Flat Racing - Saturday 21st November

[robertob]

14.35 Lingfield (Class 4 Handicap): - History Book: Fine third at Wolverhampton lto, but 0/4 over 1m. Appears to be in the grip of the handicapper. - Pretty Bubbles: Developed habit of losing a bit at the start. Best performances at Southwell. High enough mark. - Semaral: Rapidly improving, beaten by a head and horse with run of the race lto. Up in the mark bit may have still more to offer. - Miss Buckshot: Won with bit in hand lto at Kempton. Five pounds up but every chance to improve further. - Santa Teresa: Lightly raced and progressive. Decent third at Newbury last month and fine runner-up at Wolverhampton when she made a bit too much early on from a wide draw over the extended mile. More to come. - Tides Reach: Won when last seen at Kempton in tight finish. New career highest required and up in class but two from three on AW and more to come. Blinkers fitted. - Starlight Symphony: Finds it hard to win but runs rather consistently. May just be in the grip of the handicapper still. Cheepieces fitter 1^st time would need to bring out a good deal of improvement. - Evacusafe Lady: Won a couple of low grade handicaps over the extended mile but mile record abysmal. Verdict: This looks a wide open race and serious cases can be made for most of the runners, particularly the generally lightly raced three year olds. Santa Teresa has the least miles on the clock and with the mile to suit perfectly, she could be the one they all have to beat. However recent winner Miss Buckshot and improving Semeral shouldn't be far away, as well as Tides Reach who showed guts when winning at Kempton recently. This filly appears to be the overpriced one is the field in my mind. The positive tactics deployed the last time paid off and with blinkers fitted for the first time tomorrow, it's easy to assume she'll be right up with the pace again, which generally I consider as an advantage at Lingfield. A new career best is required, but with her excellent record on the All-Weather there is any chance that she can improve further. Tides Reach @ 5/1 Boylesports - 5pts win

[robertob]

Re: Flat Racing - Saturday 21st November 13.40 Kenilworth: Lanzerac Le General Green Point Stakes (Grade 2) - The big guns go head to head today, for the first time since they took each other on the Durban July. Legislate and Futura are the two stellar names in the line-up. They finished first and third in the July, South Africa's prestigious highlight of the annual racing calendar. Futura, the hype horse before the July, proved his class on the day and went on to win a deserved Grade 1 subsequently. Legislate, South Africa's horse of the year, who I predict to win the a Group 1 on Meydan's World Cup night next year - both horses are as exciting as it gets. That says, both are back after a deserved break, racing today over shorter than what one would think is their optimum, and naturally there are much bigger targets along the line than this Grade 2 here today. Connections reported their satisfaction about the progress of their preparation, but they are just back in, and both have had only two grass gallops yet. Perception is, today is just a stepping stone and if they get beaten, nobody cares too much. It's part and parcel of South African racing to go down these routes, it doesn't affect their potential value as a stallion at all. With both stars potentially vulnerable today, there might be the chance for one of the others to have a big day. Captain America always striked as a very talented - yet pretty complicated individual. Connections will probably have a shot on the big Grade 1's in a couple of weeks time, and today is only a prep run either. Race fitness should be a big advantage for Readytogorightnow. Who is a prolific winner over this trip and at this track. He never made the cut at top level, but today he has a fine chance to win a Grade 2. On level weights with the big guns, he might still be vulnerable and I think his price is fair, but nothing more. The brigade of older horses doesn't make much appeal, which leaves the new kids on the block as the potential conquers. Light The Lights is one of two three year olds in the line-up. Lightly raced and progressive, he can't be left out of the calculations, but on form he has an awful lot to find. The only other three year old is Afrikaburn and he is a very interesting contender, given the fact that he is already a proven Grade 1 winner. On the July card he won the Golden Horseshoe and established himself as one of the leading horses of his generation. He was disappointing subsequently on his only try over todays 1.600m trip, but he may have been well over the boil that day. He had a break subsequently and came back in a Grade 3 over 1.400m last month. He ran on well to finish 2nd and that race should bring him along nicely for todays big test. His hardest challenge to date, but with the weight allowance, he can go close if he stays the trip. On pedigree he has an excellent chance to improve over the distance actually, and given his very lightly raced profile, I believe he will be a big runner today. Not only that, but at 7/1 he makes plenty of appeal as a betting proposition. That says, if the big guns are anywhere near their best, they are going to fight it out. But as outlined, it is rather likely they aren't anywhere near 100% today. So chance is taken with this very exciting Tripp colt. Afrikaburn @ 7/1 Sportingpost - 5pts win