Questioning faces Jet Force in his reappearance in the Bantry Bay Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)
QUESTIONING, JET FORCE AND TENANGO have proven form in Grade 1s, so they could be a cut above their sprint rivals in the Bantry Bay Stakes, to be contested over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Class told in the Matchem Stakes Gr 3 when JET FORCE accelerated past subsequent Cape Mile Gr 3 winner, LEGAL COUNSEL. Prior to that, he tangled with supremo sprinter BUFFALO STORM CODY, beating him in the Cape Merchants Gr 2.
QUESTIONING, who very nearly pulled off a 50/1 shock in the 2025 L’Omarins King’s Plate Gr 1 before romping in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes Gr 2 down this straight course, went on to enjoy a fabulous KZN Winter season.
He was a length behind JET FORCE in the Mercury Sprint Gr 1 from a wide draw. Prior form saw him complete a hat-trick, including victories in the Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes Gr 2 and Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr 1.
Vaughan Marshall brings him back after a 111-day rest – QUESTIONING has run well fresh in the past.
TENANGO has breathing difficulties from time to time, which lead to erratic form patterns. When all is fine, he can go some – witness an excellent try when half a length off JET FORCE in the Cape Merchants Gr 2, finishing quicker than his fleet-footed conqueror over the final 400m.
The early pace in the Bantry Bay Stakes is a query, as there are no obvious tearaways in the field. This may lead to a less-than-true-run affair, where positioning and the ability to quicken up prove decisive.
CAFÉ CULTURE is one who can make his own luck by forcing the issue. Even though he officially rates between four and nine points shy of the trio mentioned, he could still give cheek by racing handy towards the inner.
Dual Cape Merchants Gr 2 hero, OUTLAW KING, is in a similar situation. He too is tactically versatile, yet held safe by the “big three” on pure ability ratings.
Justin Snaith continues to ratchet up the winners at each local meeting, and AUGUSTE RENOIR, in Race 4, can add to the tally.
He stayed on purposefully at his second start despite being drawn wide, when just failing to overhaul PREMIER WINTER a month ago in a Hollywoodbets Durbanville sprint. The Hawwaam gelding now stretches out over 1600m, which is a plus factor.
Snaith’s stablemate GENTIAN, the improving FLINKDINK, steady performer CARDINAL KING (advantaged by gate 1), WAITING GAME and IRISH LION have shown enough to challenge.
But, with further progression, AUGUSTE RENOIR is tipped to create a favourable impression and crack his Maiden.
Snaith is also entitled to be bullish about THE CULLINAN in Race 8, an MR 84 handicap down the “straight six”. The 3YO Legislate gelding, ex-Lesedi le Rona, takes on a mixture of battle-hardened older foes and promising fellow youngsters such as IMPOSE and BOLERO.
The pace should be good to fast, with a surfeit of speed signed on. This scenario should tee things up neatly for THE CULLINAN.
He finished swiftly, closing to within a length of highly touted VIVA ASTERIX a month ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and now returns to a course and distance that is somewhat stiffer and suits him ideally.
He can’t afford to blow the start – assuming he gets away on terms, what he showed at his last outing suggests he may possess the gears to impose himself over his rivals in the closing stages.
Trainer Greg Ennion caused a boilover midweek when rank outsider APRICITY scored at 25/1.
HAVOC might be able to win for the same trainer in Race 5 – though he will not be anything like the price of his stablemate, coming in as he does off an eye-catchingly fluent last-start score, in quick adjusted time for the class, over BOURBON KING.
Havoc has most to fear from DUBBELOSIX, also a strong pace presser who won gamely last time.
Interestingly, two of South Africa’s top jocks are doing a “switcheroo” here. Craig Zackey, who won on DUBBELOSIX, now rides HAVOC, with Keagan de Melo, who partnered HAVOC to victory, now mounting DUBBELOSIX.
CEDAR POINT is also worth adding to plays. He is consistent and has the requisite speed figures to compete at this grade.
A case can also be made for DIAMOND ROCK, who continues to run boldly in the care of JET FORCE’s conditioner, Des McLachlan.
It’s hard to know quite what to make of CYDONIA in Race 2, yet she remains of interest for the in-form Andre Nel yard.
On debut, she raced handy from a wide draw in a key Maiden race to finish less than a length behind subsequent Western Cape Fillies Championship runner-up GEORGIE GIRL.
At her second start (also from a bad gate), she was dropped out in a false-run affair before making progress to finish just off the placings behind GETORIX PRINCESS.
The excellent Serino Moodley now takes over, and whilst the optimal tactics for the young daughter of One World are uncertain at this early stage of her career, she could put it all together down the Kenilworth 1200m straight course.
There is a wide spread of form, with several unexposed types eligible to come forward, which makes her opposition in Race 2 hard to assess.
That said, if she goes at a big enough price, then a spec bet could be in order, and she can be used in main PA and Bipot perms.
