whipping boy
A wise old punter once said: “Son, if you want to come out ahead in life, stay away from fast women and slow horses.”
Gauteng conditioner Buddy Maroun has followed at least the second part of that sage advice his horses invariably move quickly. Widely regarded as the most accomplished trainer of sprinters in the province, Maroun regularly reels in stake cheques over the short cuts and on Saturday he bids to land the R500?000 grade one Computaform Sprint over the minimum 1 000m at Gosforth Park for the fourth year in a row.
Maroun must have a quite excellent chance, too, of accomplishing his goal he sends out no fewer than five of the 12 speed merchants contesting the prestigious event.
Piere Strydom on the incredible 20-time winner Golden Loom would be a popular victor. Despite being eight years old, this champion still packs plenty of speed and is racing over his favourite course and distance. He won this race in 1998 and 1999 and another win here would underline a magnificent career for the Golden Thatch gelding.
Fov’s Favourite, the mount of Weichong Mawing, is himself a 14-time winner and could be the biggest threat to his illustrious stable companion. He won last year and is likely to start favourite after a good recent run.
All Will Be Well could manage only fourth over the Turffontein 1?400m last week. This time the seven-year-old is fitted with blinkers and it is interesting to note that his last two victories came when he was similarly equipped, and over this course and distance! Sprint king Maroun appears impossible to oppose.
The supporting feature at Gosforth Park is the R250?000 grade two Fillies Guineas. Here the Geoff Woodruff-trained Pacific Blue seems likely to provide jockey Brett Smith with his first big-race winner for the stable.
The Gosforth Park jackpot appears to offer a third banker in the seventh, a B Division handicap. Three-year-old Kushka from the in-form David Ferraris yard should be well-suited to this 1?300m.
In the seventh at Kenilworth, Knight Watcher will be trying to build on his good recent form. Gelding seems to have done the trick for him.
At the Vaal on Sunday Dominic Zaki brings back the juvenile pair he took to Pietermaritzburg last week. Colt Royale Scandal was a winner and filly Jamaican Treasure was placed, but the story could be reversed this week. Zaki apparently believed the filly was most unfortunate and she should win the R100?000 Ruffian Stakes over 1?200m.
Royale Scandal will find it harder to repeat last week’s victory. In the Storm Bird Stakes he clashes with impressive colt Simply Salmon, who has already thrashed him by almost five lengths. “Salmon” looks like he may be something special.
On Sunday at Clairwood in Durban London Niece looks like a nice bet in the eighth, a novice plate for fillies. She has a win and a close second from just three runs and is out of a full sister to London News. Siana Spring would normally be a big danger, but she’s drawn almost in the car park for this 1?400m.