Sean Tarry doesn’t waste bullets, and Saturday 3 January’s nine-race Standside track fixture at Turffontein has all the hallmarks of a calculated strike.
With his string in fine fettle and his runners holding strong claims across the card, the former champion conditioner looks set to dominate proceedings.
The theme for the day will be set early, with a Tarry-led Pick 3 firmly in play through the opening three events. Trajanus (Race 1), Gulf Of America (Race 2) and Lovable (Race 3) all offer value, not blind loyalty.
Trajanus is an intriguing prospect in the opener over 1000m after the addition of a compression hood and tongue-tie transformed the progressive Danon Platina gelding last time, as he cruised in to win by 3.40 lengths under Craig Zackey.
The handicapper reacted sharply with an eight-point penalty but dominant wins often mask further improvement, and this one had the look of a horse still well ahead of his mark.
On ratings, Trajanus has ground to make up on dual Grade 1-placed, best-weighted runners Winds Of Change, as well as Highveld newcomer I’m A Fireball and speed merchant African Pride.
Yet with the same equipment retained and natural progression expected, Trajanus could raise his game again and upset defy the conditions. He’s a genuine candidate for success, not a hope.
Race 2 looks ripe for Gulf Of America who shaped better than the bare result when fourth on her return from a 30-week layoff over the same course and distance. T
his Rafeef filly stayed on gamely between runners from a long way back and she would have tightened up considerably from that comeback run.
In a very winnable contest, she could take a big step forward under Keagan de Melo and put the Tarry outfit onto a quick double.
Lovable is one of the outstanding bets on the card in Race 3, also over 1160m. She caught the eye on her course-and-distance debut when staying on to finish fourth against male opposition in a lucrative Summer Cup day maiden that has already thrown up several subsequent winners.
That was a deep race, and this daughter of Rafeef would have come on significantly for the experience. With De Melo taking over the reins from S’manga Khumalo, Lovable looks poised to open her account and complete a potential “Tarry Pick 3” to start the afternoon.
Unbeaten stablemate Speedman continues the theme in Race 5. The Vercingetorix gelding confirmed the promise of his first-start victory over 1160m by winning on handicap debut over 1400m last time, doing enough late on to suggest that more was in the tank so the step up to 1600m seems the next logical step in his development. With Zackey retaining the ride, it should pay to stay on the right side of Speedman’s upward trajectory when he puts his 100% record on the line.
Clive Robinson
