Trainers Justin Snaith and Joey Ramsden hold strong hands in each of the Kenilworth 2yo features on Sunday. They should dominate both races although Phillipi based Riaan Van Reenen may have a trick or two up his own sleeve in the Listed Somerset 1200.
Riaan Van Reenen – dark horse?
Van Reenen doesn’t have the biggest of strings so it is a feather in his cap when he manages to send out a competitive runner to take on the big buying power of the major yards.
He saddles the Elusive Fort gelding Elevated, a R100 000 CTS graduate, who looks to be heading in the right direction after three decent runs – albeit in small fields.
The Favour Stud-bred product won readily second time of asking after a placing on debut and followed that up with a second to the Snaith’s Bishop’s Bounty, who is seen as a classic prospect for next term.
Sergeant Hardy – goes for three from three
Elevated ran on steadily for a length second to that one and the top yard will thus have a line through their unbeaten Sergeant Hardy.
The son of Captain Al is unbeaten in two starts and won the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met Day beating Pacific Spirit, a PE based horse making his debut. The latter won his subsequent two starts at home but it is third placed Bishop’s Bounty who provide the collateral.
He received 3kgs from Sergeant Hardy and was beaten 0,80 lengths – which gives Van Reenen’s Elevated some work to do.
Joey Ramsden – strong coupling
Joey Ramsden has two runners and both are recent maiden winners – and the Englishman won’t be intimidated by Snaith’s Guineas rout on Friday evening at Greyville.
The R2 million buy Attenborough is a beautifully bred handsome colt who was beaten 4 lengths by Bishop’s Bounty on debut.
He quickly made amends beating Cream Soda Green next time, although that one flopped at his next start.
His stablemate Dancer was beaten 2,25 lengths at level weights by Bishop’s Bounty at his second start and then won when enjoying the 1400m at his fourth outing. We are not convinced of the strength of that race and third placed dead-heater Rand Hedge was beaten 1,75 lengths by the highly Lee’s Star on his KZN debut a fortnight back.
The balance are maidens.
Vaughan Marshall – a ‘trix’ up his sleeve?
Vaughan Marshall-trained Kenny Trix ran fifth and 5,15 lengths behind Miranda Frost ona 75-1 debut in early April.
He receives 5kgs from Sergeant Hardy – but needs to improve on top of that.
The second of the Riaan Van Reenen runners is Wow In The Now, another son of Elusive Fort. He ran a 27,40 lengths shocker on debut and looks like he is saving the field.
It will be difficult to beat Sergeant Hardy and he is the selection to get the better of Attenborough and Elevated.
It doesn’t look like an upset sort of race, so go the top two in the exotics.
