Focussing on the horse with the highest merit rating of all on Monday’s card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth could prove helpful. WINTER RAINFALL has been raised to an OMR of 95 after sweeping past PALO QUEEN last time, and can repeat the treatment in Race 7, a Cape B Stakes for Fillies and Mares over 1200m.
WINTER RAINFALL, by former champion sprinter and top-notch sire, WHAT A WINTER, has impressed with her turn of foot, being the fastest finisher at each of her past four starts over 1000m. She races as if the extra furlong will suit ideally, and Aldo Domeyer (a high percentage rider) sticks solid.
Bass Racing, closely associated in the career of WHAT A WINTER, know how to get the best out of his progeny, and this potentially smart filly, often backed with conviction in the market, can add a third victory to her CV.
PALO QUEEN was blown away by WINTER RAINFALL’s closing burst 40 days ago yet now drops down to face less daunting oppo in Race 8. Craig Zackey rides her skilfully and trainer Paul Reeves works wonders with the astutely bought horses in his care.
As a two-time winner from 17 starts, competing off an OMR of just 73, the daughter of PATHFORK is not one to bet the ranch on, yet she is in good heart and ought to be competitive pitched at this level.
Her main dangers include EASY MONEY who has been showing signs of life again recently, and QUERANDI who comes out of the same useful, HEAR MY VOICE form line and continues to slide in the ratings.
QUERANDI – once pegged as high as 93 yet has plunged to only 78 – shows more enthusiasm now that trainer, Glen Kotzen has fitted blinkers and could be a pace threat racing freely in front of the pack.
The first five races on Monday’s program are Maiden and Open Maiden events with fields of between 11 and 16 participants. They pose a big challenge to punters who will need to handicap sharply to get through the early legs of exotics.
The Bass/Domeyer duo (23% win and 55% place strike rate to runners) could come to bettors rescue in Race 5 with ENGLISH MISTRESS, a MASTER OF MY FATE filly with a progressive profile over middle distances.
It’s a deep field with a wide spread of form and Domeyer will somehow need to navigate a smooth commute from draw 10, but she looks a sound candidate to at least make the frame after solid tries to PASSCHENDAELE and FAMILY POWER, where she had a rough passage.
