With some good results in recent Gr1 races, Cape-based Justin Snaith has been able to close the gap on Paul Peter in the battle for the SA trainers’ championship this season.
The Capetonian is still about R3.3 million behind, but could reduce the deficit in Saturday’s big race, the R1,25 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.
Jet Dark – top notch miler (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Both trainers have runners and Snaith’s charge Jet Dark looks the one to beat. He is a dual winner of the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and had a decent warm-up in the recent Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.
Peter won the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein in April with MK’s Pride and the Willow Magic colt will be looking to post a Grade 1 double.
Neither is well drawn with Jet Dark at nine and MK’s Pride at 12, but Snaith’s charge tends to come from behind with a late rush so the draw might be of little significance to this son of Trippi. At best he should be too good for this opposition and appeals as a banker in all bet types.
There are four other feature races at the meeting, headed by the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m in which Corne Spies-trained Supreme Quest looks the part.
Peter also has prospects of a feature-race success at Turffontein on Sunday, when he will saddle Naval Guard in the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on the Standside track.
The stable is hoping Naval Guard will make the final field for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but he will need to win on Sunday, and win well, to be considered for that 2200 Grade 1 race on Saturday 2 July.
Here’s an appetiser for the Hollywoodbets Durban July:
- Tabnews
