Sean Tarry and Craig Zackey look primed to run the numbers again when Turffontein’s Standside track hosts a competitive nine-race programme on Sunday, 1 February – and from a betting perspective, the pair are hard to oppose for multiple strikes.
Fresh off combining to land last Tuesday’s Vaal Classic opener, Tarry can set the tone early in Race 1 over 1160m with Trail Runner, a filly whose form stands out on this card. The lightly raced daughter of Lancaster Bomber has finished second twice in her last three starts, including a bold runners-up effort over course and distance against the boys five weeks ago.
Blinkers went on that day and are retained, while the winner has since franked the form by running a close third on handicap debut behind a smart three-year-old. That line is the strongest on offer, and Trail Runner looks ideally placed to finally shed her maiden tag under Keagan de Melo.
A similar profile applies to Space Mission in Race 2 over 1160m. Well-related and consistent without winning, the Willow Magic gelding drops back sharply in trip after competing up to 1700m. First-time blinkers could be the catalyst, and with Zackey back aboard, this looks a calculated move by Tarry to strike while the conditions suit.
Zackey’s dominance in the saddle remains a major storyline. His two-winner haul at the last midweek Highveld meeting pushed his season tally to an imposing 137, opening up a healthy 29-win gap over Richard Fourie (108).
That buffer could grow further courtesy of Paris Fun in Race 7 over 1600m for Tony Peter. The improving Futura filly caught the eye when charging home for second under 61kg on her return from a three-month break.
She was beaten just 0.50 lengths over 1400m and now steps up in trip with fitness assured, an unchanged mark, and a much friendlier 57.5kg on her back – all strong positives.
The Tarry-Zackey combination resurfaces in the Race 9 finale with progressive Tintin, whose wide-margin last-start victory over dual subsequent winner Quickfreeze marked him as a horse on the up.
That said, this is no gimme. Class-dropper Chieftain’s Shield brings stronger exposed form into the 1400m contest, suggesting a straight win bet may be risky. The value play looks to be boxed Swinger and Exacta bets, covering the obvious pair in what should be a competitive closer.
Clive Robinson
