Confidence for Kabelo
OPPORTUNITIES: THREE GOOD RIDES AHEAD OF DURBAN JULY
Mercantour looks the best of his trio.
It is always the goals of any sportsman to participate in the greatest event in their country and hopefully from there, in the world. With the Hollywoodbets Durban July just a few days away Kabelo Matsunyane will be looking for a confidence booster ahead of his ride aboard Second Base in this year’s R5-million showpiece at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The 23-year-old rider demonstrated potential as an apprentice, and he continues to show off his ability as a fully fledged jockey. He also has the advantage at riding off a light weight and that has helped to open a few doors for him.
Matsunyane’s has some decent rides at tomorrow’s Turffontein meeting where racing is on the Inside track. His first potential winner comes up in Race 2, a Juvenile Plate over 1200m, where Mercantour looks the one to beat.
Trained by Stuart Pettigrew, this Var gelding is already a two-time winner from four starts. His record could have been even more impressive had he not been hampered last time out. He does concede weight to all in this event but looks classy enough to still get the job done.
In Race 5, a MR 96 Handicap over 1450m, Matsunyane will be aboard Castletown, also for Pettigrew.
Horse and jockey know each other well, having paired up four times for a win and two place finishes.
In their one other outing together three runs back they did cross the line first but were disqualified after Matsunyane’s saddle slipped dislodging a lead bag in running, which resulted in his weighing in under his carded mass.
The pair did put that unfortunate incident behind them and won when combining next time out. The form of that run has been franked when runner-up Team Gold came out to win his next start.
This Silvano gelding is the toprated runner in the field at 99 and well-drawn in gate No 3.
Having contested four graded races, without ever being disgraced, this Class B event looks the right race for Castletown to record a fourth win from 11 runs.
However, he will have to beat Sean Tarry-trained Bowie, who has run against far stronger and jumps from No 1 draw.
Code Zero is Matsunyane’s other promising ride in Race 6, a FM 80 Handicap over 2000m.
Trained by Paul Matchett, this three-year-old filly has also tasted victory with Matsunyane in the irons over this distance.
Jumping from gate No 10 will not be a problem for her as she has proven to stay on at the business end of a race and doesn’t mind having to make up ground going for home.
Once again, he could face a serious challenge from another runner and that could be St John Gray’s Last Cheer. The five-year-old mare’s merit rating is coming down and that should bring her into contention.
Last cheer has a record of two wins from four runs over the course and distance.