All eyes on Horizon
THE record-breaking Horizon makes his long-awaited debut in the Racing Association Maiden Plate at Kenilworth today and the bookmakers are taking no chances.
This colt smashed the South African auction record when knocked down to Mike Bass and top game breeder Piet du Toit for R5.2 million at the Convention Centre in January last year.
He opened 4-1 second favourite with World Sports Betting on Monday and he was still that price yesterday.
Not that many horses in South Africa win first time and Candice Bass-Robinson says: “The trip will be a bit short for him [he is by Dynasty out of a full sister to Silvano] and he will be a bit green but he could surprise.”
Favourite, and shortening from 3310 to 28-10, is the Justin Snaith-trained Captain Marmalade who has experience and form on his side.
He gets the vote although it will be fascinating to see how Grant van Niekerk’s mount performs.
You could say that 6-1 chance Icon King has the best form of all but he has been off since running so well over 200m further on debut.
“He was coughing after his first run and I decided against running him again last season - if he had won in July he would have got a rating of 88,” reasons Mike Stewart.
“He might just need this but he is a really nice horse.”
Snaith, keen to ditch the word former from his champion trainer tag, goes into battle today holding many of the aces and he could well have a field day.
Certainly the money has been talking with Dawn Rising in the first.
The Trippi newcomer has been backed from 4-1 to 28-10 and that is significant.
The Bass-Robinson stable also introduces two well bred newcomers and R275 000 purchase War Of Roses has also been backed - from 8-1 to 6-1.
“I think the Trippi filly (Magic Trick) will need it but the Var (War Of Roses) could possibly be in the money,” says their trainer.
The vote goes to Dawn Rising but Secretariat’s Girl is the one with the form in the book and she looks each way value at 11-2.
Helen’s Bay
An outsider to bear in mind at 14-1 is Helen’s Bay even though she is six years old and still a maiden after 14 attempts. She steps up to 1 200m after five consecutive runs over 1 000m.
“She doesn’t have the early speed she used to now that she is older but she is very well,” reports Mike Robinson’s wife Louella.
Cock-A-Hoop, backed from 4-1 to 2810 yesterday, finished with only one behind him in the Langerman and on his previous start he was beaten at 1-3 but he has form smart enough to suggest he can account for Geoff Woodruff's 7-2 shot New Caledonia in race two.
Punters nervous about getting their fingers burnt yet again by Glorious Goodwood can breathe easy. The three-year-old has been gelded and so misses race four but without his wedding tackle he could be a good thing next time.
This time the Andrew Fortune-partnered Imperial Dancer makes most appeal ahead of Gold Standard, Come On Sonny and the first-time blinkered Hernando’s Promise.
Jingle Belle, disappointing over 2 400m last time, could be worth another chance over the mile of the Quinte Plus Maiden.
“Possibly she didn’t stay but she suffered a lot of interference that day,” says Andre Nel.
“Her game is probably 1 800- 2000m but there isn’t a race for the next month and she is doing well enough to be competitive.”
Prince Of Wales (race six) looks another for Snaith and 35 minutes later 33-10 stable companion Azarenka has Nel’s 19-10 favourite Leisure Trip to beat.