August is a quiet month on the local horseracing front. General housekeeping in the racing yards means that field sizes can come under pressure. Given that reality, Kenilworth hosts a very nice tricky eight-race programme today, with Justin Snaith holding a strong hand in the topliner.
Star Chestnut could recapture his earlier form
August is a popular month for taking a well deserved rest, or holiday for those who can afford it, for trainers, jockeys and the horses.
It is also generally the wettest month down in the Cape, but the Milnerton tracks this year are still very playable as we reach the halfway point of the month.
Justin Snaith has a decent coupling in the small field of seven that goes to post in the 1400m MR 87 Handicap.
Richard Fourie – rides Overshadow
Their first choice jockey Richard Fourie takes the ride on the beautifully bred Trippi gelding Overshadow.
The lightly raced 4yo is out of the high-class racemare, Shadow Dancing, who won both the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes in an illustrious track career.
Overshadow won over the course and distance last time out and returns from a 9 week break.
If fit, he certainly ticks the boxes and looks very progressive.
Rated
His stablemate Star Chestnut won two good races in the 2015 SA Champions Season on the East Coast but has failed to win again.
The son of Horse Chestnut was considered good enough to take on Gr1 opposition as a 2yo and also ran in the Cape Guineas.
He could be classy and capable enough to start delivering on his early promise and ran on steadily last time out when beaten 4,55 lengths by Icy Trail. He is surely better than retiring a two-time winner!
Piet Steyn’s 5yo Waiting For Rain is a consistent son of Black Minnaloushe who won his last start easily.
That was over a mile and one would feel that he would need 200m more to show his best paces.
Honest
Adam Marcus – Kirumbo is very honest
Adam Marcus-trained Kirumbo is an honest and consistent performer who is always in the mix.
His formline does show that he tends to lack that killer blow late and Cape champion jockey Grant van Niekerk was aboard last time when he led early in the straight and was only caught late by Solar Night.
He is better off with his conqueror of last time, whom he meets again here.
Xavier Carstens takes the mount on the son of Warm White Night again. The pair were well beaten in a higher rated course and distance handicap last time.
Andre Nel’s Keep On Chooglin has not quite gone on with his earlier smart form and was beaten close on 12 lengths behind Icy Trail last time. Both his wins were achieved up the straight track.
Holiday In
Vaughan Marshall – Half Moon Hotel races in his silks
Vaughan Marshall’s Half Moon Hotel showed some spark when coming up the rail late to be only caught late by Tribal Fusion last time at Durbanville.
The 7yo son of Alado comes in with a handy galloping weight but has not won a race in close on three years, so would need to be at his best to produce the goods.
It’s a tricky little race – we are going with the Justin Snaith pair to fight it out. Overshadow may be the one to hold Star Chestnut with Waiting For Rain rattling late into third.
