Tarry said, “Follow The Piper has drawn badly which is a big disadvantage in this race, so she’s become my fourth choice, but the other three are a strong coupling whose preparations have really gone well and they have good draws and riding arrangements.”
“Across The Ice was very impressive when winning the August Stakes (over 1 200m on the Vaal sand on) and has come back well. He is well drawn, has a reasonable weight and I think he should get the 1 450m.
“I know he hasn’t won over 1 450 on sand, but he’s won over 1 400 on turf. His preparation has gone smoothly, so he’s probably a massive runner.”
Across The Ice is drawn five and will come into draw four if the second reserve runner comes out. He showed good early toe from pole position before kicking on strongly when winning the August Stakes, so this draw will suit his style. Robbie Fradd keeps the ride.
Tarry continued, “I thought Mr Tobin was very impressive last time. He looked like he wouldn’t run a place going through the 500m mark but he cruised past them with handfuls at the 200m. I always thought it would be too short for him, but he has now won two out of two over the 1 450m course and distance. “His wide draw is in his favour. He doesn’t have the gate speed and will turn for home about five or six lengths off them.
If he was drawn too well he would be in the kick back.” Piere Strydom rode Mr Tobin to his impressive last win, but Tarry’s first choice jockey Gavin Lerena is unbeaten in four sand starts on the Argentinian-bred seven-year-old gelding by Numerous and has the ride on Saturday. The Mouseketeer won this race last year off a merit rating of 99 and is now rated only three points higher.
He is drawn in seven compared to last year’s pole position, but will come in one position if the second reserve runner is scratched. He also has early pace so the draw will suit. The brilliant Strydom is up and will be attempting to repeat his win on Narc in the inaugural running of this race in 2007.
Tarry said, “The Mouseketeer has been working exceptionally well.” Follow The Piper is the only female in the race and is drawn in 14, which will change to 12 if both reserve runners come out. She stayed on well for second in her last start when drawn ten in the Non-Black Type Sandy Beach Stakes over 1 200m.
Tarry has placed his faith in last season’s Emerald Cup winning jockey, Nooresh Juglall, to partner Follow The Piper and she can’t be ignored. Tarry identified Meadow Magic and Beacon Flare as the main dangers.
“Meadow Magic was beaten only a short-head by Mr Tobin over 1 600m and is 0,5kg better off, so there’s nothing in it and he’s drawn very well with Delpech aboard. “Beacon Flare is a horse I thought could be a worry as he faces Mr Tobin on 6kg better terms for a 2,5 length beating over course and distance last time. “Having said that Mr Tobin did cruise past him, but Beacon Flare is drawn well.”
Meadow Magic is drawn two and Beacon Flare is drawn six, but will come into five if the second reserve runner comes out. Tarry said In A Rush and Right Beauty were the two he liked most of the widely drawn horses, while he also felt Eastern Cobbler was a runner. “I was very impressed with the way In A Rush went down to the start last time (before winning a 1 600m race at Scottsville and beating Tarry’s Roman Wall by a length in a handicap). But he’s drawn 15 and it’s very tough to beat the draw in this race.”
Right Beauty won comfortably over course and distance in his penultimate start, but is drawn in 16. Eastern Cobbler is one point lower in the merit ratings than when finishing second in the Emerald Cup last year. He is drawn in 12, which could become eleven if the second reserve runner comes out, not a lot different from last year’s draw of nine.
