AS STRONG AS ORIENTAL OAK

Slack horses a threat

THE filly Oriental Oak may not be a good thing but should go very close to winning Race 6, a FM 73 Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth today.

The Glen Kotzen yard has been in very good form and this Silvano filly is likely to get better the further she goes so the step up to this longer distance should suit her especially has been running on well in her last few starts.

Jockey MJ Byleveld had a terrible draw to overcome aboard Oriental Oak last time and the filly ran on strongly but could only manage a third place finish behind Big Bang Theory who is an improving filly.

A mid pack draw will make it a lot easier for jockey Sean Veale to place her and she is well weighted.

But there are quite a few dangers in the race.

The Jessica Slackowned pair of Excellent and Navasha both have to be respected.

Excellent has patchy form but when in the mood can win.

Navasha may have found the 2000m of her last start a bit beyond her.

She had previously finished runner-up over that distance though.

Punters should get off to the best possible start as Kingston Passage, the favourite in Race 1 a Maiden Plate over 1000m, will be very hard to oppose.

This Western Winter three-year-old gelding chased home the heavily backed Head Honcho on debut and is a winner in waiting.

The drop in distance is not ideal based on him being a Western Winter foal but could still prove best of the line-up.

It is always important to cut some of the exotics down to maybe two runners and there are two races in which we can do that.

In Race 3 it looks likely that Gadget Man and Loadshedder could prove best and lin Race 7 Greenflashsunset and Shizam might fight out the finish.

Gadget Man was slightly ahead of Loadshedder when they last met and can confirm that form but the Andre Nel yard is in such good form that result cannot be guaranteed.