Dan to do it in style
Trainer Louis Goosen has not been known to back off a good challenge and has been quite happy to test his inmates against the best in the land.
Doing It For Dan has been taking on the best sprinters in the country so he should see off some weaker opposition in Race 5 at the Vaal today, despite trying 1200m for the first time.
Doing It For Dan is one of those who has taken on some leading sprinters and this three-year-old son of Windrush has not embarrassed himself. After notching up three successive victories on the turf he was then thrown into a Conditions Plate in which he came up against Willow Magic, who was weighted to win by the proverbial mile. Sean Tarry’s charge did exactly that but Doing It For Dan, although 3.25 lengths back, finished second, despite being hopelessly under sufferance and losing ground at the start.
He then contested the Grade 2 Tommy Hotspur Handicap but again lost ground at the start and got too far behind to trouble winner Moofeed, finishing fifth, 4.50 lengths back. He returned to three-year-old company in the Man O’ War Stakes over 1100m and performed superbly to finish a 1.25-length second behind Carry On Alice, running on well at the end. Considering the winner ran a 0.70-length second behind Alboran Sea in the Grade1 Computaform Sprint in her next start with some of the best sprinters in the country well beaten, it was an excellent effort from Doing It For Dan.
He found stable companion Trip Tease too good in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein in his last start but once again he was not well weighted under the race conditions.
Today at the Vaal he tries 1200m for the first time in a MR 92 Handicap on the turf and although he carries top weight of 60kg Goosen’s charge looks far too good for his opposition.
Early in his career Doing It For Dan did have a run over the Vaal 1400m in which he finished a 4.25-length fourth behind Glorious Victory but he has improved to such as extent that the distance should be of no concern.
With Piere Strydom in the irons Doing It For Dan looks a banker in all bets.
Racing does have it foibles and any runner can get beaten but the only runner who seems to have some sort of causing an upset is Approval Rating. This Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner has raced against some top horses and his merit rating has dropped five points which could make him competitive.
Mootanadee seems to be at his best on the sand while Bold Var has not raced for 283 days.
Graduation Day was due to run last Tuesday night but was withdrawn but hopefully the talented son of Trippi will take his place in Race 6, a MR 78 Handicap over 1200m. With Anton Marcus up to ride he should be another banker.
