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Posted 2014-08-28 20:52:47  
ISOBAR COULD END AUGUST ON WINNING NOTE

Isobar (pictured, pink and navy silks) has put together some consistent form and may be the one to beat in the Interbet August Stakes over 1200m at the Vaal on Saturday. The race is something of a dress rehearsal for the country's biggest sand event, the Emerald Cup, but given its Gr 3 status and R250,000 stake, it's a race worth winning in its own right. The fact that the winner gets an automatic place in the Emerald Cup final field is a further incentive.

Isobar has been bumping some strong company on the turf and has proved particularly effective over 1400m, but his form over six furlongs is not to be scoffed at and his last run, when winning on Greyville's polytrack, suggested that a change of surface does not bother him in the least. He should take to the sand here without too many problems. Drawn on the paint, he has S'manga Khumalo on board, and is extremely well-weighted in the context of his best turf form. He could well prove the one to beat.

The main threat could come from two runners who are untested on the surface but who will be right on top of them if they can transfer their turf form successfully. Midnight Run is a model of consistency and made the transition from handicaps to Gr 1 company with a respectable fourth in The Mercury Sprint. He's yet to miss out on a stake cheque in his career and this is his favourite trip. Well drawn and with Anthony Delpech up, he could well defy a big weight and record his first graded win here.

Foyle has not been bumping quite the same level of opposition but he is bang in form and there was a lot to like about his easy win over this trip on the turf course here earlier this month. Significantly, he was tried with blinkers on that occasion and they seem to have done the trick. He is also very consistent, ideally distance suited and races off the bottom of the weights. He's theoretically still under sufferance but he looks to be on the way up and is another one for the short-list.

Veteran Across The Ice is still holding form at the age of eight and was far from disgraced when second to Sugar And Shake over this course and distance, conceding 7.5kg to the winner. He's got the credentials but he's drawn horribly and has to lug top weight of 60kg, a combination of factors which may prove his undoing.

Global Express had been something of a disappointment on the turf and went off at long odds when contesting his first race on Greyville's polytrack. The change of surface seems to have rejuvenated him as he won well  enough and he could be a factor if not finding this trip too much on the sharp side.

Anger comes into the race on the back of four consecutive wins on the sand but three of them were at Kimberley and he is taking a big jump in class. To compensate, he has a very handy galloping weight and is nicely drawn. His victories have come over 1000m and it will be interesting to see how he handles the rise in class and distance.

Killua Castle has won twice on the sand and has the best turf form of any of these runners, having won the Gr 3 Jubilee Handicap and run well in defeat in such graded events as the Summer Cup, Gauteng Guineas and Charity Mile. However, consistency is not his strong suit and he is very much a middle distance performer these days, making him an unlikely contender over this trip.

Stavinsky has some fair form at this track but, despite a handy weight, has it all to do from hs wide draw.

Nice Stride has definite claims if he could reproduce his form of a year ago but he looks a shadow of his former self on current form and it's difficult to make a case for him at present.

The balance simply don't have the recent form to suggest they can make an impact here.

It's a tricky race, and a highly competitive one, but Isobar appears to tick most of the boxes and may just get the better of exchanges here. Foyle and Midnight Run are also serious contenders while Anger could turn out to be the dark horse of the race.

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