The Cape Classic, a G3 over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, may help clarify the three-year-old rankings that, up till now, remain somewhat confusing. Green with Envy, Questioning and My Golly Molly bring seemingly the best credentials into this race but choosing among the trio is tricky. And it’s even possible that a joker in the wider pack emerges – there are 11 in the field.
Green with Envy (Dean Kannemeyer /Craig Zackey) was most impressive at his penultimate over the course and distance when sweeping by Gallic Dream but duffed it when a well-beaten, odds- on favourite in a race won in dominant fashion by Montien. The 5/2 ante post favourite clearly is an exciting prospect but cannot afford to concede too much start given the way the Durbanville course is playing advantageously to on- pace runners.
9/2 second choice, Questioning (Vaughan Marshall/Bernard Fayd Herbe) has a stalk and pounce running style which is better suited to this track. Last time he stayed in close contact with the pace setter before making an early move and easily holding off Kimball o Hara. Marshall and Kannemeyer have outstanding records in the Cape Guineas – it will be fascinating to see how their charges fare in the build up to that prestigious G1.
My Golly Molly’s rush from last to first in the Langerman on soft ground at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when mugging Hluhluwe on the wire was one of the most dramatic races of the Winter season.
Eric Sands’ entry mixes his form (he started 16/1 on that occasion after a tame prep run when beaten 11 lengths by Hluhluwe) yet there was nothing flukey about his Langerman victory as he quickened up impressively down the short straight. The 8/1 shot comes in here off a 99-day freshening – Aldo Domeyer rides.
Though comprehensively out-finished by My Golly Molly, Zil Moris (Brett Crawford Luyolo Mxothwa) and Snow Pilot (Justin Snaith/Grant van Niekerk) were only approximately two lengths off in that Langerman clash. That suggests they don’t have much to find to play a role in the finish. With three-year-olds apt to develop physically at different rates during Spring/Summer it makes sense to accord both these runner’s proper respect.
Paratrooper may not be the Marshall elect and rates a few lengths off the top ones in the market on collateral form yet is also no forlorn hope. His fluent debut win over Dumbledore back in April was that of a smart horse and the 16/1 chance could get into the fray after a get- familiar- sighter of this track two months ago.
Tenango is improving incrementally and it’s hard to assess his ceiling after just three starts. Greeting My Master suffered a hard trip last time when still showing up well and rates 1.75 lengths off Questioning on a literal interpretation of their July clash, whilst the grey, Harajuku in turn is only a couple lengths inferior to Zil Moris.
That leaves up country invaders Capsaicin (M/A Azzie’s charge has won two of four starts) and Just Var (Ricky Mainguard) who have OMR’s of 94. That probably won’t be good enough to trouble the judge here based on historic precedent. However, both have won races from start to finish so may try shake loose on the lead and get lucky that way.
