Holding Thumbs has been tipped to win the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth WSB Met Day Formguides And Selections
Race 1
4 ST HARRY made an eye-catching debut. Well supported in the market, he came from a long way back to snatch victory. He can build on that experience. Justin Snaith has a strong hand with three runners, headed by 12 CHAMPAGNE CASTLE, who has taken on males at her last two and won convincingly. She should be involved in the finish. Stable companion, 1 MARSEILLES, found strong market support at just his second start and landed the odds comfortably and should come on from that effort. 7 QUERARI DANCER beat Marseilles on debut. She has not been out since November last year, but the form has held up well. (Andrew Harrison: 4 – 12 – 1 – 7)
Race 2
2 WORLD FIRST has improved as he has stepped up in trip. He was a narrow winner first time out of the maidens and got a four-point raise in the handicap, but he is lightly raced and still improving. 1 NOTE TO SELF has not been out of the money and close-up in all four starts. This trip should suit. 6 FAST AND FREE found strong market support last run but may have found the trip too far. The form of his maiden win over course and distance has held up. 10 WEHAVEASITUATION has come good of late and seldom runs a bad race. (Andrew Harrison: 2 – 1 – 6 – 10)
Race 3
8 HOLDING THUMBS is a top-class stayer and won his last start a lot more comfortably than the margin suggests. Weight does not bother him as he showed two runs back when fighting off the lightly weighted 4 AHEAD OF THE FACTS giving him 11kg. Holding Thumbs has since beaten him again and meets on much more favourable weight terms. 1 ZATARA has excellent Fairview form and is a solid galloper. He does jump in trip. 2 MAGIC VERSE was under a length back to Holding Thumbs last time out but the latter had the race won a long way out. (Andrew Harrison: 8 – 2 – 1 – 4)
Race 4
Wide open handicap to start the Pick 6. 1 INFLUENCE started at long odds in a winning debut. He must surely come on with the experience and could follow up. The form behind 9 KELP FOREST will be closely scrutinized with many of this field finishing behind him. Kelp Forest won at long odds and second-placed 6 MIRACULOUS was also friendless in the market but did have some fair form prior to that. Third-placed 18 MAURITIUS KESTREL was less than a length back and now gets the benefit of a 4kg claimer. However, he may be drawn on the ‘wrong’ side of the straight as current trends point to fields bunching on the inside rail, but he does have Andrew Fortune on 19 CLAIR DE LUNE drawn on his inside, so will have one to follow. 14 WHIRLWIND is a lightly raced filly who was narrowly beaten in her handicap debut but does take on males. (Andrew Harrison: 1 – 6 – 18 – 9)
Race 5
1 THE US OF A is seldom out of the money and has started favourite in his last five races. He carried a big weight with cheek pieces last run. They have been removed and he has a handy galloping weight. 14 ALL THE RAGE is drawn on the other side of the course that may not be ideal. However, he has a handy weight, yet to finish out of the money and won well last time out. 2 HIS MAJESTY has had two promising local outings over further since his arrival from the UK where he was mostly sprinting. The blinkers go on and he may be worth following in the market. 10 TEFLON MAN has been coming to hand slowly and looks primed for this after a smart effort behind stable companion Outlaw King in the SplashOut Cape Merchants Gr 2. (Andrew Harrison: 1 – 14 – 10 – 2)
Race 6
14 GREAT PLAINS has the widest draw to contend with but made a cracking comeback over course and distance after a lengthy rest beating Sail The Seas who was touched off in the recent L’Omarins King’s Plate Gr 1. He has a big weight but a repeat will see him close. Stable companion, 6 POWERANDTHEGLORY, was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. He jumps in class but only has 51kg to shoulder and he gets first-time blinkers. 3 O’TENIKWA has shown up well in two sprints since his return to the Cape. The step up in trip from a plum draw can see him into the firing line. 2 RAVEN BLACK steps up in trip but has solid recent sprint form and with only 52.5kg to shoulder he could be a big threat. (Andrew Harrison: 14 – 6 – 3 – 2)
Race 7
