Highveld big-hitters Mike de Kock and Tony Peter take the wraps off several promising three-year-olds on Tuesday 3 December and bettors are likely to boost their festive season kitty should they follow both stables’ runners throughout the day, specifically their exciting last-start winners.
Peter-trained Roman’s Revenge has struck a formidable partnership with Chase Maujean, winning both starts with that rider aboard. The progressive Fire Away gelding followed up his 1800m Vaal maiden victory under Maujean with a successful handicap debut over 1700m at the Vereeniging-based track in late October.
Despite earning a five-point rating increase, that penalty isn’t likely to halt the momentum of Roman’s Revenge when he lines up in Race 4, a MR 76 Handicap over 2000m, off a career-high mark of 89, with improvement anticipated from the three-year-old over this extended trip.
Stablemate Palace Dancer, a three-year-old filly, is the least experienced of the 11 runners in Race 6 but is, arguably, the pick on all exposed form. This consistent daughter of Potala Palace finished worse than third for the first time in her five-start career when fourth over 1400m on Standside track 18 days ago.
However, that was in a stronger race than the one in which she lines up in over the same course and distance in Race 8, a MR 80 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.
Peter’s charge should appreciate the ease in grade and the benefit of a slightly reduced mark, and the fact that Gavin Lerena retains the ride is also encouraging.
The same jockey-trainer combination should close out the meeting with promising three-year-old colt Pennsylvania, one of the better bets on the card, in Race 9, a MR 86 Handicap over 1160m.
This Lancaster Bomber colt showed his rivals a clean pair of heels over the straight 1200m Vaal course almost nine weeks ago and the slightly shorter distance switching to Turffontein’s Standside track won’t hold any fears for Lerena’s mount.
Unbeaten Heather’s Boy has impressed in his two starts, displaying a willing and professional attitude on both occasions. He is highly regarded by connections and this son of Rafeef could be the next off a conveyor belt of De Kock-trained stars.
The three-year-old colt also holds a Grade 1 Cape Guineas entry and he could be headed to Cape Town for that 14 December Classic with his 100% record intact, as De Kock puts the finishing touches to the his charge in Race 5, a Graduation Plate over 1600m.
Heather’s Boy won a course-and-distance handicap in his last start, giving weight and a beating to subsequent winner Bacchus.
Stable companion Wolf Mountain was only touched off in the 1400m Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes under a masterful front-running ride from Piere Strydom but the De Kock-trained gelding, a son of Buffalo Bill Cody, need only repeat that performance to go one better when he returns to the scene of that narrow defeat off a four-point higher mark in Race 6, a MR 98 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1400m.
Clive Robinson
