Gareth van Zyl’s entire After The Rain is officially classified as a grey but a more eye-catching individual you will be hard-pressed to find as white would be a more appropriate description. Bought for his colour rather than his chassis, he does not have the best of actions but he uses it efficiently enough to have won four races and his only unplaced run in eleven starts was in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate where he finished seven lengths behind Jet Dark.
That form alone is good enough to see him home in the SA Home Loans Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m which heads the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
Since returning from Cape Town, Van Zyl has kept After The Rain to sprints but he steps up to what looks to be a more suitable trip on Sunday. He is a proven front-runner and Van Zyl has booked the very much in form rider Keagan de Melo for the mount which further adds to his attraction.
Mount Pleasant probably needed gelding some time back as he does not appear to be too genuine but he does have ability and like After The Rain steps up to what looks to be a more suitable trip after finishing a close-up fourth, beaten under a length, by the highly rated Coin Spinner and Captain Fontane.
He was slowly closing on the leaders and if he gets a good pace and some luck in running, he could finally ease his trainer’s frustrations.
Gavin van Zyl had designs on the Highveld features last season with Donald McDonald and although things did not quite work out, he was far from disgraced in some tough fields. Back home, he has been in good form of late and ran the useful Silvano’s Timer to a neck on the poly on July day. That was over a mile and this trip could be a tad short for him but he cannot be written off lightly.
Highveld-based Sean Tarry has left a string at Summerveld and he saddles Ikigai and Shango. Ikigai is smart on his day but although over his best trip, he needs to find some form while Shango has been contested the 3200m Gold Cup last time out.
These look to be the principal contenders but this is a solid line-up with almost all in with chances.
In the card opener there are many first timers but of those that have run, I Like It Hot has been placed in all three starts and was a beaten even money favourite last outing and can make amends while Mia Sophia has not been too far back in her four outings and will have needed her last start.
The second is a competitive maiden but Arividico may just have needed his last start after a six-month break and should do better here. Tartarus has been runner-up at his last three and improving with each run. The stable has hit form and he should put in another good effort. Lazy Guy is a battling maiden but ran a cracker last start when narrowly beaten by well thought of Cheeky Guy. A repeat will see him close again while Imperial Order raced green in a promising debut and can make the required improvement. All four rate winning chances.
The third looks a little tricky with some of the fancied runners stepping up in trip. Broadway Girl ran into a runaway train in the form of Bonne Bouche when starting a short-priced favourite last run. She steps up to a mile and can make amends. Malcom’s Dream is another that steps up in trip after not being far back in two sprints but should much prefer this trip. Coffeeberry enjoyed the step up in trip last start and has a money chance again.
The fourth is a tough maiden with many in with chances. Arverni King was much improved with blinkers and on turf but was still green and can make the required improvement. Central City has improved with each outing and was a promising second over this distance last run and comes from the champion trainer’s stable. Red Magician has a difficult draw but was touched off at only his second start and the step up in trip should suit. While Dawn Mission has been trying further and was a runner-up at his last three. Blinkers over this shorter trip could do the trick.
In the sixth, Another Love has been dropping down the handicap and now looks to be off a competitive mark over her optimum trip. Emerald Princess has hit form on the Highveld and has not been unduly punished by the handicappers. She meets a modest field here and can go in again where a number of the opposition have shown their better form on the poly. Magical Flight showed some improvement with a tongue-tie last run and will much prefer this extra furlong while Lucky Miss is struggling for her next win but is seldom far back and was narrowly beaten last start.
Duncan Howells could provide the best bet on the card when he saddles Maquette in the seventh. She has been narrowly beaten at her last two when tried in blinkers and is now better off in the weights with both Ancient Epic and Vivid Jet who appear to be her biggest dangers with Lady Catherine a possible threat.
The last is another wide open affair. Princekresh has top weight and has been taking on useful company of late. He now gets a 4kg claimer up which could be enough to see him home ahead of Passage Of Power who has been knocking at the door for some time now. His best recent effort has been over course and distance and with added blinkers the door could finally open. Putins Promise has come well with his new stable and is looking for a hat-trick of wins. Kom Naidoo’s runner got a hefty five-pounds in the handicap for his last win but appears to have taken to this course. Frontline Fighter is another Paul Peter runner that has improved at recent outings on the Highveld. He goes well this trip and seldom runs a poor race.
