3 minute read
Trainer Sean Tarry had mixed fortunes when the barrier positions were drawn for the G2 Emerald Cup, South Africa's richest sand race to be run over 1450m on the Vaal track on Saturday.
Tarry has The Mouseketeer and Across The Ice, first and second respectively in the G3 August Stakes in the R600,000 race.
As he did in the August Stakes, The Mouseketeer could well jump from pole position. He drew No 2 but barrier one went to Lochlorien who at this stage is a reserve runner.
Across The Ice is drawn deep in 14, although he could improve two positions should the reserve runners come out.
Apprentice Nooresh Juglall and Robbie Fradd will ride the Tarry pair.
Robbie Sage had similar fortunes with Art Wish drawing position 7 while last year's winner Iron Curtain will jump from 10.
Weichong Marwing will be aboard Iron Curtain and Gunter Wrogemann, who rode the winner last year, is on Art Wish.
Matthew de Kock drew the two barrier positions for last year's favourite Storm Crossing and Burmese Cat and his father Mike will be pleased as his runners will jump from positions 4 and 6.
Tshwaro Appie will be attempting to make up for last year's defeat when he failed to overcome a wide draw on Storm Crossing.
Anthony Delpech has the ride on Burmese Cat. Roy Magner has Eastern Cobbler (Gavin Lerena) and filly Mina Salaam (JP van der Merwe) while 2009 champion Phunyuka is the second reserve runner.
Sadly for the yard Eastern Cobbler drew at No 11, well-handicapped filly Mina Salaam at No 15, while second reserve Phunyuka is at No 2.
An interesting runner is Comedy Caravan, who recently won the Recall Security Flamingo Mile in Kimberley.
Muzi Yeni will ride the Sean Miller-trained runner and they will jump from barrier No 8. Sayadaw finished like an express in his last start and Scott Kenny's charge will jump from No 9 draw.
Past winner Alimony will jump from barrier No 12.
St John Gray's nine-year-old has been the most consistent performer in the history of the Emerald Cup. In 2008 he came from the clouds to win the event, a year later claimed third spot behind Phunyuka and last year produced his usual finishing burst when he went down by a long head to Iron Curtain.