Trainer Sean Tarry looks to turn up the heat from the word go at Turffontein on Tuesday 30 December.
In the card opener, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, he has tasked jockey Keagan de Melo with taking the reins aboard Turn It Up. De Melo has only had six rides for Tarry since returning from a premature-ending campaign in Hong Kong at the beginning of the month, and they are yet to taste success when teaming up this year.
However, Turn It Up, a Querari two-year-old colt, should see them shaking hands in the winner’s circle after the running of the Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.
Turn It Up was rather unfortunate to bump into Heath House on debut. Despite going down by 3.5-lengths, Tarry must have all the confidence in the world in his charge as the form of that race has been thoroughly franked.
Heath House not only went on to win again, but ran out a 7-length winner in his second start. Status Symbol, who finished 2-lengths behind Turn It Up on debut, also went on to score second time out.
With that form line as guide, it is very difficult to oppose Turn It Up.
Reopposing Buffalo King Cody has a prior engagement, but even if he does face the starter, it is unlikely that he can reverse the almost 2-lengths between him and Turn It Up given the same conditions.
In Race 6, a Graduation Plate for maidens, one- and two-time winners over 1600m, Speedman is set to have his name inked in the record-books.
This gelded son of Vercingetorix will be boxing way above his weight as he takes on Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway and Solar Sail, who ran third in the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m.
Unbeaten after two starts, Tarry is throwing Speedman into the deep end, but champion trainers don’t let their best drown.
What counts most in Speedman’s favour, is the fact that he is a rising star.
Parisian Walkway’s form, on the other hand, has been erraticly mediocre to put it mildly, as attested by his 6-point drop in ratings since his last victory in the Guineas back in February.
Solar Sail, who has a prior engagement, took an unfortunate tumble in the Betway Summer Cup, and it remains to be seen how he recovers from that emotional stress. Considering that he went into the Summer Cup at 100-1, and now has to carry emotional baggage, it’s hard to see him bouncing back to winning ways should he take his place his place in this line-up.
This all plays perfectly into the hands of the young Speedman, despite being way out at the weights.
Clive Robinson
