An intriguing eight-race card awaits at the Vaal on Tuesday 11 November, with several progressive three-year-olds stepping out for top Highveld stables.
It’s a card that should deliver competitive betting opportunities throughout, and it could prove another fruitful day for Sean Tarry, whose runners look poised to play leading roles across multiple events.
The yard could make an early impact in Race 1, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1700m, where he saddles a three-pronged attack, spearheaded by Utsaah and Top Shelf Teddy. Both three-year-olds are improving with racing and should relish the extra ground.
On riding engagements Craig Zackey’s mount, Top Shelf Teddy, might be seen as the stable elect, but preference is for Utsaah, partnered by Keratile Katjedi. The Capetown Noir filly caught the eye when a fast-finishing third over 1400m on 26 October and steps up in trip now, for which she has been crying out.
That comeback run would have brought her nearer to peak fitness and with Katjedi riding in fine form, Utsaah can strike an early blow for the yard.
It’s also worth noting that the Tarry-Katjedi combination has been a profitable one lately. They recently teamed up to win the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge with Tin Pan Alley (subsequent Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes victor), a classy son of The United States.
Another of the stallion’s progeny looks destined for success in Race 6, where United Offer, a three-year-old filly by The United States, looks ready to resume winning ways.
Victorious on debut over 1200m in late September, she followed up with a running-on fourth over 1160m on Charity Mile day, a mere 10 days ago. The bird had flown by the time she hit top stride, though that effort suggested she would be more effective over a longer trip.
As such, the step up to 1400m should be ideal, and with S’manga Khumalo taking over the reins from Zackey, United Offer looks solid value to continue her upward trajectory.
If United Offer delivers as expected, it should set up a late Tarry double, with Trajanus (Race 7) well placed to follow suit over 1000m. This Danon Platina gelding has been a model of consistency, recording three consecutive second-place finishes and a last-start win in his four appearances.
He wasn’t winning out of turn under Zackey last time when reverting to 1000m, a trip he obviously enjoys, and he lines up in his peak outing with further progress on the cards.
The United Offer–Trajanus play makes for an appealing TAB Double bet later on the card, and possibly the final two legs of a Tarry treble, if Utsaah (or Top Shelf Teddy) lands the opener.
Elsewhere, Race 5 looks set for a showdown between another two exciting three-year-olds, Bellerophon and Redlightgreenlight, both of whom should relish stretching out to 1800m. They make for appealing boxed Swinger and Exacta material, with either capable of landing the spoils.
In Race 8 there is another clash between two progressive three-year-olds to look forward to with Echo Check and The Last Duke locking horns over 1200m. The latter, from the Paul Matchett yard, seems ideally suited to the 1200m trip so it could pay to side with the Duke Of Marmalade gelding.
Clive Robinson
