Pettigrew believes new import will dig deep
Danie Toerien
The one name that jumps out when studying Tuesday’s race card at Turffontein is Deepone, a five-year-old British import that will be lining up in Race 5, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m.
Now an inmate with trainer Stuart Pettigrew, this son of Study Of Man out of a Galileo mare will be making his South African debut after 289 days off the track.
Despite the long absence, Pettigrew is very bullish about his new runner.
“If you don’t tip him to win, then you’re not reading form,” said Pettigrew.
“He’s won a Grade 2, he’s won a Listed, so he’s got the ability, but he hasn’t run for six months. He is fit, he’s well, he’s sound.”
Deepone boasts four wins from nine outings in Britain, including the Grade 2 Beresford Stakes over 1600m at the Curragh in 2023, and the Listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes over about 1500m at Tipperary, where he romped home by nine lengths under William James Lee.
That was also his last race before being shipped to South Africa.
According to Pettigrew, Deepone is also “very good looking”.
“He arrived here at a 104 (merit rating), but our handicappers made him a 119,” said Pettigrew.
“His last flat race in Engeland he was a 104. He has gone up 15 points, so the only races I can run him in are pinnacles.
“He’s been with me about four and a half or five months. He’s had grass work, two grass gallops, no problem.
“The only issue is that he hasn’t run in this country. He’s coming from soft going onto hard going, but he will be going to the races in good nick tomorrow (Tuesday).”
In the same race, 2025 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway will be making his comeback after 203 days off the track.
“It’s a long time since he ran,” said trainer Alec Laird.
“He’s working nicely and he might just need the run, but he is handicapped to win. If he runs to his rating, he can win that race.”
Laird continued to explain Parisian Walkway’s long absence from the track.
“He had a few things that were bugging him. His liver function wasn’t proper, so we changed his diet and he seems to have responded. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a test obviously.
“As you know the Guineas form hasn’t really worked out for varioius reasons, but he looked like he had a bright future from there. It didn’t quite work out and I couldn’t believe it, because he is such a nice horse.
“My wife took care of him. He came for a holiday with my wife, Kate, and she investigated a few things, and it came out that his liver function wasn’t right. He’s come back in a good shape.
“He’ll need the run to a point, but he won’t need it that bad.
“He’s not match fit, but he is definitely not out of it. He is a class horse and he has the draw.
“The funny thing is he seems to do better for Diego (de Gouveia) than for other jockeys, even in his work at home. He seems to put his best foot forward when Diego is on his back. It’s one of those things.”
According to Laird 1600m is his best distance but in future, if all goes according to plan, he could be stepped up successfully.