There is no escaping Kennedy’s dominance
TARGET: PRINCE OF VENICE GOES FOR HAT-TRICK
Third time could be lucky for Arnica Montana.
Big risk, even bigger reward. This is the kind of mentality Pick 6 players will have to have when banking on Mike de Kocktrained Arnica Montana to win Sunday’s Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1700m on the Greyville Polytrack.
This R360,000 purchase has been forced to settle for the runner-up positions in both career starts, beaten short-heads on both occasions – proving rather costly to follow.
In this son of Flower Alley’s defence, he was appallingly drawn on the Turffontein Inside track most recently, forcing jockey S’manga Khumalo to produce the gelding from near last passing the 400m marker.
Arnica Montana produced a devastating turn of foot and after hitting the front was nabbed on the line by Date Palm, beaten no more than 0.05 lengths over 1600m.
The good news is, history proves that Highveld thoroughbreds tend to flourish in KwaZuluNatal.
Although Mike de Kock’s charge doesn’t top the bestweighted column – that position belongs to Dutch Alley – he has by far the best form and is not too badly drawn at No 6 in this 11-horse field.
Best ignore Escape Club’s latest result when finishing last at Scottsville.
This five-year-old desperately needed the run following a lengthy layoff, and it was on the Turf track. Her previous form clearly proves she is most lethal on the Polytrack having recorded three victories, a second and just as many thirds from five outings.
Of late, it really doesn’t matter where we are.
It could be Port Elizabeth, Cape Town or Johannesburg – a meeting doesn’t conclude without Warren Kennedy winning a race or two.
He should steer Prince Of Venice to a third consecutive success when they reunite in Race 6, a MR 68 Handicap over the minimum trip. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge jumps out of an advantageous No 2 draw and on form looks classy enough to defy the top-weight of 62kg.