David Mollett
20 November 2009
Johannesburg — FRANKIE Dettori, the Tiger Woods of the racing world, will get the same rapturous reception the golf supremo has become used to if he wins one of the four International Challenge races at Turffontein tomorrow.
The initiative of Racing Association chairman Larry Wainstein has paid off and six talented European riders will clash with the best of SA's jockeys at the track.
The SA team, captained by this season's leading jockey, Anton Marcus, received their colours at a function at Turffontein yesterday. But there's no escaping the fact that Dettori, a tremendously fit individual who keeps his weight down with plenty of French champagne, is the man the crowd will come to see tomorrow.
While the European side's best chance of success looks to lie in the eighth race with Jack Sparrow (Richard Hughes) and Dinner For One (Seb Sanders), Dettori has definite winning chances in the fourth and fifth races on Onehundredacrewood and Roman Times.
Trained by former jockey Gavin van Zyl, Onehundredacrewood looks ready to run a big race, although the filly has a wide draw to overcome. Sean Tarry saddles Autumn Gold in this race and the Gauteng trainer will be happy to have drawn Felix Coetzee, who will get every ounce out of his mount.
Aussie import Thin Red Line has let her backers down on a number of occasions and is not one to risk the rent on. Nevertheless, she rarely runs a bad race and will be partnered by Anthony Delpech, who is right on Marcus's heels in the jockeys' log.
Dettori has shown on countless occasions that he's a great judge of pace, so Roman Times, who has no stamina doubts, should be right there at the finish of the 2450m fifth race.
This inmate of Weiho Marwing's yard may have most to fear from another Tarry runner, Winter Cruise, who could be Gavin Lerena's best mount in the international races.
Winter Cruise finished a creditable second in his first outing after his maiden win, and the gelding is set to receive three kilograms from Roman Times.
Piere Strydom has drawn Fearless Gun in this race, and trainer Lucky Houdalakis's charge may not be far away if at the top of his game. The gelding has more than paid his way this year both on turf and on the Vaal sand track.
Many pundits will consider Aussie import Red Azalea as the banker for the home side in the seventh race. Although Charles Laird's filly is trying 1600m for the first time, she should get the trip and Richard Fourie will be delighted to have drawn her.
Mick Kinane -- sure to be hounded for autographs after Sea The Stars' domination of European racing this year -- didn't draw great mounts last year and doesn't have a "plum" this time either. He could place behind Red Azalea on Michael Azzie's filly, Water Nymph, although the worst draw is a concern.
Richard Hughes' best chance of success may rest with Jack Sparrow in the eighth race over 1600m. There was plenty to like about his recent Vaal win and he could complete a hat trick from a favourable draw.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Business Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
