Clive Robinson
Corapi has had a slow start to his career and at one point looked to be somewhat moderate. He finally managed to collect his first win in a work riders’ Maiden Plate.
That victory was followed up by a close-up fifth and two really awful runs in which he finished down field. But after a rest he seemed to find his feet, running two close thirds over 1450m and then 1600m.
The Paul Peter-trained four-year-old gelding lines up in Race 5 over 1600m up the Vaal straight in a Novice Handicap on Tuesday and this race looks tailor made for him to finally notch up a second victory.
He should have little problem with the course as his maiden win was over 1400m on this track.
He also has a decent record since tried over the distance with a second, a third and a fourth from three starts
Muzi Yeni rode him for the first time in his last start and that resulted in a 1.10-length third behind Wondering Star. Corapi was probably a bit unlucky in that race as there was some bumping going on in the latter stages.
The obvious danger is Brenden James, who has run well against some decent horses. He has been allotted 63.5kg but will have 4kg coming off his back as apprentice Siyanda Sosibo is in the irons.
The Fanie Bronkhorst-trained four-year-old gelding tried 2000m last time but he did not seem to see out the trip and should enjoy the drop back to 1600m.
The one concern is that his worst race was run over 1400m at this course when he ended up 10 lengths behind the winner. Perhaps he prefers racing around the turn or perhaps he did not enjoy the yielding going, although he did run well enough one run earlier in soft going in a race contested around the turn.
Filly Super Secret had two good first runs but then ran poorly after a rest. That was her first run over 1600m and perhaps she did not enjoy the distance, or could just have needed the run.
Kentallen Bay did not show much in his first two starts but suddenly ran out a 4.30-length winner in his third outing, and that was in spite of receiving a bump at the start.
That was in a very weak field and it will be interesting to see how he performs against stronger.
