Fire Attack, a Gr 1 wfa winner over 2000m, is effective over sprint distances as a former winner of the Gr 2 SA Nursery, but today’s race serves chiefly as a preparation outing ahead of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (JC Photos)
By Mark van Deventer
The Wishing You a Merry Festive Season Conditions Plate headlines Wednesday’s card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The 1000m dash, carded as Race 5 off at 3pm, features top sprinters (Tenango & Lucky Lad) and a legitimate WSB CPT Met candidate, Fire Attack preparing for the big race.
Fire Attack missed his intended prep due to elevated infection markers, so trainer Alec Laird has re-routed him to this sprint which will be followed by the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 before the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1, where the canny Laird believes he has a top four chance. Fire Attack has high-class middle-distance form and sprinted well behind Buffalo Storm Cody on the 26th of October, so should be closely monitored.
Lucky Lad is another Highveld visitor with a rating in the mid 120’s, but he has not been at his best for some time with a last win all of 535 days ago, as respiratory issues have plagued his performance. If he can run back to the form shown in 2023/24, then he is a late charging threat under Richard Fourie who has ridden him to all seven of his victories, including at Gr 1 level.
Candice Bass has her string in peak condition, and she saddles Tenango with a winning chance. He probably needed his seasonal opener behind Mai Sensation – on the pick of his form down this straight course, and seriously impressive speed figures attained during the KZN Winter, he rates the most probable winner.
He should get a strong pace to aim at as Elusive Winter (with claiming apprentice, Sifiso Bungane) and the dangerous Un Bel Di (Muzi Yeni) are speedballs likely to scorch through rapid early fractions.
Bass also has Kaiboy and Winter Snap entered. The latter is a talented but fickle 3YO by What a Winter, whilst Kaiboy has not been too flash at a couple of starts since a pause. If the fitting of a tongue tie helps, then the middleweight could get involved under the sympathetic hands of Andrew Fortune.
In Motion appeals as banker material in Race 4, a Maiden over 1500m. He has finished second to horses that have since won in handicaps (Astronomical Boy and Signor Dante) and to Beware, who was pitched high into the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1. He gets a favourable set as he goes best handy, is drawn low and has the world class Richard Fourie doing the steering. Justin Snaith trains.
Time Honored could be the horse to use underneath in exactas as his best figures have come around this distance. Blue Steel, Montessori, and Honorine’s Gimmie rate next in line.
Catch a Penny hit a career top when scything past the entire field, doing surprisingly well to catch Pink Pigeon in a Class 4 sprint on the 6th of December. Glen Kotzen’s filly will try double up in Race 6.
Backing hold up sprinters in turf sprints comes with risks attached, but her overall record is admirably consistent and the cheekpieces which did the trick last time together with the cut-back to 1000m could again prove a winning formula.
She does, however, face a bunch of threats. Playing Trix is a 3YO filly trending positively. Peace of Mind could be dangerous on a track running quick. Rattlesnake and Cavalry Commander are rounding back to form whilst the old stager, All about Al hasn’t won for many moons but is always a contender to hit the board at this class level especially when ridden by Craig Zackey.
Des McLachlan struck with a double on Sunday (Noble Hero & Shesgotclass) and is forging a productive partnership with a revitalised, Grant van Niekerk. They team up with Devil a Saint in Race 7 and could be hard to hold out off a reduced OMR of 65.
Herman Brown’s The Night Ferry is feared as he too is in good nick, running well from the front off his current mark of 63. Brown’s entries ran nicely at the midweek meeting – juvenile Kiartay gave red-hot favourite Marseilles a scare, and Hiawatha Goldberg won under stylish rider, Rene Piechulek.
Richard Fourie sticks solid on The Night Ferry after a good last out try to Wehaveasituation, who has gone in again to give the form a nice shape.
The P6 ends with a 13 runner Open Maiden over 1600m. Big field, Open Maidens usually spell trouble for punters who prefer favourites but, just maybe, the contention can be narrowed down to only four possible winners – South Of France, Greek Heiress, Burning Desire and Silver Salute.
South Of France has placed at each of five starts, displaying the ability to finish off strongly. She is relatively lightly raced (her last run was nearly two months ago) but should be a stretch running threat if Candice Bass has her right after a freshening.
Greek Heiress will also be making her sixth start. She was only narrowly denied by Given To Fly when blinkered for the first time and should go mighty close with the same headgear.
Burning Desire was three lengths behind Greek Heiress on debut after as sluggish get-away so with expected improvement second up, Lucinda Woodruff’s entry should be right in the fray.
Silver Salute makes the shortlist, too. This Vercingetorix filly is getting the hang of things – staying on nicely after a slow start in a sprint behind Vroom Vroom at her second outing. Trainer Dean Kannemeyer now has her stretching over eight panels, which seems exactly the right move.
