Fibonacci has been tipped to win the competitive race 6, a class 3 handicap over 1600m (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
Bankers are at a premium on a very challenging and competitive 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow and it may pay to side with the powerful team of Richard Fourie and Brett Crawford in the opening leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. Mont Loisir has finished second in his last two starts over track and trip and seems poised to go one better from a handy draw of two.
That said, this is no one-horse race! The well exposed Greenland comes into the reckoning and may well appreciate stepping back slightly in distance. Water Dragon has had two fair starts to date and appears to have scope for improvement while Groovejet returns from a four-month absence, but showed enough in his first two outings to suggest he could be very competitive. Walk With Me caught the eye with a very promising debut effort and can progress further. But the Pick 6 includes several very open races, where we need to play wide, and I am going to take my chances early with Mont Loisir in the opening leg.
The second leg of the Pick 6 is a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m and here they are betting 5/1 the field in the ante-post market, a clear indication of just how trappy this race is. While there are many with winning claims, my each-way vote goes to the topweight Callmegetrix who steps back in trip from an inside gate. She has won her only start over course and distance and should give us a decent run for our money. Another to consider at a big price is Senhora Victoria, although she does have the worst of the draw to overcome.
The sixth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1600m, is probably the deepest such contest I have seen for a very long time and another “5/1 the field” event. Only in the Western Cape would an MR94 Handicap attract as many quality horses as are carded here and we should be in for a really good race. Fibonacci, not always reliable, has the form and the talent to score but more than half the field have solid winning chances and punters will need to cast their nets very wide. Pomodoro’s Jet, unbeaten over course and distance, would be my tentative top selection but the handicapper may be catching up with him.
The seventh race, a Cape C Stakes (F&M) over 1800m, has attracted a field of ten runners and the consistent Summer Night City gets the vote to score. Her stable companions, Destined to Dance and Eternal Optimist, are not without chances but Basic Maneuvers is perhaps the biggest danger to my selection. Dream Searcher, Cattaleya and recent maiden winner Plum Pudding have done enough to suggest they could have a say in the outcome.
Perhaps we can narrow down our choices in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1800m. Prevalence has been knocking loudly at the door and deserves a victory. He rates a fairly confident first selection but all of Ignatius, Join The Dots, Blue Bay, Aberdeen and last-start maiden winner, Voorlopertjie are worth a mention.
The final leg of the Pick 6, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m, has drawn a full field and The Tinkerman, 661 days without a win, is the weak 9/2 market leader. He has finished runner-up over track and trip in his last two starts and should make another bold bid, but I slightly prefer the chances of Night Tiger for Aldo Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson. Night Bomber is worth a second look while the erratic 7-time winner, Fort Red, can never be ignored. Lightly raced Wissa’s On Fire can improve further and the lurker in the pack could prove to be Street Outlaw who is plummeting down the ratings and gets blinkers for the first time.
The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m, is due off at 12:05 and Duchess Of Paloma could make a winning return after finishing under five lengths behind Little Ballerina in one of the strongest Juvenile races so far this season. Poetic Princess also comes out of a very strong form line while both Scarlet Macaw and Be Merry made pleasing debuts and can step forward.
