By Mark van Deventer
SplashOut Derby Day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is full of Graded Stakes races. The opener is the SplashOut Cape of Good Hope Nursery (Gr 3) for 2YO’s. Eight juveniles will load into the starting stalls at 12h10.
No doubt there is a seriously good racehorse or two included in this line up. The challenge is to identify potential high achievers on limited evidence. Let’s go through the runners in card order.
Candice Bass Robinson’s WINTER SNAP (by What a Winter) won fluently on debut in mid-January despite a slow start. He was strongly supported in the market into 11/10 favourite. Jordash, beaten under three lengths has come out and won since. Stallion, What a Winter, has a fine record in this race having sired the winners, Dutch Philip (2017), Clouds Unfold (2018), Armando (2019) and Winter Cloud (2023.)
DIRECT HIT represents the powerful Alan Greeff/Richard Fourie combo who make a habit of winning for fun in the Eastern Cape. This Canford Cliffs filly won her first outing by a pole on a fast -running Fairview track. Tellingly, vanquished horses she beat by between eight and fourteen lengths have come out to win since.
WILD WILD GREEN (by Gimmethegreenlight) has won both her starts – each time being backed with confidence. No subsequent winners have come out of either formline, but not too much should be read into that as Justin Snaith’s entry has won fluently both times.
PAY THE PALACE is still a Maiden after three tries. The Potala Palace colt’s most recent attempt was his best when a length off Malmesbury Missile, at long odds. Piet Steyn is the trainer, Ashton Arries rides.
ABSOLUTELY YES was punted to make a winning debut and duly landed the plunge by 2.25 lengths, galloping out with plenty of energy. The second placed horse, Music of the Night, who finished a similar margin behind WILD WILD GREEN, followed up by winning her next start. JP van der Merwe remains loyal on this grey Danon Platina colt from the strongly-stocked, Snaith Racing outfit.
WILD WILD GREEN
IRELAND FOREVER is a handsome Rafeef baby that won smoothly three weeks ago, finishing full of run. Grant van Niekerk partners Vaughan Marshall’s charge. The astute trainer expects IRELAND FOREVER to be highly competitive.
GOOD FOR YOU (Legislate is the sire) is yet to win after three dips. His last try was his best when only outrun late by Dreamworld over this course and distance in a fair adjusted time.
INSPIRATION (by Rafeef) clocked in midfield behind Jordash on debut after a tough trip just 11 days ago. Sean Tarry’s entry can make substantial improvement second up.
This is a hard race to predict. None have so far shown themselves to be “blitzvinnig” on the clock. And juveniles are apt to make radical improvement early in their career.
Even the oddsmakers seem unsure quite what to make of things giving winning probabilities of between 28% and 20% to the 5/2 ante-post favourite WILD WILD GREEN, followed by WINTER SNAP and DIRECT HIT at 3’s, IRELAND FOREVER at 7/2, and ABSOLUTELY YES at 4/1.
It should be an exciting spectacle as the juveniles compete for a gross stake of R1 million. Over the years, some turf legends have kickstarted their careers in the Nursery – who knows, maybe the next budding superstar will come to light in Saturday’s first race.
