Justin Snaith has a stranglehold on Leg 3 of the Winter Feature Racing Season, the Gr3 Pocket Power Stakes, over 1950m. He saddles three of the eight runners and while stayer, NAVY STRENGTH will need to wake up dramatically, PACAYA and RAPIDASH have persuasive credentials on their best recent form.
Marginal preference is for the younger horse with untapped potential. RAPIDASH, winner of the big- bonanza, Cape Racing Gold Rush on 27 January, has a progressive profile and got close to the Gr2 Hollywoodbets Greyville 1900 victor, PACAYA in Leg 2 when closing smartly off a muddling pace. With further development likely and in receipt of 5kg’s, the son of Danon Platina might get the better of his quirky, but very talented, companion who takes a hard ride.
There was little in it the last time and it could again come down to tactics. THE FUTURIST and OTTO LUYKEN (a nice try in the Peninsula Handicap gives him a shake at the places) are front runners who should ensure a solid gallop.
FUTURE PRINCE has only won three of 19 races and lacks the class of the two principal contenders yet is well handicapped, so has a slight chance on his best efforts.
A greater menace may be posed by VOORLOOPERTJIE, a fast improving three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding who has been transformed since Eric Sands slapped on blinkers. On official ratings he is way out of it – but he could be better than assessed and get into the fray despite the hike up the class ladder.
FLOWER OF SAIGON takes on the boys and will need to improve on her recent no show behind TIME FOR LOVE at 100/1. She loves this sort of trip and has a nice turn of finishing speed when in the right frame of mind, yet others are preferred.
So, the marginal pick is RAPIDASH over PACAYA (these two should suffice in the P6) with FUTURE PRINCE and VOORLOOPERTJIE following in the lower slots.
