Bereave pictured winning the Diadem Stakes (Image: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
In the absence of a Feature race, the R165 000 Cape Racing Sales “A” Stakes over 1100m, heads a 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Billed as Race 2 – the opening leg of the Bipot – the race has brought a small but highly competitive field of seven runners together, but trainer Adam Marcus’ ultra-consistent Bereave could land his first victory since taking out last season’s Diadem Stakes. Since that victory Bereave has continued to hold his form well and was not disgraced when third in the Cape Flying Championship (Gr 1) in January and then under a length behind Thunderstruck in this year’s renewal of the Diadem in February.
The weather forecast suggests there will be some rain around ahead of Saturday’s race meeting and there’s no doubting that Bereave will enjoy a little cut in the ground. He gets the vote to score but is certainly no stand out bet in a highly engaging contest. Fellow top-weight Questioning was an eye-catching third behind Winter Cloud over 1200m three weeks ago and with Vaughan Marshall and Ashton Arries enjoying a rich vein of form it would be unwise to discount his chances. He might prefer a touch further but he is a class act and it would come as no surprise to see him come out on top here.
Questioning’s stable companion, Icy Blast, is a model of consistency but has also gone without a visit to the winner’s enclosure since February of 2023. He receives 7,5kgs from both Questioning and Bereave and this must bring the son of Erupt into the race with a chance of scoring an overdue victory. Mufasa was a good second behind Dance Variety over this track and trip last month but is not always the most consistent around. Tough Terrain must rate a threat with the postage stamp of 51kgs on his back. He possesses a fine turn of acceleration and a quick early gallop could play into his hands.
Rio Querari is getting on in years but he always does enough to keep one’s interest alive. I was a touch disappointed with his most recent effort but Aldo Domeyer, who rides the former Equus Champion for the first time, might be able to get the right tune out of Rio Querari and it would come as no surprise if he were to register his eighth career success tomorrow. Jerusalema Rain has been declared to race with blinkers and on best form could certainly trouble his more fancied rivals.
One can make a case for each of the seven runners, but I am going to side with Bereave to come out on top ahead of the Marshall pair, Questioning and Icy Blast, but the selection is made without a great deal of confidence.
Marcus also saddles the consistent but long-time maiden, Tambourine Man, in the first race, an Open Maiden over 1200m, and the son of Twice Over could finally get across the line with his nose in front. He comes back fresh off a short break and will need to be at the top of his game to hold out the promising 2yo Worldly who is likely to be sent out a warm order favourite. Although Tambourine Man clearly has his limitations, he meets the vastly less experienced Worldly on 12,5kgs better terms than weight-for-age and I am happy to take my chances with Marcus’ runner.
The lightly-raced and well-bred Groovejet has his third run as a gelding and could step up on in his promising form to take out the third race, a Maiden Plate over1400m. Cliff Swallow and Prince of Tibet bring good form into the race but Groovejet is drawn in pole position and may just have the edge. With most of the legs of the Pick 6 made up of very competitive handicaps and Cape Stakes races, bankers are not easy to pinpoint, but we can perhaps take a chance with the fast-improving Water Dragon in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m. Water Dragon ran on well over 1400m when second to Mont Loisir last time and he appears to have plenty of scope for further improvement. Etoillefillante is quite possibly his biggest danger but I expect Water Dragon to give us a very good run for our money.
Big Unit from the Brett Crawford stable was denied victory three weeks ago by a very narrow margin and he could go one better in the sixth race, a Cape B Stakes over 1600m. The interesting runner here is Holding Thumbs who has always been highly regarded by Glen Kotzen, but he may need just one more run before reaching his peak and Big Unit could have his measure this time around. Crawford also holds a very strong hand in the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m. Grand Bay and Night Bomber finished one-two over this track and trip a month ago and we could see a similar result here, although I fancy Night Bomber might reverse the order. Night Tiger from the Candice Bass-Robinson cannot be discounted and it’s worth including the son of Rafeef in all Jackpot and Pick 6 permutations. The consistent Oliver steps back in trip but is fitted with blinkers for the first time and he could again make his presence felt.
