Weather-worn Capetonians are describing this Winter as the wettest and coldest in many a year. Together with other lifestyle adaptations in the Cape of Storms, the racing program has been affected with two recent meetings abandoned. Assuming it clears up and dries out sufficiently, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth will try get the show back on the road on Monday afternoon, followed by a catch-up meeting on Wednesday.
Punters will need to be super alert. It’s not that they should set fire to, and disregard, their form books, ability still counts and fundamental handicapping applies. However, fitness becomes a crucial factor in heavy ground – poorly conditioned horses use a wet course as an excuse to throw in clunkers. Also, some jockeys are better/braver on an off track than others, while the draw and tactics will make a big difference, too.
PACAYA is one to watch in Race 4, a Cape A Stakes over 1800m. The lightly campaigned five-year-old, a winner of six from twenty starts is a seriously good horse on his day. He loves the trip, enjoys the soft and can defy 61.5kg’s.
LOVE IS A ROSE is a proven mudlark, as is FLOWER OF SAIGON, and they both enter the reckoning. PACAYA’S Justin Snaith-trained companion, SACHDEV also ought to be nearby given the weight shift from their May clash in the Legal Eagle Stakes.
Snaith may be the one to follow again in Race 7, as he saddles, PRIME VENTURE. Fourteen Class 4 runners will load into the gates at the 1600m start in a competitive handicap. Drawn ideally at three this time, (last start he had to come from the rear off a wide draw) the son of Silvano should work out a good trip and confirm his upward progression since being gelded.
He will need to run down RADICCHIO and spirited leader, SHAVOUT. MY BESTIE should go nicely from the inside alley, and together with mud-loving KING PELLES can be added to wider plays.
MIA’S HARPER finished well over the course and distance to win her most recent start a month ago at this level. She will try “rinse and repeat” in Race 10, a Class 4 for Fillies and Mares over 1400m. The grey DANON PLATINA filly has won two of three starts in the wet, should get a smooth commute drawn right on the inside and has proven fitness on her side.
These low-level handicaps are notoriously tight. WUGUG has run credibly versus stronger foes and jockey Richard Fourie is a significant booking on board a Brett Crawford trained entry who goes well handy.
SENHORA VICTORIA has finally cracked a decent draw (2) after a succession of wide barriers, and she must be a threat on form. WINDRUNNER was pitched too high last time and now dips into calmer waters. This lower grade combined with some weight relief brings her into the picture and, all told, she probably has about the same chance as CHARLENE, who in turn rates close to the marginal selection, MIA’S HARPER.
HAMPSTEAD HEATH (blinkers strike) has thrown in a couple of decent post Maidens and while Grant van Niekerk will need all his considerable skill to navigate from draw 10, he is building up a sharp record on Adam Marcus’ horses – 38% win and 63% place strike rate, admittedly from a small sample. This makes the daughter of Rafeef another to take seriously in a testing finale.
