Classy. Silvano’s Jet blotted his formline in the Selangor Cup, but could bounce back here from a good draw
The R125 000 Listed Breeders’ Cup Politician Stakes run over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday plays the role of a perfect preparatory race for the Investec Cape Derby. Classic aspirations aside, the seventeen strong field leaves punters with a nightmare Pick 6 closing leg.
This is an impossible one to work out. A saving grace for punters could be the fact that Justin Snaith and Mike Bass field more than 50% of the field between their powerful yards, although the top two rated horses may well fight things out.
One Time
Piet Steyn’s Ashaawes gelding Sanshaawes is remarkably still only a one-time winner, but has run three top-class races in feature company. The foremost Guineas finisher in this lineup, he finished a great second to Chave De Oura in the Gr3 Cape Classic and then ran fifth and only 2,10 lengths behind King Of Pain in that memorable Selangor Cup in the first week of December.
Sanshaawes is way overdue for a second win, but has sadly not drawn as well as the KZN challenger Love Struck who has pulled a pole position draw.
Love Struck won the KZN Guineas Trial, thereby earning a free passage into the Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas. Love Struck ran quite prominently before fading to sixth and 5,95 lengths behind the fabulous Capetown Noir. Sanshaawes was marginally in front of him there.
Love Struck has the undeniable advantage of a 1 draw and Anton Marcus in this race and ventures beyond a mile for the first time in his career. One would feel that he would get the trip on his breeding.
Promising. Greys Inn Control is a promising sort who could go close under Felix Coetee
High Note
Justin Snaith uses these big race days very astutely to market his yard to a captive audience, and he sends out six runners to just about make sure that he ends the day on a high note.
Whether we use official ratings or jockey choice to decide the stable elect, we are left with a poser that will have us chasing our own tails.
With the likes of Piere Strydom, Anthony Delpech, Felix Coetzee, Robbie Fradd, MJ Odendaal and Sean Cormack engaged to ride, this has got to go down as the engagement coup and strongest jockey coupling of the Sizzling Summer Season.
We are aware of some reputational information too.
That Justin has been surprised by the forward performances of the four-time winning Parker.
That he rates Unencumbered, True Master and Dynamic as first class.
That he was disappointed with Cigar Boy’s lacklustre run in the Racing Association Stakes in Port Elizabeth in November.
And that former stable jockey Richard Fourie told a few associates to follow Greys Inn Control closely over six months ago already.
Any of the Snaith sextet could win this. Thank heavens for Pick 6 couplings!
Bass Trio
Mike Bass’ three way coupling is headed by the enigmatically talented Trippi colt Abercrombie, who ran 3,40 lengths off King Of Pain in the Selangor Cup.
A winner of just 1 of his 7 starts, Abercrombie was touted to be something special early and is yet to fufill that promise. His draw of 17 will not aid his cause.
Bass has a second Trippi in the form of Mussoorie.
The colt, who cost in excess of R1 million as a youngster, has won 1 of his 4 starts, and ran a fair post maiden last time when slow away and then cracking on late for a neck behind Cognac On Ice. The latter failed next time, but Mussoorie could be just about anything over the extra 200m of this race.
Slow Start
The grey Ze Kaiser makes up the Bass trio, and Silver Mist’s half brother appears to be finding his feet after a slow start to his career.
He is a kilo better off with Patriotic Rebel for a length beating last time, and is another whose stamina is not in doubt.
The Silvano gelding Act Fast ran a cracking third behind King Of Pain in the Selangor Cup, but went wrong when running last in the Guineas. He is well drawn and warrants inclusion as he hails from an in form yard.
Joey Ramsden’s Silvano’s Jet had excellent form before a mediocre effort in the Selangor Cup. On his penultimate start, he holds the likes of Awesome Power and Abercrombie, and steps beyond the mile for the first time. His dam won up to 2000m, and with his relaxed style of racing, he could well relish the test.
Awesome Power has drawn awfully at 15, but Glen Puller’s Surging River gelding has won 2 of 5 starts and likes to run at the leaders late. He beat some fair older horses in an MR 94 Handicap last time out.
The Rebel
Brett Crawford’s Patriotic Rebel won two in arrow in impressive style, before running on too late in an MR 82 Handicap over Saturday’s course and distance last time.
While he needs to show that he is as close to the classic 3yo’s as Sanshaawes, Patriotic Rebel has no stamina concerns and could be a quietly progressive sort.
Bill Prestage’s Man From Japan has received positive reviews from some of his jockeys in the past, and the son of Right Approach is two kgs better off with True Master for a 5,90 length beating at their last meeting.
Victory Cruise won at his second outing and is held in high esteem by trainer Glen Kotzen. He has failed though to assert himself at his subsequent seven outings and needs to start improving.
Which?
This is the kind of race that we fear can only end in tears.
It makes sense to go for one of top two rated 3yo’s but neither are invincible or necessarily going to Hollywood. For the rest, at this stage, they can improve lengths and a good few are trying the 1800m for the first time in their short lives.
Then of course, nominating one of the Snaith six is inviting disappointment. They are all runners in their own right, and if you are readily influenced by jockeys, then don’t even look further.
