Penalty may be costly for Anyday Anytime

As much of their calculations are based on syllogism logic – involving deductive reasoning – and guess work they would be miracle workers if they got it right all the time.

But sometimes they do end up creating what may be termed “interesting” situations as a result of their calculations.

An example of this crops up at the Vaal on in Race 8 over 1200m on the turf track on Thursday in which Anyday Anytime comes up against Abbotsbury.

The pair faced one another on 1 May over the course and distance and the race was won quite easily by the Stanley Ferreira-trained Anyday Anytime. He beat Skitt Skizzle by 3.25 lengths with Vulcan a neck back in third.

As the second and third placed runners had a merit rating of 91 and 87 respectively while the winner was rated 76, he had to be given a commensurate increase. He was put up nine points to 85 but that means the Australian-bred son of Any Given Sunday will meet Abbotsbury, who finished a 3.65-length fifth, on 4.5kg worse terms. Take into account Brett Warren’s runner lost one length at the start, Anyday Anytime could struggle to repeat his victory over Abbotsbury.

What could swing the race in favour of the Ferreira-trained runner is the extent to which he could still get a lot better. Although well into his four-year-old season, he has only raced four times for two wins. The improvement came with the introduction of blinkers and he has scored very easily on both occasions since they were fitted.

The field is not as strong as last time but Anyday Anytime will carry 5.5kg more. Marthinus Mienie regains the ride as he could not make the weight in the last race.

Given the circumstances one has to regard Abbotsbury as the main threat. He is not always the most reliable of performers but when the seven-year-old does want to run he is very capable. He also holds Brad’s Surge on his third-last run.

Mike de Kock saddles Sole Mio and the Brazilian-bred colt needs to be included in Trifectas and Quartets. He came back from more than six-month layoff to beat Strongmind by 2.25 lengths and then did not have the easiest of passages when beaten 6.40 lengths by Trip Tease on the Vaal sand.

He should be perfectly conditioned for this event and a big run is expected.