Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sports World

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Silvano heads to World cup without prep race Posted: 03 Mar 2011 05:12 AM PST The Mike de Kock-trained Bold Silvano has suffered a minor setback in his preparation for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26 and will not have a prep race prior to the big event as had originally been planned, writes Elliot Slater. The South African-bred son of smart German racer Silvano created a tremendous impression when winning on his debut in Dubai last month, travelling supremely well throughout the Group 3 Al Maktoum Challenge before easily disposing of Spring of Fame by a nonchalant length-and-a-half, (value for a great deal more). That effort made international layers sit up and take notice as it was his first outing since being transferred from de Kock's base in South Africa where had ended last season winning the Group 1 Vodacom Durban July Handicap over 11-furlongs, beating Irish Flame by a length against previous racing tips. The patience of connections has certainly been rewarded with Bold Silvano who didn't see a racecourse until just over a year ago, making his debut at the age of four in a Kenilworth handicap, running a fair race to finish third. A week later he finished in midfield in a better class handicap before being given a four-month break. Returning to the fray in June last year he stepped up massively in class and showed why de Cock and his joint-owners had been so patient, running a length second to Irish Flame in the Group 1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville, following up a month later by finishing fourth in a Group 1 over a probably inadequate nine furlongs at Clairwood, before going on to win his first group 1 at Greyville later that month. Racing tips for today do not support but the bruised foot that has ruled Bold Silvano out of his intended prep race in Dubai is only minor and de Kock remains confident that the 9/2 ante-post favourite for the world's richest race will arrive at the starting gate in the very best shape possible.

Big run expected from Emery in Fred Winter Posted: 03 Mar 2011 02:03 AM PST Although at first glance he isn't one of the leading contenders on the formbook, there is still quiet confidence amongst connections of the Warren Greatrex-trained Professeur Emery that he will run a very big race at the Cheltenham Festival in the Fred Winter Novices' Handicap Hurdle, writes Elliot Slater. Greatrex is likely to have as many as four or five runners at the four-day fixture, amongst whom his leading hope is Knight Pass in the Cheltenham Festival Bumper, a race for which he is currently the ante-post favourite at Cheltenham odds 8/1. But Greatrex has also singled out his maiden hurdler Professeur Emery as a horse likely to run a big race, and his only doubt is whether or not the horse will get a run being some way down the weights at present. The four-year-old gelding has a progressive profile, (although it has to be said that he started from a pretty low base), finishing miles behind in the first two of his five career outings earlier this winter before showing improved form at Newbury in December when finishing fourth of 16 runners to Third Intention at odds of 100/1. A confirmed front-runner, the French bred son of Officiel then headed to Sandown in January where he led for most of the way in desperately heavy ground, only capitulating on the run-in, eventually finishing third to the useful Music Of The Moor. On his most recent start he adopted similar tactics over the same course and distance and was only caught in the last 100 yards by the promising Kumbeshwar. Greatrex reckons that on decent ground Professeur Emery could lead them all a merry dance in the 'Fred Winter' and give supporters a seriously good run for their money. He is currently available at odds ranging between 20/1 and 40/1 for the two mile contest.

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