Only One Raider In Grand Heritage Field Of 23

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Duke Of Sussex beats stablemate Dyce, both owned by Dave Shawe, in last year’s WSB Grand Heritage (JC Photos) 

There is only one raider among the 23 horses who will line up in Saturday’s Non-Black Type Grand Heritage over 1475m on the Vaal straight course.

The maximum field size for South Africa’s biggest field-sized race is 28 plus two reserves and there were 25 carded but two runners, Tizona and Argo Alley, have already been scratched.

The Michael Roberts-trained The United States four-year-old gelding Sun Blushed will attempt to emulate Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory by being the only raider in the field and emerging triumphant.

Sun Blushed finished a short-head second in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes as a two-year-old and among his three wins is a short-head beating over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville of Mrs Browning, whom he gave 1,5kg to if Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg allowance is ignored.

Mrs Browning went on to win the Gr 3 Jo’Burg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes over 1160m, so Sun Blushed is no slouch. He has a fair chance of staying the trip, having won over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville before and being by Galileo stallion The United States, whose only Gr 1 win was over 2000m.

On the other hand his dam Natural Tan, by sprint-miler Kildonan, was a speedster who won four times, three times over 1000m and once over 1200m.

Furthermore, Sun Blushed has to carry joint topweight of 60kg off a 106 merit rating and as apprentices are not allowed to claim in this race it is presumed Rachel Venniker will not be able to claim her 1,5kg gender allowance.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Duke Of Sussex proved to be ahead of the handicapper when winning this race last year off a 94 merit rating by half-a-length from his classy stablemate Dyce. Duke Of Sussex was drawn 27 out of 27 last year and has a nice high draw again of 20 which come down to 18 out of 23 with the two scratchings.

The Sean Tarry-trained Celtic Rumours is on the up and is distance suited and has a high draw of 19 out of 23 with Richard Fourie up.

His Lance gelding Silver Tudor is also a fascinating runner as he has run well over sprints, but has a touch of class and should has aleady shown he stays this trip.

Tarry’s Silvano gelding Pyromaniac is versatile, but his only three wins have been from 1160m up to 1450m, so with Piere Strydom up from a high draw he will be dangerous.

Tarry’s Paisley Park finished 5,50 lenghs back last year and is one point higher this year, so is up against it.

Silent War is in fine form and has the sort of turn of foot that is useful in a big field race like this. It remains to be seen whether his low draw of six is disadvantageous or not.

The field is shown below: