‘Zone’ will have the measure of ‘Snow’
CAPE RACING stages a 9-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this afternoon where the first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, is scheduled to start at 12:20. Richard Fourie teams up with Justin Snaith in the opener and the pair could get favourite backers off to a good start.
In The Green Zone comes into the race with solid form and should have the measure of market rival Summer Snow, but the big unknown is the Brett Crawford first-timer, Just A Glance, who the yard expects to run well on debut – keep an eye on the market as we approach race time.
Summer Lily
The second race and opening leg of the Bipot is a trappy Cape B Stakes (F&M) over 1400m and here again it’s the Fourie/Snaith combination that makes most appeal, as Summer Lily is handily weighted and well-drawn.
She is ideally course and distance suited and is holding form really well, having never missed the frame in her seven starts to date. But this won’t be a walk-in-the-park for Summer Lilly as all of Unconquerable Lady, Callmegetrix and Wugug will keep her honest. On best form Fun Zone would have a say in the outcome but her last two runs have been below par.
Race 3 is an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1200m and there are several with winning prospects. Lightly-raced Pink Moon has her third run back from a lengthy lay-off and should be cherry ripe.
She represents some value at 6/1, but only the race will show whether she will step up to expectations and Place Accumulator punters are advised to hedge their bets in this leg. Rocking Peonie and United We Stand should be involved while Lead To Glory and Spirit Guide are not without winning claims either.
The opening leg of the Pick 6, another Open Maiden (F&M) over 1600m, has attracted a field of ten runners, half of which cannot be ruled out.
Charlotte Bronte, the half-sister to Charles Dickens, is coming along gradually and possibly rates the one they all have to beat, but I am going to take a stab at Andre Nel’s runner Lavender Bay.
She has not been seen since December when unplaced behind Tres Chic on her debut over 1200m, but it’s interesting that she comes straight into a 1600m contest after the break. Four subsequent winners have emerged from the form of her first effort and she does not have to be too special to win here.
Race 5, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, is wide open and Spirit’s Unite is a weak early favourite at 4/1.
F Eight may represent some value at 8/1 while Hang Out The Stars could be the lurker in the pack at a big price.
Gold Index, Liketheclappers, Kebonalesedi and Kelp Forest are others to consider in a race that is up for grabs.
The sixth race is an intriguing Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1200m and, unlike the lower class races on the day, there is plenty of quality amongst the nine acceptors. Nordic Quest is on the rise and gets my vote to score at the expense of Southern Skies, Pineapplemintgreen and Winter Rainfall but there should not be much separating them at the line. Enemy Territory reverts to the straight course and could be the surprise package.
Fourie enjoys a healthy winning strike rate for trainer Greg Ennion and they could be on the mark with Veronique in the seventh race and recent winner, Wordsworth, in the ninth. Veronique possibly has most to fear from Tres Chic while Wordsworth’s biggest danger could be Swift Action, who has finished runner-up in his last two outings.
Kyalami Girl
Kyalami Girl and the rapidly improving Speed Racer lock horns in the eighth race, a Cape B Stakes over 1000m.
I am leaning ever so slightly towards Speed Racer but Kyalami Girl will be no pushover and both must be included in all exotic permutations. Porque Te Vas, Bluff on Bluff and The Charleston (20/1) are others to consider. The Charleston was not striding freely in her last two starts but she is very talented and could return fit and fresh from a five month break.