Joie De Vivre gets the nod
TOMORROW’S Kenilworth two-yearold race is like a jigsaw with the most important pieces missing.
Not one of the nine runners has raced and few of the trainers are expressing any great confidence.
World Sports Betting went by the trainer form book when pricing up the race on Wednesday and made the Vaughan Marshall runner favourite at 21-20.
No surprise there -the colt is guaranteed to know his job and be ready. Joie De Vivre is out of a three-parts sister to Captain Al and, although he was put in the CTS Premier, he did not sell.
More to the point for our purposes, he is by Silvano so this 1 000m could be on the short side – “He is a very nice horse but I think he might just need it,” was his trainer’s verdict yesterday.
Second favourite at 5-2 is Roi Querari, a R625 000 half-brother to Captainofthesea and whose dam is a full sister to the Cape Flying runner-up Rushing Wind.
Richard Fourie rides him rather than 12-1 stable companion Kamadeva, a R225 000 Capetown Noir.
“There is not a lot between them and I wouldn’t like to say which would beat the other,” said Justin Snaith pointing out that he hasn’t had a lot of joy with first time two-year-olds.
“Roi Querari is a nice type, a very strong horse and I’m expecting a good run while Kamadeva shows a lot of pace at home and he puts a lot of effort into his work.”
Do Or Dare (13-2) is the most expensive of the nine at R750 000 and is by Dynasty out of a half-sister to July winner Hunting Tower.
“This may be a little bit sharp for him but he is showing lots of natural speed,” said Dean Kannemeyer.
“He will be doing his best work at the finish.”
The Visionaire colt Minnesota Dream (11-1) cost R400 000 but will he be ready enough?
“I don’t know,” answered Joey Ramsden.
“He is a big horse and he wants further but he does go very well.”
Hidden Strings is the only filly in the race, she cost just R50 000 despite being out of a Captain Al mare but she is a 201 shot.
“She has a lot of pace and has galloped very well but I wouldn’t count on it first time out against the colts,” said Greg Ennion.
There is nil confidence behind R70 000 20-1 shot Optimum even though he is by Oratorio.
“He has done enough to run but physically and mentally he is not really ready,” said Piet Botha.
Paul Reeves has already had a twoyear-old winner this season but Captain Yolo is the 25-1 outsider of the party and Fighter a 16-1 shot.
Maybe those prices are a little overgenerous because Reeves said: “Both show good speed although they may need the run. Fighter is slightly ahead of the other one.”
Personally, I am taking the easy way out and going with Joie De Vivre.
Salt can win the next and Round The Horn race three.
Everything went wrong for Var Express when hot favourite last time and, with Anton Marcus on board, he looks the bet of the day at 9-2 in race four.