Champion racehorses Puerto Manzano and Cousin Casey disappointed in the prestigious Betway Summer Cup after taking up the first two podiums in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile.
The Charity Mile form line may put many off which is why Melech, who finished a close-up sixth in that race, could be the value proposition on Tuesday at Turffontein.
Not only did Puerto Manzano have to overcome a wide gate but add the fact that the Summer Cup was run at a slow pace, he had an impossible task. Cousin Casey probably didn’t stay (the jury is still out) but looking closer at the Charity Mile reveals that Bless My Stars and Safe Passage (who was 2.75 lengths behind Melech) came out to run third and second in the Grade 1 Cup respectively.
Melech, who has plenty speed in his pedigree and won three in a row over shorter, surprised many winning a 1700m before catching the eye in the Charity Mile.
He drops in class in a Pinnacle Stakes (Race 6) over the same course and distance of the Charity Mile, that being 1600m on the Standside track at Turffontein. It is a race where fillies and mares are well weighted, but it is arguable whether they can match what Melech did in the Charity Mile.
He is worth a solid each-way strike but Swingers with Tulip Tree and Gilded Butterfly, who are strong finishers at this track, could also boost the kitty.
Storm Brasco will probably hog all the attention in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1600m. The Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old was the fastest finisher on the Inside track over 1450m and also made progress in his debut over 1200m which was too short.
But Feel All Right, who did a lot more near the front of that race and finished 1.30 lengths in front of Storm Brasco, could confirm the form. Both have drawn wide but Feel All Right probably has the gate speed to overcome it early and could go on to dictate the race to the end.
Weichong Marwing has his yard in good form is in good form and could find himself in the winner’s enclosure with Feel All Right.
One of the hottest yards around is that of Fabian Habib and there was much fanfare around three-year-old colt Taegan’s Champ who slammed his maiden field on debut. The Gimmethegreenlight colt is an impressive specimen and fittingly came home a 6.50 lengths winner over Just Nuisance who won straight after, franking the form.
The win matched both the high regard he is held by Habib as well as his looks. He is closely related to Barahin who victories among others includes a win of the 2019 Charity Mile. Interestingly rider Gavin Lerena is not on hand to guide Taegan’s Champ on his handicap debut as he is not riding on the day.
Taegan’s Champ did prove a bit of handful in that win but in Denis Schwarz he has an up-and-coming if not underrated rider who could ensure he remains unbeaten in Race 8, a Novice Handicap over 1400m.
All of Judgement Day (Race 1), Guerilla Warfare (Race 3) and Beating Wings (Race 5) can be added into Place Accumulators with the above mentioned.
Clive Robinson
