David Mollett
10 October 2008
Johannesburg — SOUTH African breeders are guilty of coming up with some shocking names for their horses, but fortunately three-year-old Eiffel isn't one of them.
Bred by advocate Altus Joubert, Eiffel is out of the mare French Treasure, and there is no doubt the Eiffel Tower is one of France's treasures.
Eiffel cost R140000 as a yearling and that looks a bargain judged on his two runs to date. The son of Medaaly has won impressively at Turffontein and the Vaal.
The gelding's first big test comes in tomorrow's R135000 Falcon Sprint at Turffontein in which he is opposed by the well-bred Australian import, Considered Choice.
A son of top sprinter Choisir, Considered Choice has not raced since making a winning debut at Clairwood in July. However, Charles Laird is certain to have the colt fit for this feature event.
Master Of All, an inmate of Alec Laird's stable, is also unbeaten, but the colt has not raced for six months. The fact that he also has to concede weight to Considered Choice is another negative factor.
A bigger threat to Eiffel and Considered Choice could be Cerise Cherry, who turned in several solid performances last season. Paul Matchett's colt rounded off his first campaign with a second behind Mike de Kock's highly rated Rocks Off.
Geoff Woodruff is blazing the trail in the trainers' championship, and he'll be hoping Rock Concert can turn the tables on Fakazi in the sixth race, the Goldfields Sprint. The pair met over 1200m on the Turffontein inner track last month when Fakazi won by three-parts of a length, but Rock Concert will be 2kg better off this time.
It could be mistake to think this 1200m contest is a two-horse affair, as both Her Excellency and Captain's Gal look decent sorts. Her Excellency may appreciate reverting to a shorter trip, while Captain's Gal went in to the notebook of many pundits when making an impressive winning debut at Clairwood.
The Nomads Handicap is always a popular event, and another competitive field will contest the final leg of tomorrow's jackpot. The principals in this 1450m contest may be Tap Tap, Profit Report, Ray Sauce and Gliding High.
Owner Greg Blank has bright prospects of leading in the winner as he is involved in both Tap Tap and Profit Report, and the latter gets a narrow vote as he is set to receive 3kg from Tap Tap.
Nevertheless, the one they may all have to beat is Ray Sauce, whose defeat of Citizen Dante in August now looks decidedly useful form.
Unquestionably, the best bet on the 10-race card is Master Blaster, who can end Airbus's unbeaten run in the third.
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