In disappointing news, Candice and Tammy Dawson’s top three-year-old, Trust, was withdrawn today from Saturday’s R2 million weight-for-age HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein.
This follows after Trust’s merit rating was reduced from 119 to 110 earlier this week following an appeal. His connections are eyeing the R10 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July, and the related risks of running their now 110-rated 3yo to finish on top of, or even beating the likes of established older hard-knockers like See It Again (130) and others, was factor that must have played a role in their decision.
The merit rating system has sometimes embarrassing flaws – a confusing patchwork, open to interpretation and arguably as likely to mislead as it is to inform – and this is the type of decision that owners are trainers are faced with. One cannot blame the Dawson yard for taking Trust out to fry a bigger fish.
The Premier’s Challenge now looks a proverbial gift for Justin Snaith’s stable with See It Again and Okavango, unless Fire Attack or Grand Empire can upset the apple cart.
