Midmar Premier Trophy.

9 DECEMBER 2008





An increase in prize money and prestige has attracted a full field of 16 runners for this year’s Midmar Premier Trophy (Gr 2), sponsored for the second season running by Midmar Liquors, to be run over 1800m at Kenilworth Racecourse on Sunday, 14 December 2008.



The R300 000 Midmar Premier Trophy has become synonymous with tight finishes in recent times and Sunday’s competitive line-up points towards another thrilling finish. Last season, Charles Laird’s Pick Six held on by a fraction from an unlucky Floatyourboat, and two years back it was Hilgrove that managed to get up in an amazing finish that saw less than a length separating the first five past the post.



The Midmar Premier Trophy has also gained recognition in recent years as a timely preparation for J&B Met. There are nine J&B Met entries in this year’s line-up and that list is topped by the Mike Bass-trained Bill Of Rights. The multiple Graded Stakes winner has his first run since winning the Algoa Cup in October and may need this outing but is well in at the weights under these conditions.



Bill Of Rights forms part of a formidable five-way Bass coupling and another Met entry from the yard is the improving recent recruit, Thundering Jet. The four-year-old showed plenty of ability at the beginning of last term but did not follow through and was moved to the Bass yard by the end of the season.



It did not take Thundering Jet long to become a favourite at his new stable. He got up late in his first start for Bass to win the Merchants (Gr 2) over 1400m on the old course and was reported by the yard to be “unlucky” not to finish closer to Pocket Power in the Green Point Stakes last month. He looks spot on for a big run on Sunday despite the wide draw.



Justin Snaith runs one of his J&B Met entries, Alvaro, in the Midmar. The improving four-year-old ran a good third, a length ahead of Thundering Jet, in the Green Point Stakes in his first start of the season and Snaith yesterday told Racegoer’s David Thiselton that he “could be the season’s dark horse.”



He went to say that “Alvaro was 15kg overweight in (the Green Point) and needed the run. I’ve taken some of that weight off and he will be spot on for Sunday. He should give a good account of himself.”



An interesting raider is the KwaZulu-Natal trained Surfin’ USA who is also well in at the weights at these conditions. His trainer, Mark Dixon, told Racegoer yesterday that Surfin’ USA had travelled very well down to Cape Town about a month ago but would need his run on Sunday. The Modern Day gelding has had a slight problem with his off-hind joint and had been given a week off after his journey. “The two-week break resulted in us running out of time for Sunday,” said Dixon. “The Midmar Premier Trophy will be his prep run for the Met.”



The Joey Ramsden-yard have been consistent visitors to the winner’s enclosure in recent weeks and the in-form stable saddles the three bottom weights in the Midmar Premier Trophy. The most notable of the trio is the four-year-old filly Nania, a grade one winner as a juvenile, who was a commendable four lengths off Dancer’s Daughter at level weights in her first start of the season.



There is also a ‘Twilight’ racemeeting for racegoers to look forward to at Kenilworth this Friday, 12 December, which should make for an exciting weekend of racing in the Western Cape.



ends



Gill Simpkins

Hi Dave,

An interesting point is that Striker is going to Cape Town to ride Surfin' USA in this race. As you know, Winning Form now sponsors Striker and when we phoned him for the comments on his rides (that now appear in the Winning Form), he said that he was going down especially for this ride. He thought the horse was well handicapped and they are looking at this race as a pointer to his chances in the Met.

Thanks for the info Davey G

Surfin' USA is well in on paper. It reminds me of a horse who Bass had called Sharief Song - it also had a very high MR due to winning decent handicaps with big weights, but always came up short in top class company.

Has never won over more than a mile, and imo seems to prefer softer going. Pen. will be about 18 on Sat. Not for me.

I like Thundering Jet - still on the upgrade.
Alvaro the main danger.