Bank on Teddy’s fitness

Fitness could be the key for Bankable Teddy as he lines up for Race 4 at the Vaal today, a MR 104 Handicap over 1800m on the Inside track.

He takes on a potent field that includes last year’s SANSUI Summer Cup winner Master Sabina and eLan Gold Cup champion Enaad. Master Sabina, however, has not run since finishing a four-length fifth behind Enaad in the Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville on 31 July while Enaad has had a warm-up race in the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge but could be in need of a second run.

In the Spring Challenge he finished a 6.85-length 12^th behind Kangaroo Jack which came as no surprise but the Mike de Kock-trained runner has turned into a decent stayer and is likely to still find 1800m a touch sharp. He should improve on his previous run and is quite capable of running into the Quartet in a field of this nature.

Deputy Jud and Amsterdam both raced at Turffontein on Saturday and trainer Mike Azzie has scratched the pair from this race. Amsterdam proved the better of the two and finished 6.50 lengths behind Master ‘N Commander while Deputy Jud was beaten 12.45 lengths.

Bankable Teddy comes into this race carrying just 53.5kg and showed both ability and fitness when running Liege to just 0.75 lengths in a MR 98 Handicap over 2000m on the Classic course last time.

For numerology fundis I should point out Brian Wiid’s runner finished third in his ante-penultimate start, third in his penultimate and second last time, pointing to an overdue victory this time around. His last win was in the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m in March when he destroyed a decent field to beat Stebbins by 4.80 lengths. He was ridden by Chase Maujean on that occasion and Maujean returns to the saddle tomorrow.

Master Sabina is undoubtedly the class horse of the race but has not win since beating stable companion Deo Juvente by 0.20 lengths in last year’s Summer Cup. He was penalised 1.5kg for that win but his rating has fallen three points putting him back on the same merit rating of 105 as he had prior to last year’s Summer Cup. Before the Gold Cup he contested the Vodacom Durban July where he finished well to run ninth, just 3.35 lengths behind The Conglomerate.

He comes into this race with 60.5kg on his back and Gavin Lerena in the irons.

Trainer Geoff Woodruff also saddles Master Switch. He is coming back from a rest of 115 days but is quite capable of winning a race of this nature. Raymond Danielson rides.