Tevez returns to defend his title
An eclectic mix of class and sprinting ability frames the R400 000 Gr2 Cape Merchants to be run at Kenilworth today as a potential sprinting spectacle of note. Last year’s winner Tevez is back to defend his title but in a typically open quality handicap, he has plenty of work to do and there are a few big names who could rain on his parade.
The high class East Cape champion sprinter Copper Parade heads the weights with 62kgs as the highest rated runner in the race and the now 7yo son of Lecture is in the prime of his career, after starting out as a Gr1 winning 2yo all those years ago when still in the care of Joey Ramsden.
The 2014 Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner and conqueror of champion speedracer Via Africa comes off a rest of 18 weeks following a flying half length second to Bass’ Fly By Night in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint last term.
Champion Piere Strydom makes a rare trip to Cape Town and suits the gelding down to the ground. With fitness the unknown factor and Kenilworth possibly not his most distinguished hunting ground, he has a big task on his hands.
City Slicker
Capetown Noir returns from a rest
Champion miler Capetown Noir has the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as his major target and starts off after a 19 week break since his unplaced July run.
Reports are that the son of Western Winter is working well and enjoying himself back home.
History also shows that he can run fresh – take last season where he came off a similar break post the July and slammed a useful field in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes.
He has not won over the course and distance, but has the speed to be competitive in a race of this nature.
Bass Trio
Hammie’s Hooker is top-class and loves the track and trip
Mike Bass has three in the race and the Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker is a course and distance specialist who comes off a rest of 19 weeks following a flying second to champion Beach Beauty in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes.
Hammie’s Hooker is a particularly classy and versatile sort and if anywhere near race readiness, could give this lot a go for their money under Bernard Fayd’herbe.
Her stablemate Tevez was ridden by Glen Hatt when he flashed up late to nab Chave De Oura in the final strides of last year’s race when 3,30 lengths covered the first seven horses home.
While he has failed to win in the ensuing year, he should strip fit after two good prep efforts and is a talented, albeit marginally disappointing sprinter, who could put it all together here.
Despite casting a shoe in running, he stayed on really well for a 1,90 length fourth behind Asstar in an incident-filled Pinnacle Stakes over 100m shorter three weeks ago.
He is now 3kgs worse off with Asstar but must surely be right there over the extra.
A Star?
How good is the lightly raced Asstar?
He blotted his copybook just once in five runs when running below par at Durbanville, but has won thrice and looks a fellow who could still be a few paces ahead of the handicapper.
It is interesting that Asstar’s recent Pinnacle Stakes victory may well hold some clues to unravelling this race as eleven of Sunday’s eighteen horse field ran there. But it was a trouble-filled race and was run over 100m shorter.
A Glance
Happy Forever will be ridden by James Doyle
Let’s take a snap look at what happened:
The superfast and hugely consistent Daring Dave ran a 1,50 length second conceding 6kgs. He is now 3kgs better off and he is yet to show that he is as effective over the 1200m- amazingly so for a son of Dynasty.
Visiting jockey James Doyle rides Happy Forever who ran a 1,70 length third conceding 7,5kgs. He is now 2kgs better off but ran on really well and is capable of finding his best form.
The West Is Wide ran a 3,40 length fifth conceding 6kgs. He is now 4kgs better off but has tended to lack genuine class at this level.
Shishangeni ran a 4,65 length sixth conceding 3kgs. He is 3kgs better off but the relatively lightly raced Caesour gelding is in under sufferance and looks well held on the overall weight terms.
Wild Thing
Tiger Tiger may be a quartet kicker under Devin Ashby
Tiger Tiger ran a 5,15 length seventh conceding 4,5kgs and now runs at level weights with Asstar.
The Paul Reeves’ trained gelding has had two runs since returning from his winter break and comes into the picture as a course and distance specialist off a handy galloping weight
Villa Del Largo ran a 5,75 lengths ninth conceding 4,5kgs and runs at level weights with Asstar.
Villa Del Largo ran 3,35 lengths off Tevez last year but has tumbled in the handicap and is considerably more favourably rated this time around.
The son of Jallad has shown flashes of good ability and will enjoy the services of SA champion jockey S’manga Khumalo.
Right Medicine
De Kock wins the Gr2 Selangor Cup but returned fatigued last time
The Which Doctor ran a 10,25 length twelfth conceding 2kgs. She is 1,5kgs better off and is one of only three representatives of the fairer sex in the race. The last lady winner was Dance With Al back in 2010.
The speedy mare beat the moderate Chestnut Dancer at her penultimate run but then ran 10,25 lengths behind Asstar but cannot beat the Puller runner on that.
It is worrying that Brett Crawford’s De Kock returned fatigued after running a 11,50 length thirteenth conceding 4,5kgs. He is 3kgs better off and will need to repeat his penultimate run.
Jockey Sean Cormack reported something amiss when Silver Bluff ran 19,50 lengths behind conceding 4,5kgs. He is now 4kgs better off but is up in class.
The once potent sprinting force of Justin Snaith’s Cap Alright is now a 7yo and the game son of Captain All appears to have lost some of his competitive edge – as most of us do with age. He won the race back in 2012, so conceivably is capable of a very good run.
His last run can be ignored as he stumbled and dislodged jockey Karl Neisius. He was beaten close on five lengths by De Kock at his penultimate outing and looks held again.
The Balance
Mike and Luella Robinson – the Blarney Bay team
Mike Robinson has done exceptionally well with the game galloper Blarney Bay and the son of Nysaean now steps into the big league.
The six-time winner is ultra consistent although at his best from 1400m to 1600m and may be caught short for pure pace in a contest of this nature.
The second of the females is Mike Bass’ Trippi filly Lanner Falcon who ran on very smartly for second spot in the Gr3 Diana Stakes behind Double Whammy. While most of her action has been confined to racing against her own sex, she is nippy enough to grab place money.
Dean Kannemeyer’s top stayer Hot Ticket makes his seasonal debut after a break of sixteen weeks following a solid fourth placed finish behind Wavin’ Flag in the Gold Cup on Super Saturday.
He will find this too short.
