Trainer Corne Spies has made a very interesting move by deciding to bring William Robertson down in distance.
This three-year-old son of Rafeef has been racing primarily over 1600m and even 1800m recently but on Tuesday he will line up in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m at the Vaal.
As a two-year-old he ran a 1.35-length third behind Good Traveller in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville and then came back to Johannesburg to narrowly win a Sales race over 1400m, touching off Bard Of Avon.
He was gelded after that and returned after an almost five-month break to contest a Progress Plate over 1160m at Turffontein where he showed good pace but was clearly in need of the run. He finished a two-length second behind talented filly Winter Smoke, who last Saturday picked up a Grade 2 victory in the Camellia Stakes over the same course and distance.
From that run, William Robertson went on to win the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein by the narrowest of margins and then contested two of the three SA Triple Crown races.
In the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas over 1600m he tried to lead all the way but faded out over the final 200m to finish seventh. Howver, he was found not to be striding out.
He then moved on to the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m where he cruised up to the leaders at the 400m mark but once again faded out. He was reported to have pulled up fatigued and clearly found 1800m was beyond him.
William Robertson reverted to 1400m in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk at Greyville last month and was backed in to favourite but lost ground at the start and proved very one paced.
However, his form over sprints has been very consistent and it will be interesting to see how he will perform reverting to 1200m.
He is one of the better handicapped runners and comes in with just 52kg on his back. Muzi Yeni will be in the irons, and they could prove a very hard combination to beat.
Eden Roc looks like he is returning to form and Sean Tarry’s charge could prove to be the main danger to William Robertson.
Clive Robinson
