Dean Kannemeyer’s 2020 knockout Russian Rock proved that 100-1 winners are not beyond the realms of possibility and some players bidding for a share of the anticipated R4 million carryover Pick 6 pool at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday are either going to be bankering One Stripe or going the field in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas.
With Andre Nel’s game 5yo Saartjie looking very likely to defend her SplashOut Gr3 Victress Stakes title in a Pick 6 opening leg reduced to five runners with the much talked about withdrawal of Red Palace, exotic players looking for a decent dividend may, wisely or not, look to try and beat One Stripe.
On paper Vaughan Marshall’s charge looks the best bet on the nine-race programme – and has plenty of ticks in the boxes.
One Stripe (Gavin Lerena) won the Gr2 Cape Punters Cup and starts a popular first choice here (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
A winner of 4 of his 6 starts, One Stripe hacked up in the Gr2 Cape Punters Cup last time, showing classic acceleration and proving that he does get the mile.
Gavin Lerena has not won the Cape Guineas but the current national log-leader is in red-hot form and has been aboard Rikesh Sewgoolam’s good colt at his last three starts. So he knows the Drakenstein bred product,
Trainer Vaughan Marshall has a special affinity with the Cape Guineas and bids for his sixth victory, 38 years after Sea Warrior won to open his account.
Visitor Mike de Kock last won this race with Soqrat in 2018 and is also bidding for his sixth Cape Guineas title.
He saddles the unbeaten Heather’s Boy, who raids from Randjesfontein.
The son of Rafeef is raced by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables who have won the Guineas twice – in 2009 with Noordhoek Flyer and in 2012 with Capetown Noir.
Unbeaten Heather’s Boy and Craig Zackey team up to try and make it four on the trot (Pic – JC Photos)
Heather’s Boy is unbeaten after three impressive starts, and jockey Craig Zackey feels that the colt is getting better with every run.
“I think he will be best over 2000m. He is top class, he’s done everything right and I think he will enjoy the course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth,” said Zackey recently.
Mike de Kock said that Heather’s Boy had missed 10 days of work due to a foot injury prior to his last win and that he was relieved that he had come through the run as he was short of peak fitness.
“This was a nice piece of Guineas work. There is a helluva good horse in Cape Town, Vaughan Marshall’s One Stripe, but we’ll go down and take our chances,” quipped De Kock.
Second of the Khaya Stables runners and an impressive post-maiden winner, Candice Bass-Robinson’s Boundless Energy was only beaten half a length by Great Plains in the Cape Classic and tries a mile for the first time. He turns it on late and should relish the chance to unwind up the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth summer course.
Anything out of the Justin Snaith yard has to be taken seriously and bidding for his fourth Cape Guineas after scoring with Snow Pilot last year, Snaith’s three-pronged attack all look very capable.
Last start Gr3 Cape Classic winner Great Plains – another Drakenstein graduate – jumps alongside One Stripe and boasts a diversity of experience lacking amongst some of his opponents. He should strip fitter at his second start this term and Grant van Niekerk is another rider looking for his maiden Cape Guineas win.
Eight On Eighteen – will strip fitter at his second start this season (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Great Plains’ stablemate and Langerman winner Eight On Eighteen will be ridden by Ridgemont rider Richard Fourie, another top jockey looking for a first win in this race. The son of Lancaster Bomber ran a good race in his season debut when 2,75 lengths behind One Stripe in his season debut.
Sail The Seas is the third of the Snaith trio. A winner of 3 of his 5 starts, he beat older rivals last time and could be the dark horse.
Stablemate to the favourite One Stripe, All Out For Six has been a model of consistency and was there for a long way in the Cape Punters Cup. He could be ridden with more restraint this time, but from a wide gate may be used as a pacesetter again and looks held by the likes of Great Plains and Boundless Energy.
Second of the Highveld raiders, Bjorn Ironside was beaten close on eight lengths by 4yo Snow Pilot last time when receiving 8kg, and he looks well held by the favourite.
Bjorn Ironside (Gavin Lerena) chases Cats Pajamas (Sean Veale) and Dantonfromsandton (Richard Fourie) home in the @WORLDPOOL Twitter Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes last season (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Andre Nel and Corne Orffer have proven a powerful combination again this term and they team up with O’Tenikwa, a speedy son of Vercingetorix who tries the mile for the first time. On breeding he should get the trip and he looks a classy character.
The good-looking On My Honour won a Fairview feature on the polytrack, but disappointed in the Cape Punters Cup when last of the quintet and will need to improve out of all proportions here.
- The Bipot starts in the second race at 12h55
- The Place Accumulator starts in the third race at 13h30
- The carryover Pick 6 starts in the fourth race at 14h05
- The first Jackpot starts in the fifth race at 14h45
- The second Jackpot starts in the sixth race at 15h20
