Polytrack boon for sand specialists
There is a massive benefit for horses with high sand ratings on the Highveld to travel to Greyville to compete on the Polytrack as they go into those races using their lower turf ratings.
RATING. Uncle Tommy can benefit from his lower turf rating when he contests Race 7 on the Polytrack at Greyville tonight.
Weiho Marwing has exploited this with Uncle Tommy while Sean Tarry has been equally successful with Lady Of Kildare. Despite victories on the Polytrack both remain below their sand ratings and it could pay to follow them at Greyville tonight.
Uncle Tommy runs in Race 7, a MR 93 Handicap over 1600m in which he has been carded to carry 66kg. However, with apprentice Akshay Balloo in the irons he will get 4kg relief and despite having to carry quite a bit of dead weight, the seven-year-old son of Kahal looks in a different division to his opponents.
Balloo might lack experience but he seems to be quite useful. He has had 94 rides with seven wins and 21 places. I was particularly impressed with the way he handled Iwo Jima on the inside track at Turffontein last month, timing his run to perfection.
Uncle Tommy has won on the course, flying up late over 1400m last time so this extra 200m should be right up his street.
Lady Of Kildare has won both of her starts on the Polytrack although she gave Keagan de Melo a lot of problems last time. Anthony Delpech takes the ride in Race 5, a FM 73 Handicap over 1400m, and she should make it three wins from three runs.
