Snaith to Do It Again
HOPEFULLY THE 3 YO COLTS’ PICTURE WILL BECOME CLEARER Marshall goes for Guineas win No 5.
The three-year-old picture as far as the colts are concerned has been relatively opaque with not one of them really standing out. Hopefully the picture will become a lot clearer after tomorrow’s running of the Grade 1 Forus Cape Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth.
The fact the bookmakers are betting so wide indicates just how open this race looks but hopefully one three-year-old will stand up and stake his claim. Justin Snaith has some classy horses in his stable right now and could come up trumps with Do It Again.
This son of Twice Over has only run three times, winning his first two starts over 1200m and 1600m respectively, before running on late to finish a 0.90-length third in the Grade 2 Selangor Cup behind Rocket Countdown.
Many pundits will point out that both Rocket Countdown and White River finished ahead of Do It Again but that race was run on the Winter Course which has a short run-in while the current course with the longer straight will definitely suit Snaith’s charge. There is no doubt he will be better suited to the 2000m in next month’s Derby but if he gets a decent pace in this event there is no reason why jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe cannot run down the opposition.
The other point is that last time Do It Again jumped from a wide draw and this time he is drawn No 6.
Vaughan Marshall-trained Tap O’ Noth has been priced up 5-1 favourite and is the horse to beat. However, jockey MJ Byleveld will have to jump from the widest draw of all and will obviously need some luck.
However, he found himself in the same predicament last year with another Marshall-trained runner, William Longsword, but managed to get him out in a flash and lead all the way. He is likely to try similar tactics this time but will still need some luck.
Rocket Countdown did make amazing improvement to win the Selangor Cup and was penalised 5kg for his victory. He went off at long odds on that occasion so this race will test the validity of that form line.
Mike de Kock has two runners in Sir David Baird and Like A Panther. Both are well drawn but Like A Panther, in particular, is probably being prepared for the Derby.