The US Of A has been tipped to win the second race, where he is officially 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted Sugar Mountain, who comes back from a layoff and would likely prefer further, but The US Of A is not badly in with the rest of the field (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Alistair Cohen
The winner of the Listed Southeaster Sprint last year, The US Of A has been hinting that he is capable of taking the next step up the ladder. He comes into race 2 over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday weighted to be very effective and if allowed to use his biggest weapon, his turn of foot, he could claim career win number six. Take note of a disclaimer-this race could be run over 1250m around the turn. A decision will be taken after racing at the same course on Wednesday.
He has been shrewdly placed by trainer Paddy Kruyer to utilize a pleasing swing at the weights with some opposition. His last run came over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, around the turn. He did not disgrace himself when he finished a 2,8-length fourth behind Gold Giboski who carried a featherweight 51kg. He finished one length in front of Dumbledore and around 0,5 lengths ahead of his old sparing partner, Dance Variety. He is now 1,5kg better off with both of those rivals for beating them. The handicapper gave him a two-point reduction! For that reason, he is in a lower band of this A Stakes according to the structure of the race. Horses are allocated weights according to their ratings but there is a three-point buffer for each 1,5kg. Dance Variety stayed the same rating and Dumbledore needed another point from his two-point drop to fall into the next weight category.
Callan Murray is carded to take the ride. This horse is most deadly when left alone to find his feet and power home. He does not need to be last but he can switch it on and he loves to run them down. The course has been holding this winter so he must have an even chance to run them down.
The rest of his opposition is talented, but they have reasons for not being at their peaks.
Dance Variety has beaten The US Of A before. They have built a fun rivalry over the seasons. They will swap places being well treated against each other as the races go by, but this task looks tougher for him.
Dreamworld showed huge ability as a two-year-old. Injury compromised his three-year-old campaign. He returned from an eight-month rest last time when he brushed off the cobwebs when he finished midfield behind Green Gateway at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over this trip. He might need another run before he is ready to fire. Sean Veale is up for Vaughan Marshall.
Winter Snap is in a similar bracket. A good horse but he has not been seen since December. He is likely to need the run but finishing midfield in this lineup of eight, would give hope that he can mix it with some big guns in the coming months. Oswald Noach takes the ride.
There is plenty of pleasing form to work with in race 1 over the same trip. Red Flag is held in high regard and her last run showed good improvement when she finished second behind Juliet Of Verona over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. She had the run of the race from gate No 1 but she looks to be on the right track. Keagan de Melo takes the ride for Justin
Snaith. Onthewingsofadove was costly to follow last time when a beaten favourite but she finished second behind World Of Secrets. Candice Bass trains Onthewingsofadove and Juliet Of Verona so she would have a line from the training tracks.
Chinwag looks nailed on to win race 3 over 1600m. She ran a ripper in the Listed Iridescence Stakes over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time. She finished less than a length behind Grapes Of Wrath. There is nothing with that level of form to compete with her. She should get the job done under Murray for Michelle Rix.
Born To Master ran a career best last time when he improved out of sight to finish second behind Ready For The Road, beaten a head. He will need to show that was no flash in the pan in race 4 over 1800m. He finished 0,5 lengths ahead of Masteronthemoon on that occasion and they meet with Born To Master 0,5kg worse off. There should be little to choose but the improvement is hard to ignore. Brevan Plaatjies rides for Rob Barrett.
Fort Liam has always given the impression that he is maturing into a smart stayer and he turned over the promising Trip To Camelot last time. If he is in the same mood in race 5 over 1800m, he could complete back-to-back wins. His biggest concern is the drop in trip. He gives the impression that the further the better, but races are at a premium.
It is hard to get excited by a Class 5 for fillies and mares but race 6 over 1600m has a few “next time” merchants involved. Peace Garland easily has the most scope to improve being a three-year-old with some pleasing numbers to recommend. She ran second to Before Sunrise in her penultimate. That form was well franked with the winner and Peace Garland winning. Third place was the aforementioned, Chinwag who subsequently ran third in a Listed feature and should win earlier in the day. However, La Patrona and Little Nimbus made mild impressions last time that they could be horses to follow in their next starts in this lowly company.
Major Apollo got himself back on track in his last run and he could confirm in race 7 over 1000m. He finished a close-up second behind Moody Blue over this trip up the road at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. He always hinted at having some class as a youngster but he lost his way. His last run came off a rating of 64 so he must be in place to win sooner rather than later.
Magical Place had everything go wrong last time from a deep draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville over 1000m. He was pushed out wide and he did well to finish sixth behind All About Al. He has a far easier setup to turn the form around. He represents huge value. Callan Murray is up for Eric Sands. He runs in race 8 over 1000m.
Ruby Rex is no superstar but she has plenty in her favour in race 9 over 1000m. She took six starts and over a year of racing to win a maiden. Low mileage gives hope that she has more to come. William’s Woman also has wins to come and they met last time. Ruby Rex was two lengths ahead and she only has a 0,5kg deficit. That should be enough to stay ahead.
