Horse of the Year Celtic Grove disappointed his legion of supporters in the Skeaping Trophy a fortnight ago when, starting at absurdly short odds of 1-4, he could manage no better than a dead-heat for fourth behind joint winners Clifton King and Ingleside.
In spite of the inevitable excuse that he “needed the run” after his break of less than three months, Celtic Grove was crossing swords with at least one top-class runner in Clifton King as this column pointed out and in fact ran a very respectable race.
Punters who accepted the ridiculous price made the “glamour” horse unbeatable and then predictably blamed everything but their inadequate homework and/or judgement for the “shock” result.
On Saturday Celtic Grove tops the weights with 60kg in the R150000 grade 3 Premiers Handicap over 1600m at Gosforth Park and is likely to start odds-on favourite again.
At the other end of the weight scale, carrying 50kg, is Sonic Boom, like Celtic Grove a son of champion sire Fort Wood. In May this one finished 2,8 lengths behind the champion in the South African Guineas at Greyville at level weights. Over this distance the weight turnaround means that Sonic should beat Celtic by about seven lengths!
Of course, it is never that simple: Sonic Boom, trained by Mike de Kock, has had a few disappointing runs since that good effort, but there have been excuses and there are signs that he is approaching form again. He is well handicapped and will be hard to beat at best.
De Kock has entered three other runners, the pick of which could be Major Hero, a son of Rambo Dancer, who won three of six starts in Durban for Dennis Bosch and then got home easily in his first start for this stable. He is rising sharply in class but is highly thought of and well-weighted with 52kg.
Another lightly weighted individual with excellent form is George Scott’s Dancing Duel entire Majestic Duel. He won four in a row against weaker opposition before finishing strongly under 59,5kg for second place behind very useful Set Afire last time.
Johnny Reb, who finished a short-head in front of Celtic Grove in the Skeaping, is now 2kg better off with the top weight. He should confirm the form but seems to have been deserted by jockey Sherman Brown, who rides the consistent Danzig’s Mast. Lisa Prestwood takes the ride on Johnny Reb.
In the ninth Rodoille returns to the scene of his grade 1 triumph in March. He is now in the care of Paddy Kruyer and should have most to fear from his former stablemate in the Geoff Woodruff yard, Proud National.
Buddy Maroun’s Pay The Kings looks overdue for a win and the addition of blinkers might help him get it in the 10th.
At Greyville on Friday night jockey Stuart Randolph could be the toast of punters after the first race by getting Drambuie home.
In the sixth former champion rider Anthony Delpech tries to maintain the undefeated record of State Occasion, a half-sister to top-class Sugar Daddy. The Krusenstern filly was supported on her debut and won in spite of starting slowly.
Ultra-consistent Ace The Break dead-heated with promising Dancal last time. She won easily after that and the Rocky Marriage gelding could be too good in the seventh.
Sur Passing in the ninth deserves another chance after failing last time.