A Pick 6 pool expected to reach R4 million, and a high quality card of feature season contenders, highlights the South African racing programme on an outstanding Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
With the first race off at 12h40 and the first Gr1 of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival carded, a terrific day of racing is on the cards.
Justin Snaith – can make it a happy birthday celebration on Saturday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
And one man who will be hoping for a big one is birthday boy Justin Snaith, who has sadly lost his kingpin Jet Dark, but will be leaning on his remaining 17 runners to make it a Saturday birthday to remember. The Sporting Post is aware of his age, but like the insider trading merit ratings referred to by his younger colleague Mike de Kock last weekend, it remains a state secret, to be disclosed on our Facebook page tomorrow.
The top class Snaith charge Ciao Bella heads a fourteen strong cast for the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas.
Cape Racing reports that Gqeberha raider, the unbeaten Peach Daiquiri, impressive last out winner of the Summer Bowl, Make it Snappy, the consistent, Who Do You Love and pace-pressing, Happy Chance have raced upfront or handy in the past so should ensure a solid gallop from the get go.
That may tee things up for a quality filly able to stalk the pace then accelerate sharply in the deep stretch with Ciao Bella fitting that profile.
The grey dominated in the Western Cape Fillies Championships from a similarly favourable draw (3) when she blasted clear with a great turn of foot. Jockey Richard Fourie was impressed with that performance, so he sticks solid on this high-class filly.
Her pursuers on that occasion, Golden Hostess and Time Fo Orchids are again prejudiced by the draw, gated out at 12 and 13 respectively.
That is not insurmountable on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworthy summer course with the 600m long run-in, but it makes their life harder. Both were running on strongly in the Fillies Championship with Golden Hostess doing especially well to get as close as she did, given she was baulked in the straight.
Gimme’s Lassie comes out of that same form line and is another in with a shake as she was only a length and a quarter behind Ciao Bella, though it must be said that Snaith’s grey won under wraps.
Brett Crawford’s Make It Snappy – a dark horse in the Gr1 contest (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Make it Snappy was cleverly placed by Brett Crawford off a light weight against Gr1 performers, Chansonette and Marina last time. That was straight off a Maiden win and the fact that she sustained a good gallop and won start to finish makes her a threat, too.
There is little separating Bonika, Fun Zone, Echo of Life and Miss Marguerite on their past performances, and they could sneak into the frame. But they are light on the numbers needed to threaten for the win.
Ciao Bella boasts impressive figures so is the pick to win this prestigious Gr1. Golden Hostess, Make it Snappy and Peach Daiquiri could follow her in.
- The first leg of the big Pick 6 is at 14h25.
