Mel Kaplan rxp.
LUNA Rossa has won four of five starts contested at Flamingo Park and has a definite liking for this sand track. Although she once performed in an inexplicable way when finishing six lengths behind Flying Nicholas, she is confidently expected to make the others gallop again today.
Luna Rossa runs in Race 8, a MR 78 Handicap over 1000m and needs only to reproduce her course best to be hard to beat. It is a concern that her last two runs have been disappointing but they were on turf tracks in stronger company.
Her penultimate run at Turffontein was also her over more than 1000m when she faded late over 1160m in the Swallow Stakes won by up-and-coming Loupe. She finished nearly nine lengths back but was a little outclassed.
Last time she tried the Vaal turf and although back to 1000m did not appear to enjoy the surface. She finished last of the nine runners beaten eight lengths but has to be better than that run suggests. Her No 4 barrier position will do her no harm as, statistically, only stall gate 5 has produced more winners in the last 116 track and trip races.
Top weight Port Of York gets 2,5kg off his allotted 64.5kg for the services of apprentice Sipho Nhlapo who has won on him three times already. The four-year-old needed his last run and should improve. He looks the biggest danger to the top choice.
Jolly James has his second run for trainer Peter Miller and is bound to make good improvement which brings him into contention, especially with Andrew Fortune in the saddle
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