One Stripe winning the Punters Cup and he is now hot favourite to win the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday is one of South Africa’s most prestigious races and One Stripe is going to be hard to beat despite facing nine other quality individuals.
Vaughan Marshall will be out to land a sixth Cape Guineas. A One Stripe victory will see him completing Cape Guineas wins with three generations of the same sire line, as he trained Captain Al to win it in 2000, won it with Captain Al’s sons William Longsword and Tap O’Noth in 2016 and 2017 respectively and One Stripe is a paternal grandson of Captain Al’s. One Stripe did not have cover throughout in a one out handy position in the Gr 2 Punters Cup last time and yet quickened superbly to catch his pacemaking stablemate All Out For Six to win cosily by 1,75 lengths. He had thus proved he stayed the mile trip. He has drawn pole position for the Cape Guineas and will be out to make it a fifth win in his seventh career start. Gavin Lerena is his incumbent pilot and rides him for the fourth time. Lerena is in fine form this season and leads the national jockeys log with 85 wins scored at a strike rate of 25.45%.
All Out For Six finished second in the Punters Cup, but was beaten in the Gr 3 Cape Classic over 1400m by Cape Guineas contenders Great Plains and Boundless Energy. He will likely ensure the race is run at a good pace, as he did in the Punters Cup, and his draw of ten is thus perfect as it will give him the room to get to the front.
Mike de Kock is also going for a sixth Cape Guineas and his exciting Rafeef colt Heather’s Boy jumps from draw four with in form Craig Zackey up. This big colt has a huge stride and will be improving all the time. This will be an acid test as he is unexposed to date, having raced in three ordinary events and won all three of them. He will enjoy a fast pace as he will need room to use his big stride. He should be staying on strongly late.
Sail The Seas showed a magnificent turn of foot from a handy position to beat older horses over 1600m last time and has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw.
Great Plains stormed home with long strides from off the pace to win the Cape Classic. In his only atttempt at this trip in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes he was too far back from a wide draw, so did well to run on for fourth. He has drawn well in two and has a shout.
Vercingetorix colt Boundless Energy showed a fine turn of foot from off the pace in the Cape Classic and looked the winner before Great Plains snuck down the inside and got there before him to beat him by half-a-length. Boundless Energy is drawn wide in eight but will likely be running on strongly again.
Eight On Eighteen is highly regarded and still needed it when a 2,75 length third in the Punters Cup. He is drawn six with Richard Fourie up and this classy Lancaster Bomber colt should make a bold bid as he has plenty of scope. His sire produced the Cape Guineas winner last year, Snow Pilot, and he is from the same Justin Snaith yard.
O’Tenikwa has a big stride and led a long way out last time out when winning impressively over 1200m. However, he has a wide draw in his first attempt at a trip beyond a sprint. He is a half-brother to Gr 3 winner over 1800m Kampala Kampari.
Bjorn Ironside is well regarded but was beaten 7,95 lengths by last year’s Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot last time when receiving 8kg and on formlines that gives him no chance of getting close to One Stripe.
On My Honour was beaten 8,40 lengths in the Punters Cup and has a mountain to climb here.
One Stripe is selected to beat Sail The Seas with Eight On Eighteen, Boundless Energy and Heather’s Boy next best.
Earlier in the Gr 3 Victress Stakes over 1800m Saartjie has had one run this season, a 1,50 length third to Double Grand Slam in the Summer Bowl over 1600m. She should have come on from that run. This stalwart Andre Nel-trained Dynasty mare is weighted to win this race comfortably and can be bankered.
Later in the Gr 3 Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap over 1800m Triple Time has to carry second topweight of 60kg, but made a good comeback over a too sharp 1400m and is a consistent sort who should run well over this suitable trip from a good draw. Costal Commander can go close if repeating his Cape Derby fourth place finish last season. Future Swing should come into his own this season and can’t be ignored. Baratheon should also be in the shake up. The talented Rockpool is hard to ignore from pole position.
In the second leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, Green Garnet can confirm form with Landoftherisingsun as he beat him by a length last time over this trip, although there will not be a lot in it.
In the sixth race over 1200m Riverstone is talented and showed signs of a form return last time so can win it off an atractive 89 merit rating. Kaiboy was beaten only 0,75 lengths by the crack colt Lion Rampart over course and distance last time, but copped an eight point raise. War Chariot is on the up and should be in the shake up carrying just 53,5kg and Nordic Chief and Dean Street could also be involved.
In the last leg of the Pick 6 Arctic Wizard looks potentially well handicapped considering his formlines and Paratrooper must also come into it then as he is 2,5kg better off with Arctic Wizard for a 1,40 length beating. Please Be True looks capable of improvement and Counter Attack and Cork Bay can also be considered.
In the first leg of the PA Tuscan Romance and Englefield Green can fight it out.
