There are easier ways to attack Thursday’s eight-race Vaal card than trying to oppose the yard of Sean Tarry.
The Highveld powerhouse arrives at the 28 May fixture with his string firing and, on paper at least, looks capable of dominating the programme with as many as four winners. For Pick 3 punters hunting a healthy mid-meeting payout, the prospect of a Tarry treble from Races 4 and 6 is particularly appealing.
The raid should begin in Race 4 where War Reporter looks primed to keep the momentum rolling under Keagan de Melo. The son of Vercingetorix shaped with promise when returning from a lengthy absence before stepping forward sharply to score in commanding fashion over 1600m last time out, a victory that understandably earned him a six-point rating hike.
Even so, there is every chance the four-year-old still has more to offer. He remains lightly raced for his age, this being only his 12th career outing, and the manner of that latest success suggests he is beginning to put everything together. Carrying 62kg won’t make life easy, but progressive horses often shrug off penalties and War Reporter has the profile of one still ahead of the handicapper.
Tarry holds a strong hand again in Race 5 over 1200m and a stable Exacta/Quinella would surprise nobody. Mystical Miss has been holding her own in stronger company and should appreciate this ease in grade, especially with the benefit of a valuable 1.5kg claim. But from a betting perspective, Maverick Queen makes greater appeal at the likely prices.
The daughter of Captain Of All has compiled an excellent record at this level, winning twice and finishing second once from four attempts, and her recent form lines in stronger company read well in the context of this race. Freshened for 13 weeks and now racing off a reduced mark, she looks the type to outrun market expectations under promising rider Malesele Katjedi.
Race 6 could then complete the Tarry Pick 3 with Rabble Rouser standing out as one of the more attractive bets on the programme. De Melo reunites with the progressive daughter of Rafeef, who created a favourable impression when winning on debut over 1160m before losing little in defeat at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
That KwaZulu-Natal effort was better than it reads on paper as Rabble Rouser showed good speed, led for much of the journey and was only collared late – beaten just 0.65-lengths over 1400m. The drop back to 1200m looks ideal for her aggressive style and, with natural improvement likely in just her third outing, Tarry’s charge rates a serious winning proposition. She is very much one to keep onside going forward.
Another of the yard’s major winning chances comes in Race 8 where Trail Runner is primed to continue her productive spell in blinkers. This daughter of Lancaster Bomber has improved markedly since the headgear was fitted, winning three races and placing once from five starts with the headgear.
She arrives off a gutsy victory in a 1200m work riders’ contest on the Classic track earlier this month and, crucially, escapes without a penalty for that success. Off an unchanged mark and back over the same trip, Trail Runner looks capable of giving the Tarry stable a fourth strike on a card that could easily turn into a one-yard benefit.
Clive Robinson
