Fire Attack in Focus –
But Saturday’s Smart Money Lies in the Cape
By Mark van Deventer
Fire Attack s/s 111 is by far the best horse in the
London News Stakes, a G3 to be run at Turffontein on Saturday but he comes into the race under a cloud.
He was sick and then got injured when in Cape Town, so underperformed badly. It’s hard what to make of him after travelling back home, though he’s in excellent hands with Alec Laird. Not being sure whether to endorse or reject
Fire Attack, it’s probably a race to sit on the sidelines as an “observer.”
There are, however, some betting opportunities at Durbanville’s Saturday meeting, with
Bonelli,
Ireland Forever,
Powerandtheglory, and All is Green of interest.
Bonelli got a figure of 85 + on the 21st January behind Prairie Dawn over the course and distance. That sort of number is usually good enough to win a Cape Maiden, and though
Protector of Peace s/s 88 is feared,
Bonelli can improve past him to open his account in Race 3. He is quoted at about 5/2 in early markets for high percentage combo Candice Bass and Aldo Domeyer.
Ireland Forever s/s 95 is poorly drawn and comes from off the pace, two knocks against his claims given how the Durbanville tracks typically favors on pace runners. However, he possesses a powerful finish and a fast run 1400m Class 4 is his game. He is a bit of a swing but with even luck, the 14/1 shot should give punters a run for their money each way in Race 9.
His main threats, amongst many legit rivals, are
Marcus Aurelius s/s 94 who is also a late running danger together with well exposed
Carriacou s/s 94 and
Boogiefied s/s 94.
Trainer, Des MacLachlan hit form with a midweek double, both horses ridden by the flamboyant Grant van Niekerk, who is apparently soon to be Mauritius- bound. They send out stable star,
Jet Force s/s 104 in Race 8, dropping sharply in class after running credibly against SA’s best milers in the
Green Point Stakes and
King’s Plate.
Some punters will see no reason to look beyond the very talented 13/10 favourite, but
Powerandtheglory s/s 107 got a big figure over the 1400m trip when just missing behind
Snow Pilot on
Met Day. He is in the form of his life and could give Jet Force, (who is drawn wide, drops in distance and comes from off the speed) a fright. Price can determine which horse to support – with a slight preference towards
Powerandtheglory at 3/1 and above.
5/1 middle pin, All Is Green s/s 91 is lightly raced at intervals – often a sign of unsoundness. That said, cagey conditioner, Greg Ennion is another Cape trainer who has his yard in sharp nick.
All Is Green ran close to best last time after a layoff which gives her a shake in Race 6, a modest Class 4 for fillies and mares over 1000m.
Some of her peak runs have come at her second run after a spell, so she is teed up, with Craig Zackey sticking solid, to put forth a big effort.
Alternatives in a competitive race are
December Dawn s/s 91,
Saachi One and
Caribbean Gold s/s 88.
Bio: Mark van Deventer has been refining his speed figures for thoroughbred racehorses over three decades. A full-time racing journalist since 2013, he’s known for his integrity and imaginative handicapping, adapting the principles of Andrew Beyer’s figures to South African racecourses.
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