BMW adds horsepower to horse power

So the Vaal is the place to be for sports horse lovers on Saturday, many of whom will have the hugely successful debut of “Racing To Jump” at Turffontein in May fresh in their memories. Lovers of mechanical horse-power will also be catered for, because BMW Vaalridge Auto will be showcasing a range of their top vehicles on course. Culinary desires will be met by a food market, while a craft market will also add to the fun and festivities of the day.
The August Stakes forms the second leg of the Super Supreme Series. The first leg, the Non-Black Type R135,000 World Sports Betting Sprint over 1000m at Flamingo Park, was run on August 8 having been postponed from August 1 and was won by the Louis Goosen-trained Varbration. The final leg is the Gr 2 R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP and to be run over 1450m on September 26.

The R500,000 bonus to be paid by World Sports Betting to any horse that could win all three legs of the Super Supreme Series will not be won this year because Varbration has been scratched from the August Stakes. However, World Sports Betting have consequently put up a R100,000 bonus for any horse who can win both of the remaining two legs.
Louis Goosen has a strong chance of still landing the August Stakes as he has entered the ever improving Doing It For Dan, who won impressively over 1000m on the Vaal sand last time out and should be capable of seeing out the 1200m. Piere Strydom has been booked for the ride on the 104 merit-rated horse.

One of the most intriguing August Stakes entries is the Alec Laird-trained five-year-old Bouclette Top, who was thought to be a middle distance type after finishing a close fourth in the GR 1 SA Classic over 1800m as a three-year-old. However, blinkers have really livened this horse up and he finished a three length second to the high class Ice Machine in the weight for age Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville earlier this year. He has a well deserved merit rating of 108 and will likely be a big runner in both the August Stakes and Supreme Cup, especially since champion jockey Gavin Lerena has been booked for the ride in the former.

An interesting August Stakes entry is the nine-year-old Sean Tarry-trained Across The Ice, who won this race in 2012. He is merit rated 104 but will have to bounce back from a below par run over course and distance last time out.
The highest merit-rated entry is the Corné Spies-trained Kiss Me Hardy on 111, who consequently carries topweight. He won the R100,000 Kimberley 1400 with topweight in February and was given a 113 merit rating but since then has run poorly on the Vaal Sand twice, over 1450m and 1600m respectively, so is another with a cloud hanging over his head.

The Ormond Ferraris-trained Captain Haddock won ever so easily over course and distance last time and could be a big runner. He has a nice galloping weight, but is unfortunately drawn wide and his jockey will carry 1kg overweight. On the plus side this jockey is the world class Andrew Fortune.
Mike Azzie supplemented the classy Isphan for the race and he could have a chance after being dropped three points to a merit rating of 99, having lost to Doing It For Dan by one-and-a-half lengths over 1000m last time out. Furthermore he has landed the pole position draw.
Mike de Kock’s runner Mootahadee will probably prefer the Supreme Cup distance, but he will have benefitted from his last run and has a nice galloping weight. Having Anthony Delpech in the irons will add to his chances.

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