Wide open betting for the Cape Guineas
UNDECIDED: BOOKMAKERS FAIL TO FIND A CLEAR FAVOURITE AND BET 8-1 THE FIELD
Value could lie with two De Kock runners.
Judging on the way they have opened up the betting, bookmakers seem to have no idea who will win the R1-million Forus Cape Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday 16 December.
Do It Again, Undercover Agent, Tap O’Noth and Bold Respect have all been opened up as 8-1 joint favourites.
Trainer Vaughan Marshall won the race last year with William Longsword, a son of Captain Al and this year he has Tap O’Noth, who is also by Captain Al.
Tap O’Noth won the Cape Classic over 1400m last time, beating Undercover Agent by 0.75 lengths and should appreciate the extra 200m. He is nicely drawn at No 7 and will find support.
Do It Again is from the Justin Snaith yard and produced a flying finish to run third in the Selangor Cup over 1600m, beaten just 0.90 lengths by stable companion Rocket Countdown who is a 9-1 shot for this race. While Do It Again is being touted as more of a Derby horse, he will appreciate the move to the Summer Course with the longer run-in and will be a huge factor from a No 6 draw, especially if they have a decent pace.
It is surprising to see Undercover Agent among the favourites as he looks held by Tap O’Noth and has a wide draw with which to contend.
Sea And Sand ran a shocker in his comeback race at Kenilworth last time and Dennis Drier will need to get some improvement out of him if he is to be a contender in this event. White River, second in the Selangor, is also at 10-1 along with Sean Tarry-trained Wonderwall, who was an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge but has not run that well since then.
Dutch Philip is at 14-1 and there is no doubt about his ability but Candice Bass-Robinson’s runner needs to prove he will see out 1600m, especially as he finished second in the Cape Merchants over 1200m on Saturday.
The value could lie with the two Mike de Kock runners – Sir David Baird and Like A Panther – who are both well drawn and on offer at 16-1 and 25-1 respectively. Like A Panther disappointed in the Dingaans at Turffontein but had a wide draw to overcome and did not run too badly.
Sir David Baird has only had one disappointing run but still finished second and there were excuses for his defeat.
1. Robbie Fradd (South Africa) - 39 points; 2. Elione Chaves (Brazil) - 38 points; 3. Maxime Guyon (France) - 33 points; 4. Craig Zackey (South Africa) - 32 points; 5. Matthew Chadwick (Hong Kong) 18 points; 5. Hayley Turner O.B.E (England) - 18 points Final Trainers' standings 1. Ricky Maingard - 39 points; 2. Preetam Daby - 35 points; 3. Simon Jones - 26 points; 4. Ramapatee Gujadhur - 24 points; 5. Shirish Narang - 23 points.