The problem for punters when attempting to decipher the field for Sunday’s Listed Model Man Mile for three-year-olds at Greyville on Sunday is that only two of the eight runners have won on the Polytrack, and they were both over 1200m.
The move to the Polytrack was necessitated following heavy rains on Saturday. The only scratching is Purple Panther.
The other change is that Lyle Hewitson will replace Marco van Rensburg aboard Shavout.
It would be great to get this one right as there is a carryover Pick 6 at the meeting with R250,000 kicking off the pool with it likely to reach R2 million.
Grant van Niekerk makes the trip to Greyville on Sunday to ride Justin Snaith-trained Native Tongue in this feature on the turf and the son of Master Of My Fate looks to have the best form in the field.
All of his four runs have been at Greyville, winning on debut on the Polytrack. Two tuns back he contested the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m and finished just 3.45 lengths behind winner Sentbydestiny.
He followed that up with a fast-finishing 0.90-length second behind Share Holder in a Novice Plate, again over the course and distance of Sunday’s race.
If one looks beyond the Snaith runner, one could also go with Fight Song from the Gareth van Zyl yard. One always has to take cognisance of what Warren Kennedy rides and he is aboard this Noble Tune gelding.
Johan Janse van Vuuren brings two-time winner Rise As One from the Highveld and although he has not been beyond 1200m, he is by Duke Of Marmalade out of a Dynasty mare and should see it out.
Tread Swiftly is one of the horses who has won on the Polytrack and this is the first day Peter Muscutt will be training horses in his own right. He has been and assistant to Brett Crawford and has produced many winners for the yard so his pedigree is beyond question.
This will be Tread Swiftly’s first run as a gelding and the first beyond 1200m.
Brazil Nut is a three-time winner in Port Elizabeth but he is very fast and might not see out 1600m. He has won on the Polytrack at Fairview over 1200m.
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