Justin Snaith – on top and going like a boeing
Trainer Justin Snaith has commenced the new season with a purpose. The one-time SA champion is going hell for leather as he leads the national pack on stakes and number of winners. He saddles sixteen runners at Durbanville today and looks set for a profitable afternoon.
The Snaith team have been firing at home and away in Port Elizabeth and, despite what they say in racing parlance about ‘it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish’, we all know that the long established Cape racing family have the equine firepower to outlast the best through all seasons.
They saddle a trio in the day’s admittedly rather modest topliner, a R90 000 MR 89 Handicap, over the inevitably nippy 1400m at the scenic country course.
Exciting
Star Chestnut carries top weight – but should go close
The Snaith topweight Star Chestnut has furnished into a really handsome specimen and the son of Horse Chestnut looks ready to fulfil some of that promise that made him look quite exciting as a 3yo.
He competed against some of the best of his age and while only a few lengths short a lot of the time, is now in prime form.
He ran on smartly last time to beat stablemate Krambambuli and looks set for another big effort.
Richard Fourie – rides Overshadow
There are some who may prefer his stablemate Overshadow and stable kingpin Richard Fourie stays with the son Trippi as they bid for a third successive win.
There is little between them and with Star Chestnut a half kilo better off for his 0,75 length beating last time, the track suitability could play a key role.
No Magic Yet
The third of the Snaith attack – and definitely their weak link – is the former Robbie Hill-trained Just Like Magic.
The one time winner never showed at his first Cape start and his only redeeming features are his paper weight, although still under sufferance, and the fact that he beat the talented Ten Gun Salute when shedding his maiden.
It is difficult getting too excited about this 4yo at this stage of the game.
The Glen Puller-trained Solar Night bumped the rampant Overshadow at his penultimate start.
Beaten 2,25 lengths there, he is 4kgs better off on Saturday and looks a horse ready to win again.
The son of Warm White Night won his only previous start here and could be dangerous if allowed to use himself.
Golden Oldie
Glen Kotzen – saddles golden oldie
The Glen Kotzen favourite and a real golden oldie Albarakah is an 8yo, but has more enthusiasm than many of his opponents half his age.
The son of Almushtarak has a smart turn of foot and capable of putting in a good performance to find his tenth career success.
That said, he has proven effective over the straight sprint track when running at the leaders off a burn.
He won’t go down without a fight and Greg Cheyne knows him well.
Not Ready
Dean Kannemeyer has his first Cape runners after his mid-year housekeeping recess and both his pair are capable, but equally very likely to need it.
Kannemeyer has always thought the world of the Horse Chestnut gelding Lord Marshal. He is likely to be a bit ring rusty after his 21 week break, but the astute Milnerton conditioner says that his charge has come back stronger after the patience shown by his connections in giving him a break.
Dean Kannemeyer – coupling will need it
His last start was a below par effort in the Winter Guineas, but Kannemeyer says that he has ‘had his issues’, and is very likely to be a better 4yo. He has been declared without blinkers again.
The year older Blackmore is a dual Durbanville winner but lost form in the Cape winter and has been rested 9 weeks.
The son of Kahal runs for Grant Behr and could surprise running fresh, if things go his way.
Ten Races
There are some attractive contests on the ten-race programme and the event preceding the top-liner, a fillies and mares Allowance Plate sees some nicely rated gallopers returning to action.
Snaith has a strong four-way coupling here, but Brett Crawford’s Gr3 Champagne Stakes winner Beach Goddess could make them all run.
The daughter of Kildonan has her first run at the country course, but with her trainer-jockey combination is hot form, she must be fancied to go very close.
