Garrix bids for Winter Series clean sweep

GARRIX stands on the threshold of completing a clean sweep in the Winter Series when he lines up against six rivals in the R350 000 Pocket Power Stakes (Listed) over 1950m on the winter course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

- GRAEME HAWKINS

Steyn

The talented Piet Steyn-trained 3yo son of Vercingetorix won the first leg, the Variety Club Mile over 1600m on 14 April carrying just 52,5kgs and followed that up with a narrow heart-stopping victory over Otto Luyken and Mucho Dinero in the second leg, the Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m three weeks ago.

Garrix carried 55,5kgs when scraping home in the Legal Eagle Stakes and is now set to carry 57kgs in the Pocket Power Stakes on Sunday, 1,5kgs worse off with both Otto Luyken and Mucho Dinero who re-oppose here. Pure mathematics suggest that Garrix will be hard pressed to confirm the form with Otto Luyken and Mucho Dinero, but Garrix now has his third run after being gelded and there is every reason to believe that he will strip even fitter on Sunday and appreciate the slight step up in trip.

Otto Luyken came oh so close to scoring a major 75/1 upset in the Legal Eagle Stakes but the 5yo son of Flower Alley is not the most reliable around and the 64-million-dollar question is; can he string two high class performances together? I harbour reservations in that regard and therefore believe that the Justin Snaith-trained Mucho Dinero may prove a bigger threat than Otto Luyken.