Anybody For Seconds?

The Green Point Stakes loss is this coming Saturday’s gain. While the prestigious Gr1 Cape Guineas headlines the final Cape meeting before Christmas, there is little doubt that the presence of Mike de Kock’s champion Hawwaam in the Gr2 Premier Trophy will get the crowds out at Kenilworth on the afternoon.

The Hawwaam tale has been well documented in the media.

Hawwaam – looks tough to stop (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)

An intended  runner in the Green Point Stakes after Turffontein lost a key prep meeting, De Kock felt that his colt was short of work for last Saturday’s Gr2 and decided to change tack and take the ‘less desirable option’ – no doubt in terms of distance build up – but certainly the better timed slot of the R350 000 Gr2 Premier Trophy. The feature is run at weight-for-age plus penalties and bravo to the six trainers who are taking the Gauteng champion on at his first run in the Cape.

The SP top-rated at the weights, Hawwaam looks hard to stop. But we all knew that!

The son of Silvano has won 7 of his 8 starts, and returned to show his wellbeing over 1200m at the Vaal last month when disposing of a Gr1 sprinter in convincing style. This will be his first start in the Cape, but his trainer indicated some weeks ago that the intention was to give him a look at the left-handed Kenilworth course. His target is the Queen’s Plate and Sun Met.

A course and distance winner, but probably a more effective stayer at best, Snaith’s Doublemint returns from a 21 week break since a fair third behind Dynasty’s Blossom in the Gold Cup on Super Saturday.

Twist Of Fate (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)

Everything fell into place last Saturday for the young combination of trainer Adam Marcus and jockey Craig Zackey with a Gr1 & Gr2 success, and the top-class former Joey Ramsden 3yo Twist Of Fate has his first run for the buoyant Marcus outfit. The son of Master Of My Fate – blinkers now removed – is held by Hawwaam on paper and enjoyed a quiet first run this term when fading out at Durbanville in October. He will strip much fitter and is certainly a danger if getting away.

A horse whose formline doesn’t mirror the esteem in which he is held by his connections, second of the Snaith coupling Bunker Hunt has had one quiet outing this term since his unplaced effort in the Consolation July. He was baulked and was not given a hiding to get withing 3,55 lengths of One World. But he will have to start upping his game.

Tap O’Noth wins Cape Guineas (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)

A past Cape Guineas winner, Tap O’ Noth may need another run after two starts since a ten month break following the Sun Met. He is a decent sort on his day – as his earlier form shows – and could be the one to pick up the pieces in the unlikely event of Hawwaam not bringing his A-game to races.

Eyes Wide Open returns from a 21 week break since running unplaced behind Rainbow Bridge in the Gr1 Champions Cup. Prior to that he was hampered when making his run in the Vodacom Durban July and still managed a commendable fourth. A past Cape Derby winner, he could be overdue for another big win this summer.

A well beaten third behind Hawwaam and Twist Of Fate in the Gr1 Daily News last season, the lightly-raced Capoeira has run two smart races this term and is a danger if he continues to improve.

Majestic Mozart is one of those frustrating horses – he runs on over 1400m like he needs more, and then does the same over 2400m. Obviously a few lengths off the best, he has never been too far off the action but has made respiratory noises at his last two starts – a sign that all is not well. As a well-bred son of Dynasty, it would be folly to write this fellow off too early. But he looks outgunned here.

Hawwaam will be the world’s banker on the day.