Captain Fontane’s career has been peppered with disappointments and a tour of the country but is back with his original trainer, Garth Puller. The gelding steps out in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday where he could be one of the better bets on the card.
Puller has a soft spot for the new five-year-old but commented recently that he had got his ‘big horse’ back. First run back was in the Drill Hall Stakes where he started a weak favourite but was never in the hunt behind Silver Operator. His next run was in a competitive sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville where he only seemed to get going over the last 100m and had the race in the bag three jumps past the post with the highly rated Coin Spinner and Gallic Chief ahead of him.
Gallic Chief will be in opposition again and the two meet on the same weight terms taking into account Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance. Venniker is in solid form of late and Serino Moodley, who posted a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, will need to be wary.
Puller has made sure that the race was not abandoned due to a lack of entries and also saddles Hawker Typhoon and the veteran Ishnana.
Both runners have 4kg claimers aboard but the mare caught the eye with a close-up sixth in her first run back for puller and with only 51.5kg on her back she could prove dangerous.
Chantyman is an interesting runner as he bids for his 11th win in 35 starts. He has been exceptional given his well-documented breathing issues. He is the best weighted runner but has not been out since a disappointing effort in the Post Merchants. He also seems better over the minimum trip but is smart on his day.
Danilo Danilovitch, a recent winner on the poly, gives Paul Matchett a second string to his bow but Gallic Chief looks to be the pick of his pair.
Gavin van Zyl deemed Donald McDonald good enough to take to the Highveld for a crack at the Gr1 Summer Cup but things did not work out as planned and it has been back to the drawing boards since and things appear to be mapping out a little better and he is in line for the seventh win of his career in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m.
Van Zyl has confined his charge to the shorter trips but he will appreciate the step up in trip. He is also well in at these weights and rates the one to beat. The mare Aquae Sulis has a tough task ahead of her at the handicap but Duncan Howells has pencilled in light-weight apprentice Mfanelo Zuma to ride and the mare only has 46kg to shoulder. If Zuma judges the pace correctly, he could be difficult to catch. Love Bomb is not easy to catch ‘right’ but Frank Robinson’s mare is smart on her day. She enjoyed the step up to 1700m when winning on the poly and has since had two runs over shorter. This trip my now be her prefer trip.
In the card opener, Smith And Wesson has been knocking at the door since being fitted with a tongue-tie. He is distance suited and should go close to shedding his maiden. Buster Keaton is lightly raced and was not too far back in his local debut for Andre Nel and assistant Byron Vorster. That was his first run back since October last year and should come on nicely. King’s Spear is the likely favourite although he returns from a break after two smart efforts on the poly. He may just need it but should be right there.
In the third, the form is a little thin and a possible upset is on the cards. Pirate Prince has been making steady improvement with his new stable. He now switches back to the turf and he could prove to be the one to beat although Atlantic City could start ahead of him in the market. Clinton Binda’s charge was runner-up on the poly last start but has shown recent improvement and meets a weak field here. Soul Captain does show some ability and could do better this trip in his turf debut while El Rey Viene has the worst of the draw but did not get the best of rides last start and can make big improvement.
Sea Of Tears and Reefway could prove the principal runners in the fourth Sea Of Tears has yet to run a bad race. She was second best last run but Paul Gadsby’s stable is showing signs of coming to hand. Reefway raced green in a promising debut and has a much better draw here and she can make the required improvement. I’ve Got Wings took on males at her last two. She has been running well and can finish in the money again.
