Vaal’s Classic track hosts two midweek meetings in three days and at the second of those eight-race Highveld fixtures on Thursday 30 January, bettors will do well to follow jockey Philasande Mxoli.
He has two very bankable rides in Races 7 and 8.
The lightly raced Silvano-gelding Sutherland in Race 7 over 1200m is an enticing betting proposition.
The Stuart Pettigrew-trained four-year-old earned a three-point penalty for an eye-catching handicap debut nine weeks ago when staying on well to finish second behind progressive subsequent winner Confederate over 1400m.
Like most of Silvano’s progeny, Sutherland is maturing and remains on an upward trajectory with scope for improvement in just his seventh appearance. With that in mind, Sutherland’s revised career-high mark is unlikely to halt his development nor should the shorter 1200m, having won his maiden over the same distance in his penultimate start under Mxoli.
Against Pettigrew’s charge is a wide No 10 draw – as 1200m races on the Classic track are run along the right-hand turn – but with a hot pace likely to be set by striking grey After The Rain, Sutherland will have the race run to suit and he’ll be picking them off late.
In what is a hotly contested sprint handicap, Mxoli’s mount should represent generous Eachway value with Chieftain and last-start winner Rollwiththepunches likely to dispute favouritism with Tony Peter-trained class-dropper Edward Rye.
Including Sutherland to win Race 7 in a TAB Double with In The Ether to win Race 8 should pay handsome dividends.
The latter has a bad habit of conceding valuable ground at the start and that proved costly in her latest outing over 1000m a fortnight ago. On that occasion, Grant Maroun’s course-and-distance specialist flew from a hopeless position to finish an eye-catching fourth over the same track and trip of Race 8 with Mxoli aboard and under a three-point penalty, which she earned for winning a similar course-and-distance event in her previous start.
Mxoli is all too aware of In The Ether’s tendencies and he’ll have the Announce-mare ready to roll as soon she enters the stalls, so a return to winning ways could be on the cards for Maroun’s charge.
Clive Robinson
