Snowdance faces daunting task

THERE are many pundits who subscribe to the theory of ‘second run after a lay-off’ and will be wary of Snowdance’s chances in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

The filly takes on males in tomorrow’s Gr1 contest at Greyville and she comes off a bruising battle with Fiorella in the Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas, her first run after winning the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes back in January.

It was no doubt not the ideal return to racing, finishing second notwithstanding.

Justin Snaith would have preferred a more gentle return to the track but Snowdance hooked up with a rival who was just that much fitter and it was a seriously testing final furlong.

That race was a month ago, so there has been time for a little R&R, but Snowdance takes on some seriously good male milers headed by Captain America and this race will be no ‘gimme’.

Captain America will be defending his crown and is as game as they come. His last win came in this race last year but his recent form is impeccable and the break since finishing two lengths back to Oh Susanna in the Sun Met should not be a factor as he has shown that he races fresh.

Crawford said earlier in the week, “He is fine. He had a little problem when arriving in Durban, which is why he has not run yet, but we have done the best we can to have him race fit. Ideally it would have been nice to have had a run but he looks well, his work has been good and he runs well fresh.”

A ’mile’ is his optimum trip and he is a length inferior to Legal Eagle who is unbeaten over the distance.

With that in mind, Snowdance will have her work cut out.

Brett Crawford holds a strong hand with Sail South and Undercover Agent also entered.

There is very little between Sail South and Captain America over a mile and Sail South has had the benefit of a recent outing when three lengths back to Perovskia in the Drill Hall Stakes which could possibly give him the edge. Bernard Fayde’Herbe has committed to Sail South for the season so little can be read into the riding arrangements here but stable rider Corne Orffer will have had a choice between Undercover Agent and Captain America. Undercover Agent went down narrowly to Perovskia in the Drill Hall and this will be his third run after a break so should be at his very peak.

“He is drawn well is in great form and I expect another honest run.

“He beat most of the opposition here in the Drill Hall so it will be interesting to see how he goes against them over a mile,” said Crawford.

Captain America is the stable darling, so that may have swayed Orffer in his choice and apprentice Lyle Hewitson picks up the ride on Undercover Agent.

Hewitson has had a phenomenal season and is way clean on the National Jockey’s table.

A win would add more lustre to his feat and he will fancy his chances here.

Gold Standard and Roy Had Enough are both Vodacom Durban July entries and with a number of runners that were included in the last July log having defected for one reason or another, both have good chances of making the final field although a forward showing would not do their cause any harm.

The Gr3 Cup Trial is traditionally the last chance saloon for July hopefuls and tomorrow’s event is no different. African Night Sky, after his unlucky second to stable companion Star Express last time out, is an obvious choice and a certainty to make the VDJ field.

Given that he is among the top weights in the Trial, victory should not earn him much of a penalty with the July weights due out on Tuesday, June 19.

Perovskia surprised many when willing the Drill Halls Stakes beating hot favourite Undercover Agent and with that win cemented his place in the VDJ field. He will much prefer tomorrow’s 1 800m trip and like African Night Sky would not face a huge penalty for victory. Those on the outside looking in to VDJ selection but with realistic chances of making the field with a win include Head Honcho, Platinum Prince, Wild Wicket, Mambo Mime and the filly Roy’s Riviera.

Platinum Prince, second in the King’s Cup and fourth in the WSB 1900 is a borderline case. Expect a massive run from the Snaith entry and a must for all exotic bets.

Head Honcho is unbeaten since being sent over ground and beat Pack Leader, many a pundits July fancy, in the Sledgehammer.

Mambo Mime will need a forward showing but Keagan de Melo has defected to Head Honcho which may be telling.

Wild Wicket and Crowd Pleaser would need to win while Roy’s Riviera has not been far back in hotly contested fillies features and with 52kg on her back, could surprise. CLOUDS UNFOLD can become the first filly to win the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Kenilworth tomorrow since Empress Crown ten years ago.

Candice Bass-Robinson, whose father trained Empress Crown, won this with Dutch Philip 12 months ago and has an abundance of two-year-old talent to choose from. Aldo Domeyer’s mount was immensely impressive when beating two previous winners in a juvenile plate over a furlong less here eight weeks ago.

The selection had drifted slightly to 22-10 by yesterday morning whereas Arabian Air remained firm at 19-10 with World Sports Betting and this is a good race for favourites who have been successful in four of the last seven runnings.

Donovan Dillon’s mount can be excused last time’s below par effort over a furlong further as he was patently not himself after breaking through the pens and then not striding out freely. He finished behind stable companion Carnage with Lucky Dancer (backed from 10-1 to 7-1 here) only fifth but looks the biggest threat. Carnage’s talented rider cannot claim his allowance so the 5-1 chance is effectively carrying 4kg overweight.

Watch Me Dad, who has already been backed from 10-1 to 17-2, won his maiden as if he could have found a bit more and Ronnie Sheehan was successful with Captain Chaos three years ago.

Justin Snaith, who last won this with Sergeant Hardy in 2016, relies on 10-1 chance Seventh Sea who took seven attempts to win a maiden but is almost certainly better than that would suggest. However Mr Crumford looks a more likely contender at 8-1. He was caught on the wrong side of the course when running below expectations in the Somerset, some four lengths behind Arabian Air.

Sailor Sam is friendless at 28-1. He is much better than his last place in the Somerset would suggest but, even so, it’s hard to see him winning.

The Bass-Robinson stable and Aldo Domeyer also won the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery 12 months ago – with future star Magical Wonderland – and they can repeat the performance with Nous Voila who is favourite at 11-10. She went close in the Perfect Promise and had 16-1 shot Coral Bay four lengths back.

It is significant that the Snaiths, who have won two of the last three runnings, have chosen this Listed race to introduce Juniper Spring, a Captain Al filly out of the 2006 winner Spring Lilac, a half-sister to Bela-Bela, Rabiya and Secret Of Victoria. “She has a lot of class and we rate her very highly,” said Jono Snaith yesterday. “But it’s a big ask first time up and we would be happy to see her get some black type.” Juniper Spring is a 4-1 chance and Mixed Signals has been backed from 6-1 to 9-2. Carioca (17-2) was conceding weight all round in the Perfect Promise but the main danger could be the selection’s 33-10 stable companion Santa Clara.

Hopefully the forecast rain won’t wreck the racing and in the first Frank Lloyd Wright may get the better of the luckless Frozen Tune.