Delpech – Can They Afford To Give Snappy 8,5kg?
Anthony Delpech said on pedigree and the manner in which she had been winning there would be “no worries” about Make It Snappy staying the 2000m Met trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The racing manager of the Hollywood Syndicate said about the Brett Crawford-trained Dynasty filly, “She now takes on older male horses, so it is a question of how good are the three-year-olds? It is a tough task, but as a three-year-old filly she is getting a lot of weight and the question is whether they can afford to give her that amount of weight.”
There is no apparent pace in the race and Delpech said, “That will suit her. She does not have to lead, she is happy to have a lead from others, but if they want to walk she can lead. Keagan has proven himself the best rider around at the moment and he will just see how it pans out on the day and follow plan A or plan B.”
Delpech said make It Snappy and all of the Hollywood Syndicate’s other runners on the day had been doing well and all was “on track.”
Hollywood Syndicate have a strong hand in the Grade 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, where they have the two What A Winter geldings, four-year-old Isivunguvungu and three-year-old Hitthemhardsunshine, who jump from draw one and draw seven respectively.
He said both were similar types in that they tended to over-race without cover but respectively possessed a good turn of foot.
Isivunguvungu is 2kg worse off with Resonate, having beaten him by just a neck last time over course and distance.
Howeever, Delpech said, “He was unlucky in that race (Christophe Soumillon had to switch him considerably outward to get a run) and he will be a fitter horse than last time … that run followed a long break.”
The draw of one might or might not be a concern.
Delpech said, “You never know which way they will decide to go. Hopefully, the inside is the faster side on the day.”
Some would be concerned that draw one would have to face the brunt of the South-Easter, if there is one on the day, but Delpech said, “As a jockey I was never, ever concerned about the wind, I think it is just something that is in their heads down here.”
Delpech added, “The good thing is there is a lot of speed around Isivunguvungu, which will help him to find the cover he needs.”
Delpech is quietly bullish about the chances of Hitthemhardsunshine.
He said, “He seems to have been written off after one run. A line can be drawn through that run as he returned with a bit of a problem. A look at his earlier form puts him in with a chance and he has been flying at home.”
He said about Hollywood’s other runners, “Kupholiwe (6th race) ran a good third on debut … The Abdicator will be hard to beat, but receiving 3kg Kupholiwe should get closer to him; Going Up (3rd race) will be better suited to this 1400m and this is weaker company, so she has got to have a chance; Asiye Phambile (race 7) was not doing well in the mornings before her last run, but is now thriving. This is now harder, but I wouldn’t write her off completely; Kitchakal’s (race 11) last race did not map out well, she went to the front and overraced so we didn’t learn much. We are bringing her back in trip so she can settle. She has won over 1200m although I still think it’s too sharp, but she is a decent horse and I would not write her off.”
Marina Needs A Faster Pace; Resonate Has A Good Chance
Candice Bass-Robinson said the slow pace of the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes had been against her Silvano mare Marina, who runs in the Grade 1 wfa WSB Met on Saturday, a race she finished a 5,20 length 8th in last year.
Candice added, “Maybe running two 1800m races three weeks apart also meant she was not quite fresh enough to quicken off that slow pace.”
It is also just a three week gap between the Paddock Stakes and the Met.
However, Marina, who is a full-sister to Durban July winner Marinaresco, will enjoy the step up in trip to 2000m.
Bass-Robinson did lament the apparent lack of pace in the race though.
She added, “She does at least have a good draw this time, so can be closer to the pace. She has been doing well; she is pretty well and has been working well but it is a tough race. I am not sure whether she is good enough but she gets the trip and I am hoping for a money chance.”
She is more bullish about the yard’s chances in the Grade 1 Pongracz Cape Flyng Championship, where they run Resonate and have Mr Cobbs as the reserve.
She said, “It is a tough race this year, but Resonate has been giving weight to a few of the others (and beating or finishing close to them) and now runs at level weights, so has a good chance.”
Resonate is a four-year-old Twice Over gelding out of Doowaley mare Rei Rei, who won the Grade 2 KZN Fillies Guineas and Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m.
He has the valuable asset of tremendous natural pace. He appears to be doing it effortlessly in his races while staying in touch. A horse who can manage that is usually able to finish strongly and he looks good value at around 8/1.
Of course, the draw often plays a part in this race, as one or other side can be at an advantage.
Resonate’s connections will be hoping the outside draws are favourable with Resonate drawn 14.
