A traditional crowd spectacle on Sun Met day as the start is in front of the main stand, the R350 000 New Turf Gr2 Western Cape Stayers is a 2800m test of stamina, courage and heart.
The 2019 Cup Trial winner Kampala Campari is the SP top-rated and runs fresh following a twelve- week break after the Woolavington. He finished under a length third behind Strathdon carrying top weight there and has run well fresh in the past. He is nicely drawn and is a classy sort who could be the one to beat.
Snapscan and supporters after her last win (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Glen Kotzen’s smart Oratorio filly Snapscan – described by the top trainer as his best on the day – ran third in the KZN Oaks last term and now tries the 2800m for the first time. A winner of the Jamaica Handicap at her penultimate outing, she was a little outgunned in the Paddock Stakes but looks to be potentially very competitive here – if she stays.
It could be a measure of frustration that sees Vaughan Marshall sending Tap O’Noth over even more ground, after the son of Captain Al failed to feature in the Chairman’s Cup last time. On a line through his Silvano half-brother, Strathdon, there could be plenty of rationale in the thinking that the past Cape Guineas winner could prove competitive over a testing trip.
Snaith won the race last year and has a typically strong hand.
Doublemint – classy and in form (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Topweight Doublemint was a gutsy winner of the Chairman’s Cup at his last start when staying on doggedly to get the better of Crome Yellow. He ran in the 2019 Met when he wasn’t disgraced and finished 3,50 lengths off Rainbow Bridge. He is the class and fit form horse in the field.
Master conditioner Mike De Kock has enjoyed success in this race in the past and he takes his chances here with the 2019 Cape Derby winner Atyaab. The son of Dundeel has not had the best of luck at his last two starts in the Cape and will be looking for a decent gallop to produce his best effort.
Woolavington winner Strathdon ran on well behind stablemate Doublemint in the Chairman’s Cup and will be looking to improve on his third behind his stablemate Magnificent Seven last year.
Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The 2019 Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom has had two prep runs and looks to go one better after going down narrowly to Magnificent Seven in the 2019 running. Top jockey Ryan Moore will give the classy mare every chance.
Gimme One Night is drawn on the wide outside of the field but stays really well and he is better than his last outing when failing to kick on in the Chairman’s. He ran a fair fifth in this race last year and will have a place chance at best.
Coral Bay is the second of the Kotzen fairer sex coupling and tries the ground for the first time. On breeding she could enjoy it but is difficult to assess on exposed form.
Geoff Woodruff’s Cape Summer Stayers Handicap winner Dharma failed to show in the Chairman’s Cup in his last start and has a tough task here.
Crome Yellow came off second best in a dual with Doublemint in the final stages of the Chairman’s Cup and is 5kg worse off under the conditions of this race. A tough call!
Third of the Snaith runners, Swift Surprise ran on steadily when trying ground in the Chairman’s Cup and finished fifth and under 4 lengths behind stablemate Doublemint. This is a bit tougher.
Kampala Campari looks the one to be with and he is selected to beat Doublemint, with the newly blinkered Atyaab a big runner if the pace is a true one.Or go with the Kotzen positivity!
