It is always great to see a top horse run during a midweek meeting.
Main Defender, a super athlete, lines up at the Vaal on Thursday in Race 5, a Pinnacle Stakes.
Despite his credentials, however, he may not have things all his own way, even being best weighted. Still, he appeals as one of the best bets on the card.
It is interesting that trainer Tony Peter didn’t give Main Defender a go at the recent King’s Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He is rated 130 and being a similar high cruiser with a strong finish like eventual winner and exciting three-year-old One Stripe, it could have been the race of the year.
Yes, he brings that kind of credentials to the Vaal and straight off a scintillating performance at Turffontein over 1600m, he finds himself the one to beat.
His rivals aren’t really in his league, but some are not far off, and a wide draw may perhaps make things tricky.
Melech famously beat Main Defender around the same time last year and the latter could be a threat again as he too is proven over the longer distance. He beat the mighty Pathfork-gelding by 1.25 lengths, is now 4kg better off and jumps from a slightly better gate. But it must be remembered that Main Defender had very valid excuses then, as he was dropping to 1200m which suited Melech better and was also likely in need of the run as he was prepping for the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes which he duly won impressively.
Rider Gavin Lerena is not a champion for nothing and will know that with the Vaal Classic track being less testing than Turffontein, he will need to get Main Defender into a decent position from the jump and the rest should fall into place.
Up and coming three-year-old One More Star could be the horse to take multiples with.
He lines up in Race 6, a MR74 Handicap.
Trainer Sean Tarry will be hoping that his young charge has luck in running.
Tarry has had a stop-start season to date, but it is about time his yard kicks into gear and One More Star, like One Stripe, is by smashing freshman stallion One World.
One More Star is out of blue-blooded mare Justthewayyouare, which makes him a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Malmoos. Unlike the latter and One Stripe, he hasn’t been unbeatable from the start though as he hasn’t yet shown the same cruising speed, but he stayed on strongly to win his maiden at the fourth attempt, enjoying the hike to 1600m.
He gives the impression that he will be a better horse in time, but more so runs like he wants more ground. He now gets to travel a more suitable 2000m.
It could be a good day for Tarry as Mountain High (Race 2) and Silver Tudor (Race 8) rate big chances in their respective heats as well.
Clive Robinson
thanks for your update, love it.