Alimony has taken to sand like a duck to water and the 6-year-old can land his biggest payday when he contests the Gr 2 Emerald Cup over 1450m at the Vaal on Saturday. St John Gray’s charge has won all three of his starts on the surface and he has put nearly ten lengths between himself and the second horse in each of his last two efforts. True, he did not beat much and is taking a significant step up in class, but several of his seemingly more vaunted rivals have question marks hanging over them, be it the surface, the distance, or a lack of consistent recent form. He shares bottom weight of 52 kg and seems to be in the form of his life, so his supporters have every reason to expect a bold showing.

Trainer Mike de Kock holds his usual strong hand and both Braggadacio and Scrutinise come into the race with sound chances. Braggadacio was a fine third in the Gr 1 Horse Chestnut 1600 and could not have been more impressive when winning by nearly five lengths under 60,5kg over this course and distance last time out, a performance that was instrumental in landing the trainer’s title for de Kock. He is a big runner here but has to concede 6kg to Alimony which will test him.

Scrutinise is a seven-time winner who loves this trip and scored a good double during the KZN winter season, including a gutsy win over subsequent winner Tap Tap in the Thukela Handicap. It is a concern, though, that he has failed previously on sand and it remains to be seen whether that was an off day or whether he genuinely dislikes the surface. If he does indeed get his act together, it would be no surprise to see him taking the honours here.

Fair Brutus is a proven campaigner on this surface and coped well when stepped up to a mile recently, staying on for third under a big weight. He has run some fine races against competitive opposition in his time and will enjoy carrying what for him is a relatively light 56,5kg. He always runs his heart out and could make the frame.

El Padrino comes into the race in good form and impressed when winning a competitive handicap under 62 kg last time out. He is a progressive sort who looks pretty handily weighted under 54,5kg but he remains an unknown quantity on sand, so his backers will simply have to wait and see how he takes to it.

E-Fuel has had his share of problems, but the 7-year-old has been a model of consistency when fit. He surprised when winning over this course and distance last time out, not due to any lack of ability but rather because his best form had come over further. He is another who enjoys a handy galloping weight of 53kg and if he can get across from his poor draw, he should give a decent account of himself.

Strike Paradise looks an above average sort with 5 wins from 12 starts although his best form has been up to 1200m and he does not have the sand credentials of some of his rivals. He has looked ready to step up in trip, though and cannot be ignored from a good draw.

Renegade has good recent form, is proven on this surface and beat Strike Paradise convincingly on this track back in May. However, he looks an out and out sprinter and his bold front-running style will leave him vulnerable to those with more proven stamina.

Alejate gained a well-deserved victory over this course and distance last time out and has run some decent races against her own sex. Whether she can repeat the feat against male opposition remains to be seen, but she is a game sort and having shown her liking for the sand and racing off bottom weight, she is by no means a lost cause.

Tropical Empire is a decent sort on his day but has been beset by problems throughout his career. He shaped encouragingly when running on under 62kg behind the improving Citizen Dante last time out and has the ability to shape in this sort of company, but he is another who has so far only raced on turf.

Heraldic Seal, on the other hand, won’t have any problems with the surface but appears held by Braggadacio and E-Fuel on recent efforts. He also has to contend with a bad draw and looks to be up against it here.

Something Else and Dynamite Mike have both turned in some top efforts in their time and neither of them would be out of it on his best form. The problem is that for the most part, they have looked off-colour in recent times and they both need to convince that they are back to their respective bests.

Lawful Leader completes the line-up and the Kimberley raider routinely murders his opposition in home territory. His proven sand credentials will stand him in good stead here, but his best form is over further and he is facing a steep rise in class here. Add to that the fact that he has to lug 60kg and he looks to have a mountain to climb.
(Source: SA Horseracing)