– Written by Mark van Deventer
Cape Racing lays on a spread of nine races for Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting. Five of them are Maidens, with the balance Class 3, 4 of 5 handicaps featuring a total of 92 entries.
SAHARA CAT, Vaughan Marshall’s heavy odds-on favourite won the midweek opener by a whisker from debutant Tanneron, and the Milnerton conditioner will be looking to duplicate that success – without the stress of such a close finish – with another One World baby, WORLD OF PLEASURE. The colt has by far the best form on offer so, barring a market springer, should get the job done in Race 1.
Race 3 is a tricky heat. ZIL MORIS has obvious credentials coming off a fluent score in a key race, though TYRION LANNISTER is dangerous carrying just 51.5kg. And LINDBERGH should get the run of the race pressing handy from draw 1, so can be added to wider Bipot perms.
Andre Nel’s horses are running nicely with a couple of winners and many placings at recent meetings. He’ll be hoping that TEQUILA SKY snaps a run of places and exits the Maidens in Race 4 down the 1200m straight course.
There are some unexposed rivals to consider, with SPIRIT GUIDE the most dangerous potential improver. She finished three lengths behind TEQUILLA SKY, but that was just her second start and Dean Kannemeyer’s Gimmethegreenlight filly may get closer this time.
Race 5 (Jackpot 1 Leg 1) can be narrowed down to KWITE A KING, SONG TO THE MOON and progressive staying type, CONTINENTAL EXPRESS. STORM BOULEVARD and FRENCH TRIP should set a good gallop for these off-pace runners to close into. SONG TO THE MOON will get the best trip from draw 1, though KWITE A KING possesses the most telling finish.
National jockey log leader, Richard Fourie, continues to ride plenty winners on his cross-country travels,striking at over 21% with 200 salutes from 934 mounts.
He partners Brett Crawford’s MONT LOISIR who is teed up to exit the Maidens in Race 6, though Fourie will need to judge things deftly from draw 12 in the 1400m contest.
With a clean passage the Vercingetorix gelding should win. A troubled trip opens wider possibilities for main rivals such as IGUGULETHU, the Nel-trained HOODIA, and COSMIC RHYTHM, who sports decent back form and returns after gelding.
POMODORO’S JET is another fancied runner that will need to overcome a wide barrier in the following race, a Class 3 over 1400m. The four-time winner from 12 starts is unbeaten over the course and distance.
Craig Zackey, currently fifth on the National rankings with 82 wins, has the task of positioning him in the right spot from gate 11/12. With a clear passage he could be hard to hold out.
KITCHAKAL rates the primary threat. He found form this time last year, seems teed up to run big third after a rest, and is handicapped to give POMODORO’S JET a run for his money at level weights.
BLACKBERRY MALT is another legit contender. On collateral form dating to December 2023 when running on from a bad draw to get within a length of POMODORO’S JET, the Glen Kotzen-trained entry ought to be in the shake up.
The finale is a Class 3 sprint with a wide spread of form. The speedy AXL, consistent ALL ABOUT AL, well-performed and recently gelded SEEKING THE ONE, big time class dropper out of a G1, CAPTAIN ARROW, fast finisher GIMMELIGHTNING, and c & d specialist USA’S HOPE make the contender list in what should be an exciting dash to the post.
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| POMODORO’S JET | CAPTAIN ARROW |
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| AXL | ALL ABOUT AL |
– Images by Chase Liebenberg
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