Although slightly out at the weights, improving Bard Of Avon looks the runner to beat in the Grade 3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on Monday.
This is always a competitive race and this year is no different. But Bard Of Avon is getting better with each start and with just 52kg on his back, this three-year-old son of Var could run the field off their feet.
The Ashley Fortune-trained gelding runs off a merit rating of 105 but as he gets older, he seems to be getting better than that rating. This is a handicap and based on merit rating, Bard Of Avon is 3kg under sufferance but that is unlikely to hinder him.
His last run was over this course and distance and on that occasion he carried 60kg. Despite top weight and running in yielding going, he still did the distance in an excellent time of 56.99secs.
He was always in cruise mode as he went on to beat Ultra Quick by 2.50 lengths. Ryan Munger takes the ride.
Strictly on paper, Bard Of Avon is held by Winter Stories. On 6 November he went down four lengths to Paul Peter’s runner, also over this track and trip, and is now just 3kg better off. However, that was his first run after a layoff and the race did not go his way. He didn’t jump all that well and suffered a slight injury in running.
As a result, Bard Of Avon is full expected to turn the tables on Winter Stories.
Nevertheless, Peter rates Winter Stories who joined his stable in September. While he won on debut for the yard, he did disappoint in his next start when unplaced behind Alesian Chief in the Grade 2 Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein.
There could be two reasons for that defeat or perhaps an amalgamation of the two. It was his second run after a six-month layoff and he could have gone a little flat. That race was also run in yielding going and that could have affected the performance.
However, he had run in wet conditions previously and finished second so perhaps the second-run-after-a-layoff syndrome was to blame for the poor effort.
If it is, he should be in contention in this race. It is interesting that Peter has engaged Muzi Yeni for the ride. Yeni rode him when he was with a previous trainer with good results so it could be a smart move to put him back on Winter Stories.
Alesian Chief won the Grade 2 Merchants but did get a 4kg penalty for that victory. He is clearly a decent performer and needs to be included in exotic bets.
Preview by Clive Robinson
