Back in December 2022, Articuno, a filly by Vercingetorix, made her debut at Kenilworth over 1000m, beaten just 3.5-lengths by Rascova.
Well, the latter has gone on to race nine more times, winning twice more, including taking the honours in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m at Durbanville at the end of last year.
Articuno, on the other hand, has only seen a racetrack twice since her debut.
She gets another chance to strut her stuff on Thursday 18 January at Turffontein, when she returns to racing after a 221-day break.
Now a three-year-old, she really doesn’t have to be a superstar to open her account in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m.
Trained by Brett Crawford, Articuno will have Durban July-winning stable jockey Kabelo Matsunyane in the saddle.
In Race 6, a MR99 Open Handicap for three-year-olds over 1600m, the St John Gray-trained Eiffel Tower looks the banker bet on the day.
Already a three-time winner from just seven outings, this son of Potala Palace will be getting his second run on the Turffontein Inside course.
With his last victory coming in his penultimate outing in a Class A event, Eiffel Tower does seem to remain slightly ahead of the handicapper, having copped just a four-point penalty for that win.
He was also slapped with a three-point penalty after a runner-up finish last time out, but rated 94 he does seem to have the momentum to maintain his upward curve.
Red Bomber is another who looks hard to oppose on the day.
This two-time winning Lancaster Bomber gelding has finished runner-up twice in better company and dropping down to Class B must be rated the one to beat.
Trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren, it was rather surprising to see Red Bomber gelded after two victories as a juvenile, but his performances since the cut suggest it was the best decision.
He does look a cut above the rest of the field – no pun intended – and should make amends for not delivering when highly backed last time out.
Clive Robinson
