Rainbow Bridge on road to winter glory

It is no surprise to see unbeaten Rainbow Bridge priced up as favourite for the Grade 3 Highlands Stud Winter Classic to be run at Kenilworth on Saturday. The style in which the gelding won last month’s Winter Guineas – Leg 1 of the Western Cape’s winter triple series – backed up trainer Eric Sands’ description of him as “a very special horse”.

Rainbow Bridge was 16-10 at the opening call, which could be generous odds in light of the ease of that victory over three-year-old contemporaries – several of whom he meets again on Saturday.

The acceleration shown in both his races to date suggest the step up to 1800m, from the 1600m of the Guineas, will be no problem. And the annual switch from the Summer to the Winter course should not bother a runner of his class.

Sands commented this week: “Rainbow Bridge is very well. He’s very fit and improving all the time. Going to the old course is a consideration, as jockey Richard Fourie will have to sit a little handier.”

Rocket Countdown, a 1.25-length second in the Guineas and “a very smart horse” according to trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, is on offer at 33-10. “He will run well again but has Rainbow Bridge to beat,” she added.

Commenting on his runner Ancestry, fourth favourite at 7-1, Joey Ramsden said: “He had a great run back in the Winter Guineas, before he ran out of puff late on. He is very sound at the moment, but I was very impressed with Eric Sands’ horse (Rainbow Bridge) which will be hard to beat.”

Betting on the Winter Classic (Grade 3):

16-10 Rainbow Bridge; 33-10 Rocket Countdown; 11-2 Doublemint; 7-1 Ancestry; 9-1 Spring Man, Love Happens; 15-1 Pacific Chestnut; 22-1 Morning Catch; 28-1 Man About Town; 35-1 Ben-Hur.