When trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen gets a horse well they can often win two or three races quickly and his sprinter, Al Qaasim, looks to be in the form of his life.
The Captain Al gelding went through a bleak 2022 and when this year came around, he has been better than ever before.
Runner-up behind useful yardstick Naval Strength in early January was followed by an easy win over the course and distance (Fairview Polytrack 1200m), in which jockey Ryan Munger rode a very good race to win start-to-finish.
A couple of weeks break saw him return in a 1000m race on this surface and surprisingly out-paced early on he finished off too good for the speedy Ledell’s Echo.
Penalties to the tune of a 4.5kg total will make it tougher for him this time but he can pull it off.
Probably the two better bets of the day are in the first two races with Watch Tower and Grazinginthegrass looking hard to oppose Watch Tower has been unlucky not to get out of the maiden ranks as of yet but should do it this time.
Trainer Gavin Smith has reached for blinkers this time (not needed for yet some would say) and it could do the trick.
The form of Grazinginthegrass suggests it might be a lot closer than the handicapper seems to think but he is going to prove hard to beat.
Two good wins under jockey Richard Fourie in December and February were solid and he is well suited to the course and distance.
An interesting aside to this meeting will be how Cherry Ano runs in Race 6.
The stipendiary stewards questioned jockey JP Van der Merwe about his ride aboard the colt last time out and Smith has given the ride back to jockey S’manga Khumalo.
It is his first taste of the Polytrack but we await to see what happens this time.
Clive Robinson
