Two promising three-year-olds will take on their elders in Race 6 at the Vaal Classic track on Tuesday.
American Biscuit and Bob’s Your Uncle both look to have a few wins in them and they will be the pair the rest will have to beat in this merit rated 86 Handicap over 1800m.
American Biscuit is trained by Tyrone Zackey, who despite having a small stable, can bring the best out in his runners. This Captain Of All colt has run six times for one win and five places and seems to still be learning what racing is all about.
He seems to be getting better with each run but it was his last performance that makes him the one to beat in this race. He contested a Graduation Plate over 1600m on the Turffontein track where he came up against Mike de Kock-trained Shoemaker. While Shoemaker had only recently been gelded and was having his second run in a week, it was an excellent effort from American Biscuit to finish third, beaten 2.50 lengths.
Under the race conditions American Biscuit, who has a merit rating of 81, received just 3kg from Shoemaker, who is rated 114. That put him 13.5kg under sufferance and even allowing for the fact Shoemaker was in need of that run, it was a mighty effort from Zackey’s charge.
Under the race conditions he could not get a penalty for that third place so he looks incredibly well handicapped for this race.
He not only takes a drop in class but will carry just 55kg. Denis Schwarz takes the ride.
Bob’s Yor Uncle has only raced four times for two wins and a close-up second last time to useful Sean Tarry-trained Celestial City.
This will be his first attempt at 1800m but on breeding this Lucky Houdalakis-trained runner should have no problem with the extra 200m.
Craig Zackey is riding extremely well currently. He has won on Bob’s Your Uncle and will take the ride for the third time.
One runner who could throw a spanner in the works for the three-year-olds is five-year-old Whispers Of War. This Australian-bred son of Time For War was gelded in March and produced a very decent comeback run over 1400m.
This is more his distance so the Corne Spies-trained runner will be more competitive over this trip. Muzi Yeni rode him last time and he is back in the irons once again.
Clive Robinson
