Readytogorightnow is fit and enjoys the services of Piere Strydom
With fitness overshadowing any obvious deductions in the R400 000 Gr2 Green Point Stakes, it is perhaps worth noting that each winner over the past five years or so had a pipe-opener going into the WFA mile. But there are exceptions to the rule and that could prove cold comfort for the opposition given the star status of the two class Dynasty hotshots at the top of the ratings.
The prospects of top horses can never be ignored.
SA Horse Of The Year and July winner, Legislate. Champions Cup winner Futura.
Those are big names on any racecourse. And we are talking weight-for-age here. That is where the best horse is supposed to win.
But there are also two upstart 3yo’s in Afrikaburn and Light The Lights who get 7kgs from their elders.
The youngsters have a big task.
But both are fit and whether this is part of a shrewder plan by their trainers Kannemeyer and Kotzen or just a means of avoiding ‘War’ (excuse the pun) in the Selangor, it will be interesting to see how they handle the deep water.
Clash Of Class
The brilliant Dynasty colt Legislate has his first outing since the July
Legislate and Futura have met only once – that was in the July when just a half length seperated them in favour of Legislate. He is also 3kgs better off with Futura on Saturday.
The top rated Legislate is one of three Snaith runners in the race.
He returns to action after a 20 week break following his contentious and rather hollow Vodacom Durban July victory.
The Cape Derby champion shed his maiden over Saturday’s course and distance but has never won again over a mile at the top level. In fact he ran his worst ever race when finishing 6,20 lengths off Elusive Gold in the Cape Guineas last year.
Gallop
He had his first grass gallop at Kenilworth last week.
Completely recovered from a hairline fracture to his cannon, Legislate looked a picture of health.
Jono Snaith said:, “He’s been putting up some top work at home and today’s gallop was one of the best we’ve ever seen. Usually after a rest he’s a bit sluggish and it takes him a while to get going, but he’s come back better than ever. We’ll obviously check him over thoroughly this afternoon, but we’re very excited and we think he’s going to be a major contender for the summer season. He’s got a three race programme – the Green Point, the Queens’ Plate and J&B Met.”
Future Fantastic
Futura is ‘doing great’ says trainer Crawford
Top heavyweight jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe rides Futura for the first time and also rode him in his second session of grass work last week.
Brett Crawford confirmed that Futura had a month’s rest after the Durban season, but had since resumed work and had been ‘doing great’. He worked around the turn and was asked to do some work up the straight. Crawford was satisfied with the outing, commenting that ‘he worked fine.’
Futura’s progress has followed a far softer path than his opponent.
He avoided the classics and was brought along quietly, culminating in class performances in the Cup Trial and the July and then his deserved first Gr1 success on Super Saturday.
Crawford’s stand-in stable jockey Corne Orffer rides his stablemate, 2013 Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes winner Captain America.
Saturday has been a year since the son of Captain Al’s last win and he looks well held by Legislate.
Steady Ready
The tough Jet Explorer may need another run
Beyond Legislate, Snaith also saddles the Australian-bred Readytogorightnow and the fairytale kid Jet Explorer.
Readytogorightnow finished a cracking fourth behind Futura in the Champions Cup and comes in here having won two relatively soft prep runs with ease.
The son of More Than Ready will be one of the fitter horses to jump here and is partnered by Piere Strydom, who has had terrific success in the Hassan Adams silks.
Jet Explorer broke his jaw in a bad fall in the Gold Challenge and came back nicely for fourth behind Readytogorightnow in his season opener last month. He may need another run or two.
Young Set
Dean Kannemeyer’s Afrikaburn is a top 3yo and receives 7kgs
And what of the 3yo’s?
Dean Kannemeyer’s Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner Afrikaburn flew late when getting to within a two length second to Reim in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes in his 3yo debut.
He is the third highest rated horse in the field and a top-class colt who is a prime Cape Guineas candidate. With his weight advantage, he is worthy of inclusion.
Glen Kotzen and Greg Cheyne have been in top form and Light The Lights has drawn against the paint.
The son of Western Winter returns from a fluent win in the Listed Racing Association Stakes at Fairview in mid October and has shown himself to be just a few lengths off the best of his year.
Fairer Sex
Dennis Drier’s Jet Aglow is a powerful and game galloper
Dennis Drier sends out the only lady in the race in the talented Jet Master mare Jet Aglow, who comes in off her second finish to Jet Belle in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet 17 weeks ago. Jet Belle came out last Saturday to win a super sprint at Turffontein.
Jet Aglow is a game galloper but is likely to have the big fillies and mares features later on as her primary goal.
Stan Elley’s Punta Arenas finished 4 lengths behind Ice Machine in this race last year and the 6yo is likely to need it after a 17 week break following his 3,55 lengths behind Futura in the Gr1 Beach Beauty Champions Cup on Super Saturday.
Big Bass
Mike Bass was in top form on Sunday
Mike Bass had a superb day at Kenilworth last Sunday when he saddled three of the top four finishers in the Gr2 Cape Merchants.
He won’t harbour similar grand aspirations here with two runners that don’t strike us as likely winners.
The now 7yo Castlethorpe jumps from a decent draw and will strip fitter after a sprint outing at his season opener when he finished just over 5 lengths behind Asstar.
That was his first run after a four month break and his last win was achieved over the course and distance (summer course) way back in February. He couldn’t win it as a 6yo last year and looks unlikely a year on.
His stablemate Ashton Park is one of the better Battersea Park progeny around and his form is very consistent without setting the world alight.
He is a half kilo worse off with Readytogorightnow after being beaten 1,25 lengths by the Snaith horse last time. Ashton Park will need to find a few lengths in this class.
The Pointers
Class, ability, fitness, weight and jockeyship are a few of the blocks that need ticking.
On the balance of it, Readytogorightnow looks a likely winner. He has plenty in his favour, including the services of a great jockey.
3yo Afrikaburn will prefer Kenilworth to Durbanville and there was plenty to get excited about during his 2yo season on the East Coast.
Legislate and Futura should both be finishing their races and be right in the mix.
This race has all the hallmarks of being something really special.