10 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM will be out to make amends for her defeat in the Cartier Paddock Stakes Gr 1 when beaten into fourth behind Wish List. It was the mare’s first run back after a break and lacked her usually finishing burst. It was also a scorching hot afternoon and visiting rider Oisin Murphy was certainly feeling the heat. Going on jockey bookings, Richard Fourie would have had the pick of the James Crawford fillies and has plumbed for 2 MON PETIT CHERIE, the higher rated of the two, ahead of stable companion 3 REET PETITE, who finished second to Wish List in the Cartier Paddock Stakes Gr 1 and second to 12 QUICKSTEPGAL in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas Gr 1. Fourie is contracted to owner, Ridgemont, but so is Gareth Wright who generally rides second string. Quickstepgal, who followed up with a cracking run in the Cartier Sceptre Stakes Gr 2, only caught in the dying strides. She is back over a mile and does have a deep draw to overcome. However, she has good gate speed and the services of former Champion Jockey Keagan de Melo. 9 ASIYE PHAMBILI is in good form and as game as they come. The mile trip holds no fears and she will be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 10 – 12 – 9 – 2)
Race 8
10 SEE IT AGAIN has run two cracking races for his new stable and was a touch unlucky in both not to have finished closer. He appears to have taken a renewed interest in racing and with some luck in running rates a strong chance. Richard Fourie is back aboard last year’s World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 winner, 2 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN. He had his first run back in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 after a lengthy break and looked in need of the run. He should strip at his peak. 4 GLADATORIAN was doing his best work late in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1. If intended pacemaker 11 OKAVANGO set a solid gallop, Gladatorian could mow them all down as he has a smart turn of foot. 6 THE REAL PRINCE got up late to win the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 over a trip short of his best. He will be at his peak and will have plenty of supporters. (Andrew Harrison: 10 – 2 – 4 – 6)
Race 9
7 TOUCHED BY ANGELS is highly regarded by the stable and has yet to finish out of the money. He does take a big step up in trip but he should see it out comfortably. 2 HAPPY VERSE has won three of his six starts and was runner up to Jan van Goyen in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1. He too should have no trouble seeing out the extra furlong. 3 BETTER MAN was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out from a wide draw and is a must inclusion in all calculations. 1 PAY THE PALACE was unplaced in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1, but was ahead of Happy Verse prior to that. He will definitely enjoy the step up to this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 7 – 1 – 2 – 3)
Race 10
2 PRINCESS OF GAUL has smart form over the trip and although she carries top weight against a myriad of low weights, she is the class in the race. 9 WANDER DUNE was a beaten favourite last run when sent over further. She has only had two three starts and two smart efforts over the course and distance. 11 MAI SENSATION would appear to be the pick of the Lucinda Woodruff pair, given J P van der Merwe’s choice of rides. She has a big weight but has been taking on stronger at recent outings while 1 CALL ME SECRET steps up in class but got a hefty 14-pound shunt up the handicap for her seventh place behind Quickstepgal in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas Gr 1. 13 DISTING has not been far back at recent outings and with Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance she cannot be ignored. (Andrew Harrison: 2 – 9 – 11 – 13)
Race 11
7 SWIATEK has only twice been out of the money in a dozen starts. She was a beaten favourite when third in a feature over 1800m last time out but is down in class and should stay the extra. 1 QUEEN REGENT also steps up in trip after being touched off over a mile last time out. She boasts solid sprint form but indications are that she will stay the trip and only has 50kg to shoulder. 3 GIVE ME EVERYTHING was just over two lengths back in the Cartier Paddock Stakes Gr 1 and should be primed for this event. 8 LITTLE SUZIE has lost her way a little since KZN’s Champions Season and could surprise if finding her best form. (Andrew Harrison: 7 – 1 – 3 – 8)
Race 12
A highly competitive handicap to end the day. 11 SMARTEN UP enjoyed the step up in trip last time out and can go one better although he only meets 2 FOUDRE on 0.5kg better terms. 4 UNITED FRONT was beaten four lengths by Foudre and Smarten Up but gets first time blinkers which suggests that there is more to come as he has only had six starts. 13 ROCKANROLLIN got his first win in a handicap maiden sprint but is back over what looks to be a more suitable trip. He does have a deep draw to contend with. (Andrew Harrison: 11 – 2 – 4 – 13)
