Quite pleasing as debuts go!
September 17, 2023
Pencil in: Betway Spring Challenge
September 26, 2023
Turffontein, inside track, Tuesday 26 September 2023:
The stable sends out three runners in Race 2 over 1450m, one of which is the first-timer Al Akhtaar. He’s a son of Silvano out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, bred for more ground and Mike confirmed: “Al Akhtaar needs further, this is an introductory run and he is drawn wide, so we’re hoping to see him stay on and come out of the race well.”
The other pair is Festival Magic and Japanese Star and Mike commented: “Festival Magic made a decent debut over this course and distance when he was slow away. He’ll know more about it now, but he is another who needs further to come into his own. He’s also drawn widest of all and that won’t help. He will be staying on.
“Japanese Star is probably the best of the three in this race because he is best suited. He’s come on from his 1200m debut, has an inside draw and I give him an eachway chance.”
Griffin Park will have his third career run in Race 3 over 1000m and also has the benefit of a good draw. “He has some pace and comes from two fair formlines over 1200m. He should run a decent race, he has an eachway shout.”
