– Written by Mark van Deventer
(Image of GREEN WITH ENVY by Chase Liebenberg)
GREEN WITH ENVY has a favourite’s chance in the SplashOut Cape Derby (Gr1) over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 24 February. With pace horses drawn towards the inside, such as the game, WILLIE JOHN, HARAJUKU and COASTAL COMMANDER – the classy son of GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT out of Galileo mare MISS COCO – should get the right set up.
Labelled a Classic type by jockey Keagan de Melo after just one run (a flashy off-the-pace Maiden score in June 2023), GREEN WITH ENVY has since placed in the Punters Cup and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas before fluently landing the Politician Stakes under top weight with a dominant last to first surge. Trainer Dean Kannemeyer is noted for his judicious handling of high quality three-year-olds, and jockey Craig Zackey has forged a close affinity with his mount.
On official merit ratings, the main dangers are dual G1 winning filly, BEACH BOMB, and rival colt, HLUHLUWE, who has an excellent record up to 1600m (including twice edging out GREEN WITH ENVY), and now stretches out an extra two panels. The filly also comes with a stamina query; her successes have been in false run races where she has used a killer turn of foot to prevail.
(Image of HARAJUKU by Chase Liebenberg)
HARAJUKU is a long-priced lurker. At the weights, GREEN WITH ENVY has him stone cold, but last time he raced wide without cover and went fast early from a bad draw so, under the circumstances, did well to only cave in late in the Politician Stakes. He may get the run of the race here and can bely odds of 16/1.
(Image of COASTAL COMMANDER by Chase Liebenberg)
RAPIDASH hit pay-dirt in the 1600m Cape Racing Gold Rush, coming from last to outrun the re-opposing COASTAL COMMANDER. Prior to that he was involved in a knock-down brawl with POMODORO’S JET, emerging with credit in what was a level weights showdown with a good older opponent. He is officially rated eight points inferior to his Justin Snaith trained, stable mate HLUHLUWE.
(Image of INFRARED by Chase Liebenberg)
INFRARED was hampered in the Cape Racing Gold Rush, and is better assessed on two solid previous tries behind INNAMORARE and re-opposing ORIENTAL CHARM, which gives him an outside squeak at a place. The Twice Over colt may also love this longer route. That said, ORIENTAL CHARM clocked in five lengths adrift of GREEN WITH ENVY when receiving 6kg in the Politician Stakes, which puts their claims into perspective.
In summary, GREEN WITH ENVY looks good enough to take G1 honours. His deep stretch running style requires deft judgement (and luck) to carry out, but if things fall into place, then he can gain revenge on HLUHLUWE.
(Image of BEACH BOMB by Chase Liebenberg)
High class filly, BEACH BOMB would prefer a race run slow early to capitalise on her powers of acceleration and record a remarkable third G1 victory this summer. Outsider, HARAJUKU may work out a smooth trip from draw 2 racing handy, and could help to make single race exotics pay.
The SplashOut Cape Derby is carded as Race 8 – off time 16h15.
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