Across The Ice bids for an August Stakes double

The entries for the R200,000 August Stakes over 1200m on Saturday 31 August were finalised yesterday and Across The Ice, who won the Grade 3 race last year, is on the list. Across The Ice went on to run fourth behind Meadow Magic in the Emerald Cup last year and will have his share of supporters if he runs, even though he is far from the highest-rated runner among the nominees.
That honour is shared by Approachable, Snowdon and stable companions Astro News and Contador. They, however, do not yet have sand merit ratings.
Of the four, Contador’s turf rating might be closest to a true reflection of his ability on dirt. The Charles Laird-trained gelding adapted well to the surface in the track’s Sophomore Sprint last year, beating Mogok’s Desire by 9.25 lengths. He has won three more races since then and will be a warm order if he takes part.
Approachable, from the Geoff Woodruff stable, has also only run once on the Vaal sand track – in a 1450m race in which he finished a three-length third behind Mr Tobin in September last year.
Astro News was downfield in the Emerald Cup last year, while Ormond Ferraris-trained Snowdon, a talented sort, has not run on the track before.
Ferraris has also entered consistent Sharp Design, who made his first appearance on a racecourse in a 1000m race at this track and did well in second.
Weiho Marwing has two horses entered – Uncle Tommy, who won the Flamingo Mile recently, and Along Came Billy, who scored an upset when beating Snowdon last Saturday and a horse his trainer said was being prepared for the Emerald Cup.
Across The Ice’s trainer, Sean Tarry, who has won the August Stakes in the last two years, might also field classy mare Follow The Piper. She won the Emerald Fillies Handicap two years ago and, more recently, was beaten two lengths by her stable companion over this course and distance.
It is possible that Durban trainer Dennis Drier will be bringing two horses to the Vaal in Tipo Tinto and Phantom Fighter, while Mike de Kock has entered Tayba, who is unbeaten at the course, Red Barrel and Emerald Approach.
The final field will be announced on Tuesday next week.