CORMACK TO STAR ON WESTERN MOVIE
Good ride in Race 2
JOCKEY Sean Cormack has the best winning strike rate at Kenilworth and looks the one to follow at that venue where he has some promising rides on today’s eightevent programme.
His first visit to the winner’s enclosure is likely to come in Race 2 and main event aboard Carl Burger-trained Western Movie in a R68 250 MR 77 Handicap over 1000m. The four-yearold caught punters napping four runs back with a decisive win over this course and distance but the speedy gelding weakened late next time when stepping up the distance and a well-beaten fifth. Relishing the return to 1000m in his following outing, he was back to form with an encouraging second from a slow start and, teamed up with Cormack in subsequent and last run over the same distance, he showed good pace throughout in finishing a bright 0.70-length third. Though carrying topweight of 60kg, a similar effort today against weaker opposition should see the gelding record his fourth career win.
However, a strong challenge can be expected from one-time winner Soul Sacrifice (57kg) who also drops down in class after having clashed with Western Movie last time. Darryl Hodgson’s charge ran on stoutly from a slow start to finish fourth, only a head behind third-placed Western Movie and, being a half-kilo better off better off this time and with top-flight Karl Neisius taking the ride, fouryear-old Soul Sacrifice deserves the utmost respect.
Joey Ramsden-trained novice Eastern Front has scope for further improvement with Greg Cheyne in the saddle. Cheyne was aboard four runs back when a vastly improved second over 1200m at Durbanville which was followed with a smart win over today’s course and distance. He missed the ride in the gelding’s subsequent runs over the same course and distance where the three-year-old was fourth from a poor start and then an unfortunate 1.70-length third after being cramped and checked 100m from the line. Reunited with Cheyne and with better luck in the running, the gelding rates a threat.
In-form veteran jockey Glen Hatt should not be overlooked here on bottom-weight Prince Of Panarea out of Greg Ennion’s stable. The fouryear-old had been threatening a maiden win for a while and cracked it in his most recent outing when backed in from long odds and teamed up with Hatt for the first time. Despite an untidy start and having to be switched for a clear run, the gelding stormed through to win by an increasing 2.25 lengths over this course and distance. Though stepping up in class, the gelding could be in the final call again with only 53.5kg to shoulder.
In complete contrast, the accent will be on stamina in Race 6 where Cormack could come to light on Justin Snaithtrained Follow The Wind in a R68 000 MR 78 Handicap over 2500m.
This expensive fouryear-old has been coming along the right way after a nose-bleed suspension and there was much to like about his last two runs over marathon distances.