HARD TO BEAT. Al Don Cumarco has run against a lot stronger than he meets in today's Speedster Stakes over 1000m at Fairview. Picture: Supplied
Captain Of All’s margin of victory in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint was 4.50 lengths which means that sixth-placed Al Don Cumarco was just 1.60 lengths behind Carry On Alice to whom he conceded 3kg and 1.55 lengths off Legislate.
The Yvette Bremner-trained gelding returns to Port Elizabeth today to contest the Speedsters Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1000m on the Fairview turf and although this is a handicap, a repeat of that Greyville performance will make him a very hard horse to beat.
His two previous runs before the Mercury were over 1200m at this track in which he beat Clifton Surf and Unannounced respectively so he does have local form as well. He returns from the Mercury Sprint unscathed by the handicapper as he did not receive any penalty for his good run.
The five-year-old son of Captain Al has mainly campaigned over 1200m and 1400m but he has won his only start over 1000m. However, that was on debut at Scottsville in August 2013.
Gift Funeka has ridden him in five of his last six starts and is back aboard for this event.
Jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe is carded to ride for Justin Snaith at this meeting and he is unlikely to travel to Port Elizabeth unless he believed he had some winning rides. He has been engaged to ride Blackmalkin who two runs back finished a neck second behind Copper Parade in a Pinnacle Stakes.
Like many other runners in this field, he was surprised by Swift Wonder last time out and much will depend on how reliable that form line turns out to be as at this stage is has produced no winners from two runners.
Others with chances include The West Is Wide, Bobby James and Swift Wonder, who gets another go to back up that last win.