Liege has always been highly regarded by champion trainer Sean Tarry but when the pressure came on at feature level he failed to deliver until the Jubilee Handicap in June, when he finally put it all together to win well.
He was thrown in at the deep end at Grade 1 level this year but was outclassed in the Cape Derby, the SA Classic and the Daily News 2000. However, he found himself in more suitable company in the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein. Midfield as they cornered, he ran on steadily to lead 300m out and went away to beat Rainy Day Blues by 1.10 lengths.
Fourth-placed Judicial came out next time to win a Pinnacle race before running second to Marinaresco in the Grade 1 Champions Cup, while sixth-placed Jubilee Line won a 1400m Novice race next time. So the form has been well franked even though only three of his conquests have run since.
It has been 2½ months since that race but Liege should be fit enough to do himself justice IN Race 6 at the Vaal today, a MR 100 Handicap over 1600m on the Vaal Outside track. He will be ridden by Piere Strydom, who will be hoping for success in his first meeting of the season.
Netflix could be his biggest danger with only 52kg to carry, including Juan Paul van der Merwe, who won two races at Turffontein last Saturday.
Trainer Lucky Houdalakis also saddles eight-year-old British-bred French import Albion, who makes his South African debut and might need the run after 726 days off the track.
Netflix has not raced since May, when he beat Seven Single by 0.50 lengths over 1700m at this track. The form of that race is questionable, but he had previously run a 0.40-length second to High Drama over 2000m and the form of that race was franked. He has also placed in extended races down this straight and with only 52kg to shoulder, should make his presence felt.
