Two past winners are in the quality sixteen horse line-up for today’s R400 000 Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes.
The 1160m contest honours a past speed champion of the turf and could hail an up-and-coming prospect for the future.
The race is weighted on merit rating bands and looks a keenly contested affair with chances to many.
Tandava wins the Senor Santa in 2018 – any price this year!
Tandava (2018) and Champagne Haze (2017) are the two past winners, and while both are very capable, they are not racing in prime form at the moment and others are preferred.
The 3yo Cirillo is one of a Sean Tarry quintet and has his first run back after a successful Cape campaign which he rounded off with a rewarding success in the CTS 1200 on Sun Met Day. The son of Pomodoro is a course-and-distance winner and with recent regular pilot Anton Marcus making the trip again, he must be a big runner.
The high class Oratorio grey Mardi Gras is on a hat-trick as he aims for his sixth – and what will be his biggest – career victory. He has proven very competitive over the course and distance in the past and must rank a serious contender.
Very talented Mardi Gras
One of only three fairer sex sprinters in the race, the runaway course and distance Magnolia Handicap winner Schippers looks nicely in and has not been disgraced when taking on the boys in the past. She is a half kilo better off with the very capable Green Plains for a 2,20 length beating at their last meeting and will strip a fitter filly on Saturday.
Who was Senor Santa? Click here
Sean Tarry’s champion sprinter Bull Valley carries top weight but has not run for 59 weeks and is likely to need it.
The ever game Rivarine showed plenty of speed again in the Tommy Hotspur but failed to go through with his run and was beaten 2,50 lengths into fifth. He could pop up when we least expect him to and is an exotic bet inclusion.
Rivarine – may prefer the inside draw
Exquisite Touch enjoys a 3kg pull with Mardi Gras after being beaten 3,65 lengths by the Johan Janse van Vuuren flyer last time out over 1200m at the Vaal.
The 7yo Trip To Heaven ran on well to be beaten just under 5 lengths by Kasimir in the Cape Flying Championship on Met day. He is probably a better horse at home and could find quartet money if he gets away on terms.
Prince Of Kahal stormed through late in the Tommy Hotspur and should be much better suited to the extra 160m here. In fact Tommy Hotspur surprise winner Down To Zero bumps him on 2kgs worse terms for a narrow beating and may find himself hard pressed to find another winning cheque here.
The two girls Green Plains and Schippers look nicely in and could well turn the tables on the boys – although history would argue against that. Mardi Gras and Cirillo are on the up and could do enough to stop the consistent Prince Of Kahal. An intriguing race!
