Buffalo Storm Cody is out to defend his Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint title, but will he be seen overseas in the near future? (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
The Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint to be run at Sunday’s World Pool Gold Cup meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville is really up there with the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup on the same day as one of the races of the season, because our sprinters could feasibly compete at meetings like Royal Ascot.
Sprinting is the weakest division in Europe and the like of Buffalo Storm Cody, Questioning and two or three others could perhaps take advantage of the new opening of direct flights to Britain and compete in one or more of the Gr 1 sprints at the Royal Ascot meeting next year and, in fact, they might even be able to get over in time to compete in this year’s Gr 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp on the first Sunday of October in Paris’s famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting.
The Mercury Sprint to be run over 1200m carries a stake of R1 million.
It is often the decisive race in identifying the Equus Champion Sprinter for the season.
Buffalo Storm Cody is the winner of one of the wfa Gr 1s this season, the Computaform Sprint over 1000m, and he won the Mercury Sprint last year. He is better drawn than he was last year having landed the plum barrier position of four out of 12 as opposed to draw nine out of 14. He comes off a magnificent preparation run in the Gr 3 Post Merchants, where he jumped from draw nine and was eating up the ground late to be beaten half-length into second by Jet Force. He is now 2kg better off with Jet Force, so should reverse the form. He does face third-placed Tenango on the same terms for a mere short-head beating, but he seemed to be using the Post Merchants as a preparation run for the Mercury. Buffalo Storm Cody did beat Tenango by 1,60 lengths in last year’s Mercury Sprint, but the latter was drawn very wide then and has a plum draw this year. Gavin Lerena knows Buffalo Storm Cody Well and could give him the edge.
Questioning is unfortunately drawn very wide in barrier position 11 out of 12 but will nevertheless be a big threat as he has transformed into an athlete of rare quality this season and is going for his fifth win in succession. Two notiecables aspects of this Querari gelding are he is always turned out in superb condition and he appears to relish his job. He is able to relax well enough in the running to make full use of his devastating turn of foot and he displayed his courage last time when somehow finding extra to win the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m over a trip that stretches him. With Richard Fourie up the crowd could well be treated to another thrilling duel down the straight between Questioning and Buffalo Storm Cody and it is hard to separate them.
It is far from being a two horse race though.
Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Asiye Phambili is a top class sprinter who seems to get better all the time and if able to relax in a good spot she will be storming home. On strict form she is held by Questioning as she was beaten 4,35 lengths by him in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem over 1200m down the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. However, her regular rider Sean Veale was not aboard that day and she was used early to overcome a wide draw and then sat in a handy position. Ideally, she likes to be left alone before running on from off the pace. Veale is now back aboard. She has a tricky draw of seven, but should be able to sit and run on.
Tenango ran on superbly from way back in the Post Merchants and as already mentioned has a great chance on paper from the form of that race. Last year when beaten just 1,60 lengths in the Mercury he was drawn way wide in 13 and he now has draw two.
O’Tenikwa has superb gatespeeed and early pace and he he thrives on preparation runs, so having his third run after a rest he could find extra in the straight. This long-striding galloper could be a threat.
Mia Moo Is a good sprinter, but looks held by Buffalo Storm Cody and Asiye Phambili, although this former Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner could earn from pole position.
Jet Force Ran on very well to win the Gr 3 Post Merchants over course and distance last time out in his first attempt at a sprint distance since May last year, but he is now 2kg worse off with both Buffalo Storm Cody and Tenango for half-a-length beatings. He jumps from a good draw of five and should be running on again, so could find a place.
Green Diamond, who won the Gr 2 SA Nursery over 1160m as a two-year-old last season and has since won the Gr 3 TAB Protea Stakes over 1100m and the Listed Bidvest Bauhinia Stakes over 1000m, has 3,20 lengths to make up on Buffalo Storm Cody on Gr 1 wfa Computaform Sprint form over 1000m and he comes off a layoff of more than three-and-a-half months.
Taxi To The Moon has been in devastating form, with one of his only two defeats in his last seven starts being a second place finish in the Gr 1 wfa Computaform Sprint. He has just 1,90 lengths to find on Buffalo Storm Cody on Computaform Sprint form, but he has a tricky draw of eight. He has won a 1000m contest around the turn at Hollywoodbets Greyville before and can’t be ignored.
Cats Pajamas was a 1,75 lengths fourth to Buffalo Storm Cody last year from draw ten and now has draw nine, albeit in a smaller field. He comes off a below par run in the Post Merchants, but had a very wide draw that day and can do better.
Cafe Culture is a former Post Merchants winner over this course and distance and is an honest sort. He has a wide draw of ten, but could run on into the money after being dropped out.
Cosmic Speed is a Gr 1-winning sprint miler, who has the class and speed to be a threat over this suitable course and distance. However, he looks held by Buffalo Storm Cody and Taxi To The Moon on this season’s form and has a tough draw of 12 out of 12.
The Mercury Sprint is packed with class this year and it is going to be a race to savour.
Perhaps it will unearth a sprinter or two capable of raiding Europe.
The selection is Buffalo Storm Cody to narrowly beat Questioning with Asiye Phambili, Tenango and O’Tenikwa next best.
