At time of writing, halfway through the season, Highveld based riders Craig Zackey with 116 winners and Gavin Lerena with 111 head up the National Jockeys Log. But it is Lerena who looks to have the best of the rides at the Vaal on Tuesday.
It is, nevertheless, a day of competitive racing but Tyrone Zackey-trained Silvano’s Song, ridden by Philasande Mxoli, stands out as the best bet on the card.
Silvano’s Song has always been held in high regard by previous trainer Stuart Pettigrew but for the most part he had been something of a frustration for the yard with a record of one win from 18 starts.
He can claim to have one of the best pedigrees around, being a son legendary stallion Silvano out of a daughter of Captain Al, one of the best sires bred in South Africa.
But he is one from one for his new yard, at the end of the year Silvano’s Song thrashed the opposition, including re-opposing Flag Bearer, and is looking a like an up-and-coming sort in the making. It may be the change of scenery that did it as Pettigrew is a true horseman, but Zackey is a trainer also known for getting the best out of problem racehorses.
Zackey is also a dab hand and producing hardy stayers and the way Silvano’s Song won suggests he could be looking for some tough tests. He lines up in Race 3, a Classified Stakes over 2400m, where most of his opposition are not proven over eth distance.
Only A Poet has been staying on, but he doesn’t boast a strong finish. Silvano’s Song looks well poised for another impressive display.
Gavin Lerena is looking for that next championship win and all of Hat’s Queen (Race 4), Corrupt (Race 7) and Dancing Dora (Race 8) look to have winning chances in their respective heats.
Hat’s Queen looks to have needed time to mature and should be cherry ripe in her third run after a rest, having finished runner up in her last two starts.
The Tony Peter-trained filly was beaten three lengths by Mount Etna after her break, but she looked in desperate need of the run and can turn the form around at the revised terms.
Corrupt could be one for the future. Trained by leading Highveld conditioner Johan Janse Van Vuuren, the gelding is an exciting half-brother to Grade 1 Derby winner Out Of Your League and Grade 1 Derby runner up Zeus.
He is by Erupt, so it was no shock that he won his debut over 1160m. He should relish the 1450m he tries in Race 7 and could be one to follow in the upcoming Classic races.
It has been a while since we saw the amazing finish that Dancing Dora is capable of. But she has been knocking at the door for a while now and is back to her best track. She could be best over 1000m but has won over the course and distance and looks very well placed in Race 8, a MR 65 Handicap, where main dangers Oriental Bouquet, Sail The Sky and Written In Stone have drawn wide.
Clive Robinson
