Pyramus can finally open his account
Pyramus is way overdue to post his maiden win and he could have his day in the sun when he lines up in Race 5 over 1600m at the Vaal today.
Zortziko, pictured winning his last start, carries just 52.5kg in Race 9 at the Vaal today and the 10.5kg he gets from One Man’s Dream could see him get back into the No 1 box.
This Lucky Houdalakis-trained three-year-old finished unplaced in his first two starts but has not missed a cheque in his six subsequent starts and showed a liking for this straight “mile” last month, when staying on well to finish second behind Permanent Bond.
Pyramus followed that effort with a third placing, just 0.50 lengths behind Flaming Ace over 1600m on the inside track at Turffontein, so is holding form well.
On the inside turf track wider draws seem to be best and Pyramus is drawn at No 1 but on merit ratings he should have enough ability to overcome that slight disadvantage, so looks a banker bet in what could be a big-paying Pick 6.
Second best could be Super Marius, who found 1700m just a touch too far when weakening to fifth behind Wall ‘N All last time out but who ran Trip To Rio to 3.25 lengths over 1400m down this straight before that.
In a field lacking in depth, watch the betting on the two first-timers.
Main event at the meeting is Race 9, a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m. Lightly weighted Zortziko could follow up on an easy win over the course and distance last month. This four-year-old Jet Master gelding beat Night Editor by 2.25 lengths and the form has been franked with fourth-placed River Trip winning and third-placed Barbel Run finishing second the next time they ran.
Donavan Mansour replaces Weichong Marwing in the saddle and Zortziko is also drawn near the inside rail but he has never finished unplaced in eight career starts and could be a nice Eachway bet.
Well-drawn One Man’s Dream is a huge threat under Piere Strydom. The Greys Inn gelding won three races in a row before getting too far back in the Grade 2 Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein on Summer Cup Day. He ran on strongly for second to 1.50-length winner Trip To Heaven and that is stronger form than any other runner in this race.
However, he must concede 10.5kg to Zortziko and seems to have become irritable in his last few starts, an attitude that cost him dearly in the Merchants because he normally races handily. It has been six weeks since that run, though, and he might return with a better attitude.
Mod Barley ran a much-improved race over this course and distance last month to beat Moofeed and could run well again in his third run after a layoff, while October Eleventh had Dennis The Menace (second), Anyday Anytime (fourth), Nice Stride and Abbottsbury behind him when getting up late to win a 1200m race at this track last month. He was handed a 3kg penalty and on the handicap there will not be much separating October Eleventh and Dennis The Menace again.
