Danger. Joey Ramsden’s Juddering Angel is never far off the action and may enjoy the mile
The form thread of the Gr3 Langerman runs dominantly through the R121 875 Listed Winter Juvenile Stakes to be run over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday. More than half the field ran in that feature in early June, but the real trick will lie in factoring in the less exposed runners.
The dissapointingly small field presents a competitive puzzle to unravel , with a runaway recent course and distance winner, Hassen Adams’ smart looking Matador In Red trying a mile for the first time and with two promising maidens to colour the mix.
Collateral
Glen Kotzen’s outstanding Langerman winner Antonius Du Bois gives Saturday’s race a miss, but the second through to fifth placed finishers line up here and that should simplify things.
But when it comes to the Juveniles, the natural month to month improvement and adaptability to the increased ground throws in the curved ball of the unknown. In the circumstances, the Langerman form is probably the logical starting point.
Horizon
Vaughan Marshall’s Jungle Skyline has placed at all of his three starts, and failed by a narrow margin to catch Antonius Du Bois in the Langerman in receipt of two kgs. The son of Lion Tamer runs on strongly, but is two kgs worse off with the three horses he beat in the Langerman.
Justin Snaith’s Lastbutnotleast ran third in the Langerman just over a length behind Jungle Skyline. The son of Second Empire was running on smartly there, and was unlucky when baulked at his penultimate start, where he was beaten narrowly by Captain Magpie. Karis Teetan rides him here.
Angel Eyes
Joey Ramsden’s Juddering Angel finished just over a length behind Lastbutnotleast in fourth place in the Langerman. Ramsden has struck great form with his feature runners and needs to be seriously considered.
Juddering Angel was a first winner for Varsfontein Stud stallion Judpot when he scored in great style on his debut in February. His last two runs around the turn have not been disgraceful efforts and he looks likely to improve further to challenge again.
Island Style
Dean Kannemeyer’s Tiger Island ran fifth in the Langerman just two lengths behind the fourth placed Juddering Angel and grabs the paint here with the 1 draw. Tiger Island is the most experienced campaigner in the race with seven runs to his credit. His peak run was his post maiden second behind Flash Drive in the Cape Nursery, where he ran on strongly for second.
He was a touch flat in the Langerman when he weakened in the straight to finish a weak fifth. His style of running and his breeding dictate that Tiger Island should enjoy the mile, and he may deserve another chance.
Pocket Rocket
Glen Kotzen will have a personal line of strength between Antonius Du Bois and his runner here, Counts Rocket. His runner is the only course and distance winner in the race. A son of Count Dubois, the Klawervlei Stud bred Counts Rocket showed terrific improvement when trying the Kenilworth mile at his fourth outing to win his maiden by over six lengths in emphatic style.
He had run a fair second behind the promising My Nephew Eric over 1400m at his second outing, but is well held by Jungle Skyline on his third run. Another who falls out of the Langerman net is the second of the Snaith runners, Matador In Red. The Australian bred son of Red Ransom struck gold at his third start when showing resolution to outgun Headstrong Harry.
Prior to that, he was just over 3 lengths behind Antonius Du Bois at his second start. On a line through that effort, he could be held by his stablemate too.
Jungle Oats
Dolfie Maeder sends out the maiden Oats in the turquoise and silver silks of his wife, Heidi. The Lundy’s Liability colt has only run twice, but improved substantially at his second outing when making late headway to finish under six lengths behind the good winner Nordic Air over the Kenilworth 1200m straight.
On the strength of that effort, and taking cognisance of his breeding,Oats should relish the extra 400m of Saturday’s race. With respect to Denies Lee who rode him in his first two starts, he will also no doubt benefit from the stronger handling of Andrew Fortune.
Winner
Counts Rocket was most impressive when winning last time and we are leaning towards him as a potential winner. Jungle Skyline has run three promising races without winning yet. He is 2kgs worse off with the three horses he beat narrowly in the Langerman. That could be a leveller. Matador In Red found the winner’s enclosure last time, and should enjoy the mile.
