The state of the going could determine the outcome of Race 6 at the Vaal on Tuesday, a MR 104 Handicap over 1500m on the Classic track.
The form is very close between a number of runners, but a look at Donald Macdonald indicates he appears to grow an extra leg when the ground is soft.
This Gavin van Zyl-trained runner has raced four times in the wet for two wins a second and a third, so even though 1500m is in the short side for him, he will come into the reckoning if there is the usual afternoon downpour, something that tends to happen quite frequently these days.
In his penultimate run, his first race on the Highveld, he contested a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m where he beat Sound Of Summer by 1.10 lengths. That race was run in yielding going, which suited him.
However, he will now be 2.5kg worse off with Paul Peter’s charge and could find it tough to confirm that form, particularly if the rain holds off.
Sound Of Summer is an improving four-year-old who has run 10 times for five wins and five places, and like so many of Silvano’s progeny, he is improving as he matures. He will love this distance and will give Donald Macdonald a real run for his money.
Interestingly, Craig Zackey, who was aboard Sound Of Summer when he was beaten by the KwaZulu-Natal raider, will now be riding Donald Macdonald, while Warren Kennedy returns to the irons on Peter’s runner.
One horse who is well weighted to turn the table on Sound Of Summer is Indlamu. Sean Tarry’s runner finished 0.90 lengths back in second when they last met and is now 2kg better off.
The only concern is that he ran a shocker in the Grand Heritage (Non-Black Type) over 1475m up the straight course and will need to prove that run all wrong if he is to shape in this event.
Tarry also saddles Tierra Del Fuego who ran a superb race last time when a fast finishing 0.20 lengths behind star filly War Of Athena over 1600m at Turffontein. His merit rating has dropped a few points and he is starting to become more competitive again.
Preview by Clive Robinson
