Clive Robinson
There was a lot to like about the debut run of Manz Knight over 1700m at the Vaal on 17 May.
There was much talk about the ability of the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained runner on that occasion and the three-year-old colt opened in the betting at 13-10. However, he did drift markedly in the betting, eventually going off at 4-1.
The connections clearly must have believed Manz Knight would need the experience as he lost ground at the start but still managed to finish a 2.25-length second behind My True North.
The son of Gimmethegreenlight lines up in Race 6, a Maiden Plate over 2000m, at the Vaal on Tuesday and with some racing experience under his belt couple with the extra distance, Manz Knight should go one better this time.
S’manga Khumalo rode him on debut and will be back in the irons for this race.
Punters can get off to a winning start in Race 1 where Paul Peter sends out I Am Regal in a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1400m up the straight.
This daughter of Canford Cliffs made her debut over 1400m at Greyville in March where she beat Royal Victory by a neck. Two winners have come from that form line. Her next start was in a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track where she drifted in the betting from 15-10 to 5-2 could but only manage third place.
She did have excuses though as she was awkward at the start, got a bump and was slowly out of the stalls. She was in front with 400m to run but there was not much left in the tank, and she faded out late.
Back to 1400m in a small field up the straight should be ideal and get her back on a winning track. Warren Kennedy takes the ride.
