There are unlikely to be any protests or tears shed as racing switches from Durbanville to the fairer playing fields of Kenilworth Racecourse today. A staying contest, the R150 000 Listed Woolavington Handicap, heads a tricky, if not blue chip quality, nine-race programme.
Snaith’s Francia is a stayer on the up
The graders powered up and the spades were out shortly after the final race of the last Durbanville meeting on Tuesday, as the six month long track upgrade got under way.
The country course could be back in business come April 2017, and let’s hope that after the millions have been spent, that the local trainers and jockeys will be just as willing to race there as they are at Kenilworth.
All the winners for the weekend – get your racecard here
Winter Course
The 2400m Woolavington Handicap is run on the winter course and is the afternoon’s feature.
A glance at the measly turnout of seven runners elicits a second look for the main reason of the notable absence of any representation from the Joey Ramsden yard.
The Milnerton magician is a noted trainer of stayers and it would have been a plus to have one or two of his bolstering the numbers.
Top-Rated
Mike and Candice Bass
Candice Bass-Robinson saddles the Sporting Post top-rated pair of the recently out of sorts Three Balloons and the former Stan Elley-trained My World.
Three Balloons is a dour and game stayer on his day and did not enjoy a memorable SA Champions Season last term.
The son of Judpot stretched his legs in a sprint pipe-opener a fortnight ago and the course and distance winner looks a fair prospect off the 52kg mark in the hands of Grant van Niekerk.
My World stays well and was beaten 3,40 lengths by the improving Francia in the Listed Settlers Trophy – but enjoys a 3kg swing at the weights with the Snaith filly.
Snaith Hand
Her colleague Justin Snaith has a very strong hand with last year’s winner, the topweighted Australian-bred Ovidio and the smart Dynasty filly Francia in the line-up.
Francia, as mentioned, won the Listed Settlers Trophy last time and is on the up.
She has been shown no mercy by the handicapper (she won the Oaks in June off a 78 and is now a 92) and will need to maintain her improvement to match strides with the boys.
Topweight Ovidio ran a decent fourth in the Gold Cup
Ovidio has been rested 11 weeks since his eyecatching fourth to Enaad in the Gold Cup. He beat what looks like a slightly stronger field in this race last year, and if not finding his 62kgs too much to bear, could be in the firing line.
Brett Crawford – trains Kingston Mines
The Archipenko gelding Kingston Mines has switched yards from Mike de Kock to Brett Crawford and has his first run as a 6yo since an undistinguished tilt at the Gr2 Gold Cup on Super Saturday.
He looks likely to need the outing after his eleven week break but won his biggest race at this venue and could be a dangerous front-runner. But frankly he has battled to regain the form that saw him win the 2015 Gr2 Urban Honey Stayers (on Met day) and follow up with a smooth victory in the Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup at Turffontein.
Smoking
The 7yo Cigar Boy, who, like the topweight Ovidio, also races for the Truter family, has shown flickers of better form in his last two starts but has never won at this distance and could be a quartet booster at best.
Cigar Boy has run two fair races at his last and could be a quartet kicker
The Mohamed Allie-trained Hilaria is the second of only two members of the fairer sex in the seven horse field and is under sufferance with all of her opponents.
The grey daughter of Rebel King has only won once from 33 starts and while game and competitive at the right level against her own sex, it is difficult suggesting or finding a good reason that she will feature at her first try over ground against the boys.
Top Three
Three Balloons, Francia and the solid Aussie Ovidio look the three to fight over the honours.
Francia has been climbing the ladder and has fitness on her side. Three Balloons would only need to find his best ability to feature off his 52kgs. Ovidio has the class and definitely cannot be ignored.
