Celtic Grove, the imposing son of Fort Wood, scooped the coveted Horse of the Year title and also lifted the Champion Classic Three-Year-Old Colt laurel at the Equus Awards this week both titles richly deserved after an outstanding campaign.
One success that must have gone a long way towards Celtic Grove’s achievement was the South African Guineas at Greyville in May, in which he beat the best of his generation: Nhlavini, Redcarpet Style and Ethno Centric filled the places in that order. Another son of Fort Wood, Sonic Boom, was in fifth, just 2,8 lengths behind the champion.
Sonic Boom returns to the track at Clairwood on Saturday to contest an advance plate over 1?800m and seems to have nowhere near as tough a task as the one he faced three months ago. Granted, the Mike de Kock-trained gelding has run below that form since, in the Daily News 2000 when 7,85 lengths behind Badger’s Drift, but the form of that race has come up suspect on a number of occasions.
If the Daily News run was gospel Sonic Boom would have merely a good chance. On his run in the Guineas he must be an excellent bet at what should be nice odds.
It’s no secret that De Kock rates his charge highly, and the 12-week break from racing that Sonic Boom comes off should not be a major obstacle for this talented trainer. He is set to carry just 51,5kg, getting weight from all but one of his nine rivals.
Sugar Daddy, top class on his day, has to concede 5kg to Sonic Boom, but his connections will be much more worried about the son of Kefaah’s recently acquired habit of giving the field a good head start before venturing out of the starting stalls. The addition of pacifiers seemed to remedy the problem but even this equipment failed to do the trick 10 days ago when Sugar Daddy, at a restrictive 4-10, gave away a mile and had to be hard-ridden to get the better of a much inferior sort in Battle Cry, at level weights.
Even if he breaks on terms Sugar Daddy may have his hands full with a lightly weighted Sonic Boom.
The Deceiver, King’s Beach, Cavendish and Precious Charm should contest the places.
While Sugar Daddy has a tough task, his trainer, Dennis Drier, could have a good day. Riding High, an improving daughter of Rocky Marriage, has just Medusa to beat in the first, a maiden plate over 1?400m, and Florrie’s Flier in the eighth should be ready to score her second win.
Kevin Shea on Dagger’s Drawn in the third looks set to cut Jeff Lloyd on Thumbellina down to size and Big Bay in the third could give little-known trainer W Whitehead an introduction to racegoers.
In the fourth race, a C division handicap over 1?000m, 4kg-claiming apprentice B Vlooh has an excellent chance on in-form Penny Pincher of getting a win on the only ride he has secured for the day. A few of the more experienced riders will be waiting to pounce on any mistake, though.
The fifth sees Western Pine drop in class from successive feature races to a novice plate. He will take some beating under Lloyd.
Mill Creek has a realistic chance of winning the ninth, a maiden plate.
Turffontein Best Bets: King’s Crown (race 4); Golden Dominion (race 5). Vaal Best Bets: Cordobuzz (race 5); Meritorious (race 6); Chocolate Soldier (race 8); Swift Flight (race 9).