Garth’s Captain to score

CAPTAIN FONTANE IMPRESSED IN FIRST RUN BACK FOR PULLER STABLE

Danilo Danilovitch looks the danger with S’manga in the irons.

Afascinating Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m on the turf track heads up the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday and one could almost make a winning case for all nine runners.

That’s quite a rarity in a Stakes’ races because there is often a bias towards the best weighted runners. However, in this case that is Chantyman, and while he could quite easily win if in the mood, at the age of eight the Lorenzo Karriem-trained runner has become a little inconsistent.

Two runs back he ran a cracker over 1000m at Scottsville when touched off by Socrates in a Pinnacle Stakes, but he followed that up with a disappointing last-place finish behind Val D’Orcia in the Grade 2 Post Merchants over the same course and distance as this event.

But the engagement of Richard Fourie always makes one stand up and take notice. Fourie will be riding the Oratorio gelding for the first time so one cannot ignore his chances.

Captain Fontane appeared to be heading for top after winning his first four races. In fact, he was all set to be heading off to Hong Kong but the Covid pandemic put paid to those plans and that proved to be quite a setback for the Captain Al gelding.

Unfortunately, he has not won a race since then although he has been taking on some of the best around.

After finishing unplaced in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville in May, despite being backed from 14-1 into the 5-1 favourite, Captain Fontane returned to Garth Puller’s stable, the yard where his career began.

He was given a rest until August and returned to action in a MR 105 Handicap over 1200m at Scottsville where he ran on stoutly to finish a 0.40-length second behind Coin Spinner. That was a promising effort, and any further improvement should see the five-year-old find his way back to the winner’s enclosure.

Serino Moodley has the ride but he will have to contend with No 8 draw.

Another runner with winning prospects is Danilo Danilovitch who bounced back to his best last time out with a victory on the Greyville

Polytrack. The son of What A Winter has undoubtedly improved when fitted with a set of blinkers four runs back and has since notched up two victories, both on the Polytrack.

He now reverts to the turf and hopefully his two victories will have built up some confidence.

It also must be noted that his previous outing was his first for trainer Paul Matchett and the change of stable could also have enhanced his performance.

S’manga Khumalo rode him to victory in both of his last two triumphs and he will be back on board this time. They are also perfectly drawn at No 3.