The Mike de Kock-trained Shoemaker was an unlucky loser in the Grade 3 Allied Steelrode Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m last time out and now has another wide draw to contend with in the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
The draw should not stop him considering he was dropped out to last in the Graham Beck and was scything through the field like a hot knife through butter when stopped in his tracks by a gap closing in front of him. He had to be snatched up and switched and he then flew to be beaten just half-a-length. He should relish the step up in trip being by Gimmethegreenlight out of Mogok mare Moggytwoshoes, whose five wins were from 1400m to 1600m, including twice over the latter trip.
The Graham Beck third-placed Royal Victory, who jumped from draw eight in the that race, is also drawn wide in 12 out of the 13 Dingaans runners. He is a nice type who has trained on. He came from a wide draw with a strong run to finish a 0,90 length second to Cousin Casey in the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and then proved he stays this 1600m trip by finishing second to Cousin Casey in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.
Union Square is interesting because he was also dropped out from a wide draw in the Graham Beck and came from joint last to be beaten 2,25 lengths into fourth. He took a while to get going in the straight, going for his run down the inside, and was doing his best work late. That suggested he would enjoy the step up to this trip. He is by Rafeef out of an Oasis Dream daughter of Front House, a Sadler’s Wells mare who won two Grade 2s over 2400m, one in SA and one in Dubai. So, on pedigree Union Square will also relish the step up in trip and he has pole position.
East Coast, stablemate to Shoemaker and Union Square, is also a runner having run second in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m, despite carrying the same 51kg weight as the year-older winner Litigation. He is drawn three and would prefer further, but will be staying on strongly.
Billy Bowlegs came from a long way back in the Graham Beck and had to be switched a long way inward to get a clear run and then had to be eased late when a gap closed near the line. His three length fifth was thus a good effort. He beat Total Protection to win his maiden over this trip and the latter franked that form well this week, so Billy Bowlegs is an interesting runner from draw two under astute and in-form big race rider Raymond Danielson.
Argo Alley was just behind Billy Bowlegs in the Graham beck and although he has recorded a fine time over 1400m before his pedigree suggests he will stay this trip. He is by Argonaut, a Grade 1 winner over 1600m as a two-year-old, out of Jam Alley mare Dance Alley, who won five times from 1600m to 2000m and who has produced the like of Modus Vivendi mare Dance Class, a seven time winner from 1800m to 2600m.
Unzen disappointed in the Graham Beck after running on strongly to win the BSA Sales Cup over 1450m. However, it might have been a flat run and being by Erupt out of a Toreador mare who has produced a 2400m winner, albeit by Irish Flame, he might see out this trip.
Thunderstruck was caught wide in the Graham Beck, so can be forgiven for petering out in the straight. He now has another tricky draw of nine, but if able to find cover will have a chance to prove he retains the class his two-year-old season suggested he had.
His perennial rival Prophet was caught wide briefly in the Graham Beck too, but did then have cover behind Thunderstruck, before fading to last.
The fact both of them have such close form against each other and both failed in that race has to be a concern.
Electric Gold won three in a row in fine style for Paul Peter, but this is a step up in class and he comes off a below par run in his first outing for a new trainer. He also has a wide draw to overcome.
Meridius has run three good races since his maiden win, but this is a big step up, although he does have a good draw.
Vesuvio and Otto Luyken are rated only in the 70s so this a big step up in class even if they are from the yard of Tyrone Zackey, who is an outstanding conditioner of big race runners.
