Race Preview: Wednesday, 24 April 2024 – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth

– Written by Mark van Deventer

PORT LOUIS will try to snap a 442-day losing streak in Race 6, a Progress Plate over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday. He gets the perfect set-up: draw 2, the services of hot jock Richard Fourie, and he comes in as fit as can be after running a cracker three weeks ago when second to Rascallion after a troubled passage.

Fourie will need to be at his forceful best though, as Port Louis is not an easy conveyance. He is sometimes slow away and shows a tendency to hang but, with even luck, should get the run of the race on the three-time winning Gimmethegreenlight gelding trained by Brett Crawford.

Smart three-year-old, COASTAL COMMANDER, is five points clear best weighted on official ratings. The 1400m trip may now be a bit on the sharp side; he’s not seen racetrack action for two months after petering out in a slow run SplashOut Cape Derby, and Ashton Arries must navigate from draw 8. There are a few queries about Vaughan Marshall’s entry, but he should be in the fray given this weight format.

MY GOLLY MOLLY has struggled to reach the level which saw him defeat Hluhluwe in the Langerman in the middle of Winter ’23. He runs well for booked rider Sean Veale and is poised for a peak effort. Eric Sand’s erratic entry comes with a “wealth warning”, but he has the raw ability and is worth adding to play at a price just in case he suddenly rediscovers his mojo. Soft ground would aid his cause.

ZIL MORIS, stable companion to PORT LOUIS, won a good race over the course and distance on 31 January. He must have a legitimate shake on that form, plus he defeated Coastal Commander at two. He was however, out-finished by MY GOLLY MOLLY in the Langerman which tempers enthusiasm slightly.

WE’RE JAMMING is another trying to snap a losing sequence – 552 days in his case. Incredibly talented as a youngster over extended sprints, he retains sufficient ability to have got within two lengths of Gr1 victor Thunderstruck at levels in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes in February. Subsequent starts have been dull and Justin Snaith’s yard is not firing on all cylinders right now. That said, WE’RE JAMMING is good enough to handle this field if rejuvenated.

Of the remaining four runners, ZOOMIE is held by ZIL MORIS on a line through Fairy Knight but could place on his best form during the Cape Summer Season – slightly more than four lengths back in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas to Snow Pilot and Hluhluwe in the Punter’s Cup.

SCALINI, quite capable at Class 2/3 level, has his second start after an enforced break, and needs to regain the thread while Marshall-trained stable mate and a last start winner in Class 4, MARVEL WILLIAM takes a steep hike up in grade. NO APOLOGIES will, likewise, need to dramatically exceed his past performances to have any hope of shaping.

– Images by Chase Liebenberg

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