Mark van Deventer
High-class Trippi colt, Charles Dickens is 5/10 odds on to stay perfect in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Candice Bass Robinson’s runner has won all three starts showing the desired attributes of tractability, positional speed and finishing power so ought to be extremely hard to beat. Aldo Domeyer sticks solid on the chestnut who romped at both his juvenile runs, then came out after a freshening to saunter home in a Graduation Plate. He has already recorded stellar speed figures of 105 + and if maintaining that level must be a principal candidate for the Cape Guineas.
Brett Crawford saddles two horses trying to topple the favourite – Port Louis and At My Command.
The latter is drawn widest of all at ten but can get across under Keagan de Melo and try dictate the pace from the front. He is progressive and has a similar speed figure of 96 + to his consistent and talented companion, Port Louis. They clashed back in May 2022 with a narrow nose verdict going At My Command’s way.
We’re Jamming is an exciting prospect for Snaith Racing who comes back after a rest and gelding. The Nursery winner hints at serious potential having run as high as 98 in mid-June and it’s conceivable that, with added maturity, he breaks through the century mark which would bring him into the reckoning for Classic honours.
Dave the King really blotted his copybook last time at Durbanville when eased out the race to finish tailed off. Prior to that, he showed sustained pace to win his first two starts impressively with speed scores in the mid 90’s.
Realistically though, he is amongst a group of hopefuls including Countdown (s/s 98), Lord William, Le Mans, Wiccan Warrior and Imposing who will need to run way faster than they’ve ever done before to trouble the main protagonists – with Charles Dickens, in particular, setting a dauntingly high bar.
