Rainbow Bridge returns

There is an often-used comment that if a race was run on paper, a particular horse would win.

We all know races are not run on paper but at Kenilworth today it probably would not make any difference whether the race was run on paper or the turf, Rainbow Bridge would still win.

The Eric Sands-trained runner makes his return to the track in preparation for the summer season and he is literally thrown into this field, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m.

Yes, 1400m is a touch sharp for the son of Ideal World but he is 7kg and more, better handicapped than any of his opposition and despite the distance, he should be too good for this field.

His connections may have felt a little disappointed with Rainbow Bridge’s efforts in KZN last season but he still came away with a Grade 1 win in the Gold Challenge and ran a short-head second behind stable companion and half-brother Golden Ducat in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at the end of August.

It is 88 days since that last run so the break has not been that long, and Sands is far too professional to bring an unfit Rainbow Bridge to the racecourse.

He does get a new jockey this time as apprentice Luke Ferraris has picked up the ride.

This race also sees the return of African Night Sky who was injured when returning from KZN in 2018. He is the second bestweighted runner, but the son of Dynasty will need surely need this run.

If one is looking to take Swingers, Trifectas and Quartets, three horses stand out – Silver Operator, Captain Of Stealth and West Coast – in that order.

Silver Operator is currently in good form and has Anton Marcus in the irons.