By Mark van Deventer
Brett and James Crawford’s 3YO, Real Stunner comes back after a 76-day rest/gelding and gets a good opportunity against juvenile rivals and contemporaries devoid of form to open his account in Race 3 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
He does mix his performances a bit and is drawn 9/9 around the 1400m bend. Two really neat runs to Diablo and Red Dawn have been interspersed with some tame efforts. Quite possibly, gelding has helped him settle and focus better – he just needs to run back to the pick of his past performances to shed his Maiden tag.
Mont Loisir has solid claims in Race 4, a Class 5 over 1400m. His last two starts at this grade make him highly competitive and he should get all the favours racing handy from an inside gate under Richard Fourie.
On collateral form Mela Strength ought to be thereabouts, whilst Ozark, who did well in Spring and early Summer before regressing, can trouble the selection if blinkers have the desired wake up effect.
GEM KING, who defeated TENANGO last time when that one was ridden more forwardly, again made a bold show, dashing through a narrow gap down the inside rail to secure second. Piet Steyn’s 6YO ran the final 400m in 23.4 seconds – a valiant try, but clearly no match for TENANGO’s superior surge.
The classy 3YO and race favourite, ALL OUT FOR SIX – ‘not a six-furlong horse,” according to jockey, Richard Fourie, kept on for third place after sustaining an even gallop throughout, and is one to follow in races from 1400m +.
33/1 shot, SILVER FALCON rounded out the Champagne Stakes Quartet, 3.25 lengths off the winner.
