By Mark van Deventer
A total of 148 runners are carded for Wednesday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting on a track that is still on the soft side after last week’s rain. The racing is highly competitive across the ten-race program, comprising Maiden’s and low to mid-level handicaps which will test the predictive abilities of punters.
Class dropper, FORT RED could go well in Race 3, a Class 5. Mike Stewart’s old stager has not won for 529 days but usually gives a good sight racing handy and has been consistently placed off higher handicap marks than his current OMR of 66.
If jockey, Michael Mjoka can judge the fractions right down the “straight six”, then the 7YO can take advantage of better going towards the inside and make his rivals play catch-up. In a difficult contest where bookies go 5/1 the field, FORT RED is offered at 30/1 in early trade.
TANNERON has finished a narrowly beaten runner-up in her last two starts. She gets another opportunity to record the second win of her nine-start career in Race 4, a Class 4 for fillies and mares. The 5/1 favourite in another wide open affair is now to be ridden by J van der Merwe. The 3YO daughter of Var could be strong enough to handle a testing, six panels and will be dashing home boldly under one of the Cape best jockeys for using hold-up tactics.
Another daughter of Var, PRISCILLA MAISEY is a value alternative to the favourite at three times the price. This 16/1 shot has practically the same shake as TANNERON based on their clash behind Sohot Sowhat in mid-January.
Brett and James Crawford have been cranking out the winners lately and they will be hoping LADY LOOK ALIKE adds to their tally. She runs in the 5th, off at 14h20, a Class 5 over 1400m where draws matter. Gated at 2 she should get all the favours and make her own luck racing prominently.
She has raced consistently this year since cheek pieces have been fitted and will get powerful assistance in the saddle from Luyulo Mxothwa. She has already been spotted in the ante-post market, shortening into 7/2 favourite.
A more venturesome selection comes up in Race 8 – BATON ROUGE. Piet Botha’s runner can be located near the bottom of the boards, which seems fair enough based on dull recent form. However, an imaginative reading of his past performances provide glimmers of hope, and he can outrun odds of 36/1.
He tends to do well at this time of year and one of this two wins to date have happened third up after a rest. That form pattern applies on Wednesday; softer ground should aid his cause, too as will his propensity to race handy. Relief from the handicapper (OMR of 79 has tumbled to 63) will also help make him more competitive.
He is very much a boom-or-bust pick that may be beaten a long way out. But at those sorts of big prices, punters can afford to take a speculative flyer with modest stakes.
Dean Kannemeyer’s ENCHANTING CHOICE faces up against 14 other fillies and mares in the 15h30 – a Class 4 over 1600m. She fits nicely at this class level and is neatly drawn at 1 plus gets the services of Craig Zackey who has been riding fantastically well around the country. He should be able to settle her early and work out a smooth commute.
As applies in all races on Wednesday, the contention runs deep. HAMPSTEAD HEATH is pegged at about the same ability level as ENCHANTING CHOICE for another high percentage trainer – Adam Marcus/. She is, however disadvantaged by barrier 11 and faces a harder task at the weights.
Others to consider include Snaith Racing’s BELA VISTA who returns after a 3rd in the Breeders Guineas at Fairview; stable mate POCKET DIAL who dashed home in eye catching manner last time over 1250m and now goes longer; consistent, PENTOLINA; ratings-dropper, GOLDEN ANGEL; GREEN ISLE and maybe even recent Maiden winner, KLEINZEE, a Gimmethegreenlight 3YO with a progressive profile but a challenging draw of 14.
