Melech is capable of a strong finish and should make his presence felt in the Gr 2 Post Merchants on HDJ day (Pauline Herman Photography)
The Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m is always an exciting race to watch, with top class sprinters galloping at speed around the turn, and as it is a handicap the cavalry charge for home is often closely fought.
Cruise Control ran a cracker in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint. Jumping from draw ten he showed great natural pace and looked all over the winner 100m out. However, the tough Hollywoodbets Scottsville finishing hill got to him and he was caught by a wall of horses, ultimately finishing a 0,3 length fourth. He was only raised one point to 118 for that effort and jumps from a good draw of five. Sean Veale goes for a double in this race, having won it on Gladatorian last year. Cruise Control arrived in the Duncan Howells yard just three weeks before the Golden Horse Sprint and they said he had come on a lot from that run, so he has a fince chance over a course and distance which should suit, considering he has superb natural speed coupled with a kick.
Melech will be hoping for a good pace as he produced a flying finish in the Golden Horse to be beaten just two lengths into sixth after being outpaced early. He has a plum draw of three and Raymond Danielson replaces Serino Moodley.
Royal Aussie has the class that enabled him to run on strongly for third in the prestigious weight for age Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, but he also has the speed that saw him winning the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. From draw two under Daniel Muscutt he is a fascinating runner.
Teflon Man is officially 5,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Golden Sickle. However, he is progressive and is capable of a flying finish as he proved last time, so he is a runner carrying just 52kg from a middle draw.
That last start was in the SABC Sport Durban Dash over 1100m and he beat the highly promising King Of The Gauls, who was unlucky to only be first reserve here as he won the Listed In Full Flight Handicap. However, the scratching of Time Fo Orchids means King Of The Gauls gets in and jumps from draw ten under Grant van Niekerk, from where he can use his early pace to get into a handy position before running on. He is 6,5kg under sufferance, but is a progressive sort who can rise above his current merit rating.
Golden Sickle has outstandingly consistent form and as the best weighted horse carrying 57,5kg from a good draw of four, she is a big runner.
However, it is never easy against the boys.
Winter Greeting is only 1kg under sufferance and is a big runner if she settles carrying 53,5kg from draw seven. She can go a bit hard which blunts her finish, but Sean Tarry is in flying form and she is hard to leave out.
At My Command only just failed in the Golden Horse when running on well from midfield, but a wide draw could be a problem here .
I Am Giant was also right there in the Golden Horse, but as a handy sort the widest draw of all is problematic.
Cafe Culture is ideally suited to 1400m, but was just 3,60 lengths back in the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m and as one with a good turn of foot is interesting from pole position with Richard Fourie up.
Tail Of The Comet finished strongly in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over course and distance last year and would have a fine chance if at his best after a five month layoff.
Texas Red has fine recent form over 1400m and had good earlier form over this trip. His easy defeat of Mrs Geriatrix and On The Horizon last time over 1450m has been franked as both have come out and won.
Quasiforsure has to bounce back from a 13,40 length beating in the Golden Horse Sprint, but he won his last start over this course and distance, beating last year’s Post Merchants winner Gladatorian, and he did it from draw 12, so draw eleven should not be a problem for a horse who runs on well.
Anfield’s Rocket bounced back to form with a close second over 1160m at Turffontein last time, but this is a lot stronger and he will need to confirm that. He does have a strong finish on his day, so can handle draw 12.
It is a wide open race but Cruise Control is taken to beat Melech with Royal Aussie, King Of The Gauls, Teflon Man and Golden Sickle next best.
