Race 6 – The Turf Talk Syndicate B Stakes for 1000m sprinters, has attracted seven rivals on Tuesday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth card.
ELUSIVE WINTER has the inside rail and the raw speed to take advantage. He has a history of bleeding and is vulnerable late when decelerating from those early exertions but will still give a good sight racing upfront under title-seeking jockey, Gavin Lerena.
PEACE OF MIND, like Elusive Winter, is trained by Michelle Crawford Rix. The Var mare also possess abundant natural pace. She has earned neat speed figures and comes in with a light weight which makes her a major contender, despite moving up the rungs of the class ladder. Claiming apprentice, Bevan Plaatjies is her pilot.
FLYING FINLEY is better assessed on his May start when seeing off reopposing, THE US OF A, than on his most recent try when hampered. Paul Reeve’s speedball is well above average, shows sustained pace and is by no means out of it carrying 57kg based on collateral form to THE US OF A.
ROMAN AGENT is worth considering on the pick of his past performances. He was a precocious talent at two – defeating subsequent Gr 1 runner, WINDS OF CHANGE on debut, then getting within 4-5 lengths of generational stand-out, ONE STRIPE, when trained by Justin Snaith.
Two smart runs in November 2024 were followed by dreary efforts. Likewise, when venturing to KZN, he did nicely to AGRADO, only to be reported as not striding out when flopping last time well behind O’TENIKWA. He has been laid off 86 days since that no show and switched handlers to Vaughan Marshall.
His achievements as a youngster earned him by some margin, the highest official merit rating in the line-up of 102, but that has since dipped to 92. He carries the top of weight of 60kg.
THE US OF A was hugely impressive at his fluent victory in early May and then again at his last start when hammering subsequent winner, ESCARPMENT. In between he got beat just under two lengths by FLYING FINLEY at level weights and he must now concede his foe 1.5kg’s which is a challenging task.
Trainer Paddy Kruyer has done an amazing job with this handsome but physically fickle 4YO son of The United States. The feeling persists that his charge, making a 14th career start, is yet to peak and is potentially a very smart sprinter. Richard Fourie, who has already won three times from seven rides on him, jumps on again.
KYALAMI GIRL has lost form and is hard to catch right. In the two- time winning daughter of Querari’s favour, she goes well fresh, and she now resumes after two months off track. Grant van Niekerk will try reviving her fortunes.
TANNERON, like KYALAMI GIRL, is conditioned by Candice Bass Robinson. Unlike her unreliable stable mate, TANNERON is ultra consistent and remains in typically, good heart.
The 3YO Var filly found older, stalwart DEAN STREET too tough a rival yet was not disgraced a month ago. She again tangles with hardened male oppo and must also concede weight to 3YO contemporary filly, PEACE OF MIND making it a demanding assignment.
But supporters can be sure she will give it a full go and the booking of fine hold up jockey, JP van Der Merwe is the right, tactical fit given her short burst, running style.
To summarise the 15h05, THE US OF A is the most likely winner given compelling form over this course and distance in soft ground. That said, early quotes about the short-priced favourite are a bit skinny. Low weight, PEACE OF MIND is feared.
Promising sprinter, FLYING FINLEY; consistent, TANNERON; tearaway, ELUSIVE WINTER and mystery grey, ROMAN AGENT are back-ups for much wider perms.
