Jack Milner: Royal Wulff is unbeaten in three starts since having been gelded and is likely to go off a short-priced favourite to extend that to four when he lines up in Race 5 on Sunday.
That will be the case despite Alec Laird’s charge taking a huge leap in class in this Merit Rated 104 Handicap over 1200m on the Inside track.
Some people will be wondering after his last run, which was over 1450m on the same track, whether the handicapper has not caught up to him and whether the further 2kg penalty received for that victory will be enough to stop him.
It is an issue worth debate because he only just got up to beat Dark Tide in a Merit Rated 88 Handicap by 0.20 lengths.
Dark Tide did little to frank that form on Monday when he was beaten into fourth place by The Contractor in a Merit Rated 94 Handicap over 1600m on the same course but a closer analysis of Royal Wulff’s last win leaves one with the uncertainty as to whether it was the weight that caught him out or the distance.
His two previous wins had been over 1160m up the straight on the Turffontein standside track and perhaps the extra 280m was at the end of his range. Jockey S’manga Khumalo had to give him quite a hard ride – which resulted in a fine for crop abuse – to get his mount up close home.
The return to 1200m should be right up his street, though, and with just 54.5kg to carry, Royal Wulff remains the runner they will all have to beat. Khumalo retains the ride.
His main threat is likely to come from Oravar, who although running over 1000m of late, has recorded a victory over this course and distance.
He ran a solid third behind Bold Ransom in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m last time and from a decent No 4, should finish in the money under Gavin Lerena.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Fashionigma, 6 Sing Girl Sing, 4 Prairie Falcon, 7 Splash Of Green