Last week’s Grade 2 ASSM Charity Mile at Turffontein was a rough race in which jockey Muzi Yeni came down after his mount had clipped heels. Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock said it was a “scrappy” contest in which a number of horses became unbalanced and one, of course, finished without his rider.
Mike’s Betway Summer Cup hopeful Shoemaker was one that suffered some interference. He had to be steadied at the 1400m mark and he lost his rhythm, fading right out of the race. Mike has put him back in Monday’s Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein and is hoping that he can produce the type of run he is capable of.
Mike said: “We want to forget last week’s race, Shoemaker is better than that and I’d really like to see improvement from him. He is still in need of the outing.”
Aragosta and Safe Passage are two others who fared moderately last week and will have to do more ahead of the big race on 30 November. Mike commented: “Aragosta needed last week’s run in the Java Stakes, so his finishing nine lengths off wasn’t so bad. This race will bring him to top fitness and let’s hope he puts in a good effort.”
It’s much of the same for Safe Passage, who was out of his ground last week and looked one-paced until he started kicking on late in the race. He was well beaten, too, but has been showing promise in work and is set for a decent run over the extra this time.
Mike assessed: “Looking at the quality of the field and where we stand, this is a hard race for us to win. We have three in-and-out horses who are unpredictable. I think that they all have Quartet chances, I can’t really narrow it down more than that.”
It is easier to predict what will happen in Race 4 over 1600m, where Greaterix is doing very well ahead of the contest. The talented grey made an eye-catching return to racing when he disposed of smart sprinter Pistol Pete recently and Mike said: “This is his lead-up run to the Dingaans, his final prep. I’ve said before he is a proper horse, good things are expected and he has a winning chance. I like to see them produce the goods on track, he still has to show that he stays 1600m, but he should go close.”
Piere Strydom is back on White Pearl in Race 9 over 1400m. She is long overdue her third career win, having performed with some success against some of the country’s leading fillies. Things will have to go her way, but Mike said White Pearl was fit and well and is a big runner. “This is her ideal trip, she’ll get into the mix and can fight it out.”