Bass-Robinson was annoyed Mr Cobbs did not get into the race having beaten a number of the leading contenders last time out. He was receiving weight from them, but did finish runner up in the Cape Flying last year, beaten just a neck by Bohica. Candice said he was particularly well at present, so if he does get in he could be one of the dark horses.
Mr Cobbs, a six-year-old What A Winter gelding, is suited to top class big field races as he can sit off the strong pace and then use his huge stride to eat up the ground late in the day.
She also contests the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes with three-year-old Gold Standard filly Golden Hostess, who finished a 2,30 length fourth to Make It Snappy in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.
She said, “She is well but it will be tough for all of them to beat Captain’s Ransom. I don’t think she will be too far off her.”
Bass-Robinson felt the yard would be competitive in all of the other races they contest.
She mentioned a few, saying, “Flying First has a definite chance in the last race; Michael Faraday (race 11) has a chance but has to carry 61kg; In the juvenile race (6th) Distant Winter (who has a 3kg weight advantage still being a maiden) should have a money chance; Arctic Drift (10th race = the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers) is doing well and has a chance if getting in to the race sooner (he came from a long way back last time to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Chairmans Cup over 2500m).”
Admission, hospitality packages: WSB Met
Some were critical of Charles Dickens being taken down the inside, where it is surmised he would have faced the brunt of the prevailing south-easterly wind.
However, Bass-Robinson said, “The race worked out well for Bernard Fayd’Herbe, but how would we have got to the outside because Al Muthana was always in front of us? I think even if we had managed to pull him off the fence we still would probably not have caught the winner.”
She went on to lament the recent happenings in which jockeys had been cramming on to certain portions of ground in the straight.
She said, “It is a nightmare. They are going to the inside, the outside, all over the place. It makes for unpleasant racing.”
Captain’s Ransom Looks For Her 3rd Schweppes Majorca Stakes
Cape Racing
There are 7 004 160 possible combinations in the P6 sequence at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. A R1 million carryover will go towards a pool of around R10 million, so punters have a massive incentive to crack the code. The Schweppes Majorca Stakes Grade 1 is the opening leg of the P6 where the presence of Captain’s Ransom and Desert Miracle can enable horseplayers to short-select and trim costs.
Most will stick solid with prolific winner, Captain’s Ransom, and confidently banker her. She has won 13 of 17 starts, including multiple Grade 1’s and is the Majorca titleholder having defeated re-opposing Chansonette (a touch below best in her three runs since a layoff) in 2022.
Captain’s Ransom possesses cheetah- like acceleration, is totally reliable and suited by this easy 1600m (there is no obvious pace in a short field of six). Running to her peak ability rating should see her get the job done, yet again.
However, Desert Miracle looms a threat and it may pay to use her on P6 tickets, too. Given how dominant she was early in her career, it’s surprising that this Dynasty filly has not won in 455 days. She has placed often enough, running smart figures but it’s her last start that really commands respect.
She sleep-walked out the stalls in the Sceptre Stakes over 1200m three weeks ago, only to make a remarkable recovery, getting within a length of top class, Princess Calla, after a rapid 22.6 second come home sectional. If building on that already excellent run, then Desert Miracle could scare Captain’s Ransom badly.
Though actually not far behind (just 2.3 lengths) the talented 3 year old, Golden Hostess was nevertheless outrun in the Sceptre finish by Desert Miracle. An underperforming, Ciao Bella fared worse there and is better judged on her fine Fillies Guineas try where she showed form of equal quality to Golden Hostess.
Silver Darling did nicely in the Victress and Paddock Stakes over 1800m but doesn’t have the gears of her stable mate, Captain’s Ransom. And finishing speed will be key here which is exactly the amazing, Captain Al’s mares forte. Desert Miracle is the main danger.
Watch the finish of the Schweppes Majorca stakes in 2022 by CLICKING HERE.
Piere Strydom poses for a photograph with the connections of Lady Of Power (Master Of My Fate) after an easy win at Vaal Classic today (JC Photos).
Global Breeze (Global View) gives Grant Maroun and Philasande Mxoli respective doubles at the Vaal Classic track today (JC Photos).
The Met has always been run at Kenilworth racecourse (lekkeslaap.co.za)
Today’s Question
What distance was the first Met run over?
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Hollywoodbets Scottsville Fields, Wednesday, CLICK HERE
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Pictures from one of the 1903 renewals of the Metropolitan Handicap, won by the British-bred Sirdar.
