Power Grid is no fluke
KENILWORTH today sees seven fancied rides for Callan Murray, the first Dan Katz runners for Hassen Adams and, perhaps above all else, Power Grid out to prove that last time’s giant-killing performance was no fluke.
Three of the Murray rides are favourites and two more are second favourites.
He has only limited experience of what can be a deceptively difficult course – such rare visitors tend to underestimate the impact of the head winds and go too fast or too early – but he had five rides on Lanzerac day last November and won the Kenilworth Cup on Smart Mart for Mike de Kock.
“He is a top jockey and I feel he is going to have a good day,” says Snaith who, pressed to name those he fancies most, singles out Dynamic Diana in race two – “She was unlucky first time and I think she will run a stormer.”
Unfortunately so do the bookmakers and World Sports Betting have her far shorter than any of the other Murray rides at 6-10.
Lady Sutton at 7-2 is the only other in the field on offer at less than 10-1.
Varside
Murray should also win the first on 15-10 favourite Varside even though this one carries a red warning light after proving expensive to follow.
He has finished second or third in all his last five runs and started either favourite on second favourite in the last four. Such horses tend to go on proving vulnerable.
Above Eleven (33-10) has sound claims in race four.
She is rated 4.5kg better than 3-1 shot I Am Captain but is meeting what surely represents Katz’s best chance of the day on 5.5kg worse than weight for age.
Know The Ropes is favourite at 28-10, wears blinkers for the first time and may beat them both.
The one race in which Murray does not have a ride is the 2 400m Tabonline Maiden and this looks good for Aldo Domeyer’s mount Rokatenda even though the 8-10 price is pretty miserly.
Power Grid, though, appears to be the bet of the day despite his famous flying fetlock.
Tevez
When he lowered the colours of Tevez and Silicone Valley in last month’s Pinnacle I calculate that he ran to a rating of 95 or 96.
The handicappers were only allowed to put him up six points – which they did – and so in the Interbet.co.za Handicap he runs off a mark of 84.
In other words he has 5kg in hand. You don’t need me to remind you that plenty of such racing certainties get stuffed but Andries Steyn reports the horse in great form and the 11-2 on offer looks unbelievably – and uncharacteristically – generous.