Lucky Lad was rated the best two-year-old colt in the country at one point last season until he blotted his copybook in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 30 July.
The son of Gimmethegreenlight won his first fur starts, and included in that bunch was the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the Grade 2 SA Nursery as well as the Grade 3 Protea Stakes, both at Turffontein.
At that point all of his races had been sprints run up the straight. However, when it came to the Premiers Champion Stakes Lucky Lad was not only going an extra 400m and racing around the turn for the first time, but he was drawn one off the outside.
Jumping from No 12 draw over 1600m at Greyville is a slippery slope and nothing worked out for this unlucky lad that day. He found himself awkwardly placed shortly after the start and as a result a lot of bumping went on.
As a consequence, Lucky Lad lost his position, raced wide on the turn and shortly before entering the home straight was switched outwards to make his run down the outside. He trailed in at the back of the field, beaten 16.40 lengths.
He was checked out by the course vet, but nothing was detected. Lucky Lad has not been seen since but is carded to return to action on Saturday at Turffontein in the Grade 3 Betway National Currency Sprint for three-year-olds over 1100m on the Standside track.
Trainer Sean Tarry will obviously be preparing his charge for a bigger race during the autumn season in Joburg and it is quite possible Lucky Lad could be in need of the run. However, he is such a classy individual and comes into the race as the best weighted runner, and back at his favourite course his class could well see him through, despite his 210 days off the track.
Richard Fourie has ridden him in all of his starts so far and is flying up from Cape Town to take the ride once again.
The main threat is likely to come from either Cliff Hanger or Ziyasha. The two met recently and although Cliff Hanger went off as favourite he had no answer to Ziyasha who powered away to win by 4.25 lengths.
The manner of the win came as quite a surprise and although Cliff Hanger is 2.5kg better off this time, it might not help his cause if Muzi Yeni can induce Ziyasha to reproduce that effort.
Clive Robinson
