Snaith’s birthday bash to continue
Justin Snaith, whose horses gave him an early present on Saturday when he had five winners including Snowdance in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, turned a year older yesterday.
His birthday celebration can continue tomorrow at Kenilworth where he saddles 12 runners including the horse many people will chose to use as a banker, Doublemint in Race 5 over 1200m.
This Twice Over three-year-old has promising form. He opened his account in a 1200m sprint at Durbanville in October, beating Talk Of The Town by a head. The runner-up and third-placed Tsitsikamma Dance franked the form by winning next time out with the latter not doing too badly in his first post-maiden run.
Snaith then sent Doublemint over 1600m and the colt finished fast and failed by only a head to tag Desert Chief in the Guineas Plate on the Fairview Polytrack.
He reverts to a sprint distance but given the quick nature of that synthetic surface, he should not have lost any of his speed and rates the one to beat under Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode four of the stable’s winners on Saturday.
Brett Crawford-trained duo Para Handy and Dollar Tractor could be his main dangers.
Para Handy looks the stable elect with Corne Orffer up. He improved in his second start following a rest of just shy of 11 months when staying on for fourth behind What A Winner over 1000m at this track last time out. His sole win came over this course and distance and he should strip close to 100% fit now.
Dollar Tractor was not beaten far by Dutch Philip in the 1200m Nursery in May, won his next start and was then rested. He has had excuses for both his runs back and can do much better. He has a heavy weight for a three-year-old, though.
Other Snaith horses with good winning chances are The Boston Rose in Race 2 and Miyabi Gold in Race 3, both to be ridden by Fayd’Herbe.
The Boston Rose is overdue her maiden win, having finished third in her last two of three career starts, most recently when beaten favourite and 1.65 lengths behind Star Of London.
Her main danger is stablemate Bid Before Sunset, who reverts to 1200m. She was never in the race over 1400m last time, but had finished second in her previous three career starts
Miyabi Gold meets a weak field and is sure to improve on her first run, when green and sixth behind Sugar Girl in a 1200m race here last month. She will improve over the extra 200m she tries this time.