Willow can conjure up magic
THE Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic is one of the best weighted runners in the Gr 2 Post Merchants, which will be run over 1200m at Greyville next Friday night.
The former Gr 1 SA Nursery (1160m) and Gr 2 Investec Dingaans (1600m) winner has lost some of his speed and is probably better over extended distances these days, but he did record an excellent time over 1000m in his comeback after a 14-month layoff in January and in his penultimate start he finished a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m.
He will be freshened up for this race and his class could carry him close from a fair draw of seven under Piere Strydom.
The weights for the race were set before the Gold Challenge, for which he received a four point raise, so he carries 56kg instead of the 58kg he should be carrying off his 107 merit rating.
The Charles Laird-trained Normanz has landed a plum draw of five and his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner under Anton Marcus.
He is officially not very well treated at the weights, but won the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino (Tsogo Sun) Sprint last season and this can’t be considered as tough a task.
Aurum Pot's defeat of Sheik's Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint.
Aurum Pot is drawn well in three and this speedy sort has to be considered from draw three for the in form Alec Laird yard.
In form Mike Azzie will be out to prove a point with Isphan, who was left out of the Tsogo Sun Sprint despite his 104 merit rating having been higher than one or two