There are nine races programmed for Wednesday’s challenging and competitive card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
MEU CAPITANO was backed like he couldn’t lose on 2 June, and duly romped, to punish the layers. He now goes for a fourth consecutive win, during a productive spree that has seen his OMR zip up 12 points to 104. Richard Fourie stays on top of Piet Steyn’s entry, a clear recommendation in this Cape A Stakes over 1100m.
Though there will be a query over FUTURE VARIETY’s race readiness (he’s been off track since running a laudable second to Gr1 winner, Thunderstruck in the Gr2 Diadem Stakes at the end of February), he merits serious respect as a potentially high class, developing speedball.
Another very smart three-year-old, QUESTIONING, is weighted to finish right next to MEU CAPITANO on their Winter Sprint, yielding ground clash in early June, all of which makes for an exciting contest.
This extremely talented trio seem most likely to fight it out with older horses, BEREAVE and MUFASA wider inclusions on the best of their back form.
At a less exalted level, CHARLOTTE BRONTE comes in off a couple of fair races and could be the solution in an Open Maiden, Race 5 over 1400m. Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie win at a 24% clip and the regally bred daughter of Lancaster Bomber (she’s a half-sister to Charles Dickens) gets a clear opportunity in a modest field.
She can be hooked up in single race exotics with FAIRFIELD, who sports steady form despite starting slowly; LITTLE LEXI who shows pace and has a light weight; BLIND FAITH, a modest mare with a neat draw that has placed 3 x from 5 starts over the course and distance; JET TO THE SUN, who has her issues yet matches up fine on the Ice Rain form, and JET GREEN who may feature if overcoming the wide outside draw.
Snaith Racing have a tight lock on Race 4, the opening Leg of the P6 with promising youngsters, LANDOFTHERISINGSUN and ARBITRATION. The former ran on to get close to Noon Day Gun on 25 May, and with the second horse from that event coming out and winning, it gives the form a nice shape.
ARBITRATION made steady progress behind well-regarded, Air Raid in an encouraging sprint debut at long odds. A forward showing is expected going seven panels in this Maiden. Only the year-older MR BELVEDERE rates as a legit danger to Snaith’s duo but he could struggle to hold off such fast-improving, well-bred rivals.
Races 8 (Class 3) and 9 (Class 5) have big fields of 14 runners galloping over the undulating 1200m straight course. Both handicaps contain many plausible contenders – with GIMMELIGHTNING and TRES CHIC proposed as each way spec bets.
The latter is no star but good enough to be competitive at this grade. She stayed on willingly from off the pace in the closely clustered finish behind re-opposing Royal Lytham, I’m the Buzz and Grue of Ice on 11 June, and has been granted further relief by the handicapper. Perhaps Craig Zackey can guide her into the fray off a career low rating of 68.
GIMMELIGHTNING is a risky proposition as a hold-up sprinter that needs plenty of luck and nifty timing to pull it off. But he remains in peak shape and can contend again at a class level where he’s been successful before. If MEU CAPITANO runs boldly in the preceding race off at 15h40 then it should provide a boost to GIMMELIGHTNING’s chances as he has tussled credibly with that rival recently.
The grey DUMBLEDORE, class climber, ESCARPMENT, and come-backer RIVERSTONE are others with a legit shake. Even the highly tried filly JAPANESE ROSE returning off a four-month break and NIGHT TIGER (who mixes his form) can pop up.
