Reigning Horse of the Year Celtic Grove makes his third appearance in five weeks in the R500000 grade 1 November Handicap over 1600m at Gosforth Park on Saturday, and his legion of followers will be hoping he picks up the winning trail again.
Certainly, the David Ferraris-trained gelding seems to have a better chance at the weights than he had in his past two runs but the classy son of Fort Wood could just as easily taste defeat again in this merit-rated handicap.
For this punter’s money, victory seems more likely to go to one of Celtic’s conquerors in his past two races proven old warrior Clifton King and rising star Major Hero.
Major Hero was having just his second start for the Mike de Kock stable when leading from start to finish to down Celtic Grove by a widening 4,6 lengths in the Premiers three weeks ago. Celtic now enjoys a 4kg swing and should be closer, but the Hero gave the impression that he has plenty of improvement to come, and the confident betting support for him by astute connections spoke volumes. In Guillermo Figueroa he has a brilliant rider.
Celtic also enjoys better terms with Gary Alexander’s charge Clifton King, and in theory the 1,5kg turnaround for a head defeat in the Skeaping in September should give him the edge. But the King beat him in spite of hanging during the latter stages of that race and is in fact even better than the run suggests. Champion jockey Piere “Striker” Strydom’s mount won this race a couple of years ago and as essentially a sprint-miler should prefer this mile to the more testing Turffontein circuit.
Clifton King represents a strong line of form: he dead-heated with Ingleside in the Skeaping, snatching a share of the middle leg of a hat-trick for the De Kock runner who also won the postponed Elevation Stakes at Newmarket on Tuesday to add to the Champions Cup he lifted on the last day of the past season.
The expected improvement for Major Hero might give him the edge on Clifton King.
As in most merit-rated races, there is plenty of scope for an upset. Rumours of the well-being of Cape Derby winner Grande Jete abound and he is already a well-supported second favourite for the Summer Cup this month. He is top class and must have a chance of carrying American golfer Lee Westwood’s colours to victory in his first Highveld run.
Elegant Al, stable companion to Clifton King, ran a good race after a rest last month and can improve with the outing.
Cape trainer Joey Ramsden brings his consistent Taupo Retreat some way for this run. He takes on stronger than he’s met recently but is well in at the weights.
David Payne is never a trainer to underestimate. While he seems to be throwing Abernant Star in at the deep end, this one recorded his last win in soft going at Greyville and has possibly been put over too much ground recently.
Buddy Maroun’s Johnny Reb is another with an outside chance, but his wide draw at this circuit must be a worry. De Kock’s sensational filly Velvet Green has also drawn wide.
Gosforth Park: Sand Trap (race 4); Kelly (race 8); Free Trade (race 9); Tango In The Forum (race 10) Clairwood: Riding High (race 1); Rockerfella (race 2) Kenilworth: Al Tresco (race 5).