Gold Standard entered for G2 Matchem Stakes
COMEBACK: KOTZEN’S CHARGE HAS NOT RACED SINCE FINISHING FOURTH IN SUN MET
Gimme Six has been priced up favourite for Diana Stakes.
Gold Standard, second to William Longsword in last season’s Grand Parade Cape Guineas, will have his first race since taking fourth behind Whisky Baron in the Sun Met when the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m is run at Durbanville on Saturday 7 October. The Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old has already put up a pleasing gallop at Kenilworth, is the highest-rated horse in the race and is well drawn at No 5.
Always In Charge, winner of a Grade 1 at Scottsville as a twoyear-old, has to give weight all round as a result of that success but is also well drawn.
There will be a lot of interest in Last Winter who Dean Kannemeyer has talked of as being one of his best hopes for the season. He is not well drawn at 13 but his trainer won this with subsequent L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate scorer Capetown Noir four years ago.
Joey Ramsden, successful with Variety Club in 2011 and with Act Of War two years ago, has entered the wide-drawn Speedpoint and Table Bay who was so impressive in last season’s Cape Classic but did not really live up to expectations thereafter despite finishing third in the Cape Guineas and winning at Scottsville. Speedpoint is the only three-year-old in the race and bids to become the first of his age group to win this since Variety Club.
Just Sensual, winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas and an Equus Award winner, heads the 17 entries for the Grade 3 Diana Stakes over the same distance as the Matchem and on the same card but is drawn 14 out of 17.
Several jockeys made the point at Durbanville on Saturday that races are not so draw-dependent since the bends were cambered and hopefully this will prove to be the case as Final Judgement is another high class contender drawn wide.
Last year’s winner Captain’s Flame is well drawn at five but she is not certain to attempt to become the first to score in successive years since the Glen Kotzentrained Forest Ivory did it in 2000 and 2001. “I am undecided,” said Andre Nel. “She has had a bit of a setback and she wasn’t that well a week ago.”
There is a supplementary entry stage for both races on Friday and declarations close on Monday.
Betting: Matchem Stakes: 12-10 Gold Standard; 3-1 Table Bay; 6-1 Copper Force; 8-1 Nebula; 16-1 and upwards others
Diana Stakes: 18-10 Gimme Six; 15-2 Just Sensual; 7-1 Final Judgement; 10-1 Goodtime Gal; 12-1 Whose That Girl; 14-1 Captains Flame, Seattle Gold, Meryl; 20-1 and upwards others