Clouded Hill to bounce back
CLOUDED HILL can bounce back from last time’s Sophomore disappointment to become a rewarding and potentially significant winner of the Cape Classic at Kenilworth tomorrow.
Justin Snaith believes that the selection – available at 11-2 yesterday – was caught a bit flat-footed when starting joint favourite at Durbanville last month. On his previous start he trounced stable companions Seventh Sea and Clipper Captain despite losing a front shoe. Those two take him on again but Snaith has an explanation for punters puzzling over Richard Fourie’s apparent choice of Seventh Sea.
“All three horses are doing well but the riding arrangements are bit different from normal,” says the champion trainer. “Richard is on Seventh Sea because that horse is our main hope for the CTS Ready To Run and he wants to teach him to settle.”
Anton Marcus, who steps in for the Clouded Hill ride, has won three of the last five runnings of the Cape Classic which is not a particularly good race for favourites – seven of the last ten have been beaten.
It was surprising to see Pleasedtomeetyou heading the market at 3-1.
True, he is unbeaten but he only just got home against Elusive Trader (6-1 here) in the Sophomore with Lanza (17-2) fourth, and some of the gloss came off his reputation in the process.
Andre Nel says: “Pleasedtomeetyou is doing well and he worked well on Tuesday but his draw is a concern and on the ratings he is not well in.”
Tyrone Langdon, who rode the colt in Tuesday’s work, also rides him in most of his home work and was impressed with the way he went in that final gallop.
Joey Ramsden is bidding for his fourth Cape Classic in six seasons but, despite Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s enthusiasm, it’s hard to see Twist Of Fate winning after a three month absence from such a wide draw and at the weights. He has drifted out to 10-1.
Cirillo (11-2) has also not raced since the Premiers Champion but significantly Sean Tarry supplemented him.
Candice Bass-Robinson holds Majestic Mozart in high regard but he is another who has been done no favours by the draw.
Marcus can also win the Western Cape Fillies Championship on the unbeaten Front And Centre who takes a massive step up in class but has looked something really special in her two races.
“She has done very little wrong and is a very decent filly,” says Brett Crawford, hopefully with masterly understatement.
“I am expecting a big run.” Marcus can be relied upon to take care of her ten draw and the fact that she is favourite, at 17-10, is statistically very much in her favour. The first five of the last eight favourites for this race all won and the other three were second.
Snaith has won five of the last 11 runnings but 14-1 chance Juniper Spring has so far not looked as good as either her pedigree or her reputation.
Aldo Domeyer has opted to ride 6-1 shot Clouds Unfold in preference to Candice BassRobinson’s other four but the trainer makes the point that “Nous Voila (a huge price at 251) didn’t enjoy the winter going.”
Anneka (13-1) has no chance on ratings but she is race fit and the Sean Tarry-Lyle Hewitson pairing is a champion combination in every sense of the word.
Temple Grafin is, on paper at any rate, the best horse in the race and seemingly there is no need to worry that the 8-1 shot hasn’t raced since she won the Debutante three months ago. “She is ready, she is working like a machine and she will run right up to her rating,” enthuses Glen Kotzen.
Lastly, if you are looking for a good price, Canukeepitsecret is provenly race-fit and her form is better than it looks. Admittedly she is unproven over the trip but at 12-1 you can’t have everything. CHANTYMAN has had his fair share of problems since shedding his maiden in eyecatching fashion.
A year later he still only has that single win to his credit but that can change at Greyville tonight when he steps out onto the poly again.
Since a barrier trial, Dennis Bosch’s charge has run close over the Scottsville shortcut although recently a six-length drubbing in a Progress Plate. He faced a useful field that day with Red Chesnut Road and Dawn Calling ahead of him. If anything, he faces slightly weaker this evening over what looks to be his optimum tip.
In the line-up is a promising youngster in top weight Desolate Road but Chantyman may just have the edge in fitness.
Tony Rivalland’s colt has only had three starts, winning on debut and more recently finishing second to the smart Chimichuri Run. That last out in was some two months back and he may be caught short of peak fitness. Of the balance Whorly Whory has put up two smart efforts over course and distance and with a 4kg claimer up must also have a shout.
In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Elusive Diva should take a power of beating. She improved nicely at her second local outing on the poly and is rated way better than anything else in the line-up. Champagne Gold finished runner-up behind Oratorina on Wednesday. It was a smart effort in a race that was run at a pedestrian pace but she may not take her place here.
A weak field is carded to face the starter in the fourth where it may prove prudent for exotic bet punters to load up. Wendy Whitehead and Stuart Randolph teamed up for a double on Sunday and send out Sovereign Soldier. He was not far back from a tricky draw last run and has pulled a better gate here. He has consistent form over course and distance. Likely dangers are Slightly Scottish who is seldom too far back and has a decent chance in this line-up, while Haddington has been off form of late but he takes a rating drop and as a five-time winner warrants serious consideration.
Master Sam
Another wide-open affair faces punters in the fifth. Master Sam has dropped in the ratings and is also down in class which adds to his appeal. Caddy Master, who cased a major boil-over when shedding his maiden, has not been far back at recent outings. A light weight and a decent draw puts him in the picture. Eccellerate is battling for a win but has dropped a long way in the ratings and could be competitive while Lord Of Glencoe took an age to shed his maiden but did so in a competitive field and can follow up.
Anton Marcus is back aboard Fieldmarshal Fenix in the seventh who has been knocking at the door for some time now. He goes well over course and distance and with a decent draw can be rewarded. Dangers are many but Subtropical has improved in blinkers and ran a cracker first up from a break over course and distance while Play The Night has been up against stronger since his maiden win and off his light weight should be ultra-competitive.
The last is another tricky race but Cherry Pop was a recent maiden winner but that form has been franked so she can go in again. Sheik’s Storm comes from a very much in form stable but does have a big weight while Mitra Music has her third run after a break and with a claiming apprentice up should be right there from a good draw.