By Mark Van Deventer
Traditionally, the running of the Kuda Matchem Stakes and Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes gets the Spring season underway at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Both Gr 3 races are over 1400m and serve as important indicators for prestigious prizes into the Summer for three-year-olds or more mature campaigners.
GIMME A PRINCE gave champion miler-now-sire, Charles Dickens a big scare in the 2023 vintage of the Matchem. That was the last time this outstanding Gimmethegreenlight six-year-old raced. Dean Kannemeyer has been forced to race the fickle star sparingly – this will only be the high-class gelding’s 13th career start. He is rated seven points clear of Brett Crawford’s well-drawn, pace-presser, ZAPATILLAS on official ratings.
Vaughan Marshall’s Questioning is next best, a full nine points in arrears of GIMME A PRINCE. While there are race-readiness clouds hanging over Kannemeyer’s entry, QUESTIONING (unbeaten from three starts at this course) warmed up for this showdown with another fluent score three weeks ago. He is bound to go well with pace setting stable mate COASTAL COMMANDER likely to try tee things up for JP van der Merwe’s smart mount, who won the Cape Classic over subsequent Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas victor, SNOW PILOT over this course and distance a year ago.
AT MY COMMAND is another to reckon with. A somewhat stiff horse that has run second seven times in his 21-start career, he has often been hindered by bad draws and traffic snarl ups. Despite that, he’s run some big numbers at the top level and is way overdue a change in fortune.
MONTIEN is two from two at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and a feisty, long striding horse able to force the opposition out of their comfort zones in mile + races. He’s not run for 175 days though, so there is also a condition query about Piet Botha’s entry.
No such doubts hang over ultra dependable, SUGAR MOUNTAIN but he is held by QUESTIONING on their last clash and his overall profile suggests that he falls a bit short on class.
Young talent, TEFLON MAN looks interesting. The four-time winning, grey Querari colt is still unexposed and has a fine turn of foot that has already propelled him into the places in the Gr 2’s Post Merchants over slightly shorter. Draw 11 is a disadvantage over seven panels at this track but he will probably be ridden cold in any case and can rush home late to hit the frame.
On paper, at least, the Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes for fillies and mares is more closely rated with the consistent, RAINBOW LORIKEET, ROYALS, GOLD POKER GAME, PRINCESS IZZY and GIMMIE’S COUNTESS all clustered within three points of each other.
The pace angle seems pretty clear. Course loving ROYALS, is a confirmed front runner likely to go quickly on a firm surface to lead handy type, MISS WORLD and the versatile, PRINCESS IZZY.
Trainer Kannemeyer again has a favourite’s chance here with GIMMIE’S COUNTESS. A sparkling winner on debut, supporters had to pick their jaws up off the ground after she got beat in the Allan Robertson, when continuously baulked. It was remarkable that she finished within .65 lengths of multiple Gr 1 heroine Quid Pro Quo despite barely getting out of second gear. She then failed to fire when unplaced in a Hollywood Greyville feature follow up and has been laid off three months since.
On the pure ability she hints at, GIMMIE’S COUNTESS could be the answer carrying just 51.5kg’s, assuming she is fit enough and gets the breaks when needed in the race itself.
Others to consider for hitting the board are SUMMER LILY (got close to ROYALS here last year) GOLD POKER GAME (has the highest OMR 0f 107 but may be better over further) UNCONQUERABLE LADY, and physically strong mare, MY FLOWER FATE who, though well below rivals on OMR’s packs a strong closing burst.
