveld because of all the rain, we haven’t been able to train them properly, just hacking and cantering, and you don’t know where you are. I also had a virus going through my yard. But the break in racing gives me a chance to get the stable back together and the weather will hopefully be settling down too.”
