Shrewd punters will be hoping bookmakers have not noticed the magnitude of Full Blast racing in a garden variety handicap and not in a feature on the Greyville Polytrack on Sunday.
The gelded son of Captain Of All has had a difficult time of it running over distances short of his best and was not well weighted when running creditable races in the Marula Sprint and Fever Tree Stakes in his last two.
He runs in Race 9, a MR 84 Handicap over 1400m, and is finally running over the course and distance over which he last won, and in a handicap should have every chance again.
Interestingly, the horse he beat in the handicap, Tread Swiftly, was well behind him in the Fever Tree and came out to win next time, along with three others. He is the horse to beat.
One can build up an early kitty as the best bet of the day could be Picara in Race 3, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m. Granted, she has been costly to follow but the field she meets is quite weak and after getting the timing wrong in her last two, she has been partnered with champion rider Warren Kennedy.
She let an experienced filly at Greyville get away in her penultimate and last time out did too much in front when the going came up soft at the Vaal.
In her favour, possible improver Columbia Road, who was beaten as favourite on debut, looked very much an unfinished article and may still need time and experience to give of her best.
Venturous has been beaten in weak fields and Shesakinda Magic is racing after a long layoff so Picara should not have any excuses.
Half of Chantyman’s 10 wins have been in Pinnacle races where he has been weighted to win. But he may not hold the mantle as favourite in Race 7, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1000m.
Pearl Of Asia is best weighted and then Chantyman but the favourites could be Socrates (who has been in devastating form) and returning Good Traveller (last season’s champion juvenile).
The stable of trainer Glen Kotzen looks to be back on course and all eyes will be on Good Traveller who found form again in the Western Cape even though not realising his true potential.
But he may find this race a bit short and should be prepping for bigger targets.
Pearl Of Asia has drawn wide and was beaten by Chantyman the last time they met at the track. Socrates has no issues with the trip, but Chantyman had his number the time they met, even if that was an age ago.
Clive Robinson
