Future Turn has been tipped to win the 8th race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
The R160 000 “Buy Tickets to WSB Cape Town Met on Quicket” Class 3 Handicap over 1600m is the highest-rated event on a 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow and Future Turn should welcome a return to his best trip following a disastrous effort over 2000m at the beginning of December. On that occasion Grant Van Niekerk essentially pulled the 5yo son of Futura out of the race as he “felt something amiss” but, when judged on his prior 1600m form, Future Turn rates an undeniable chance of registering a long overdue fifth career victory.
JP van der Merwe reunites with Future Turn for his “boss” Greg Bortz & Partners and the Justin Snaith inmate should make his presence felt in a small but evenly matched field of nine runners. Stable companion Call To Unite is an interesting runner as he steps back sharply in distance, but he has won over 1800m and could be the surprise package in the race. It is a worry that Call To Unite appears to have respiratory problems, but he is a useful sort and cannot be lightly disregarded.
Promettere showed signs of returning to best form when fourth behind The Grey King a month ago. The 5yo son of Pomodoro seldom runs a bad race and will enjoy the services of Champion Jockey Richard Fourie. In that same race Hat’s Pride finished third and is now 1kg better off with Prometerre which suggests that Glen Kotzen’s runner should comfortably confirm the form. It remains a concern though that the Kotzen stable is having to contend with a lingering virus and the Woodhill-based trainer has endured a tough few months of late.
Willie John was not too far behind Hats Pride and Promettere in the race won by The Grey King and has been given slight relief by the handicapper. He jumps from pole position and rates an obvious threat although he tends to be a little one-paced. Aspect is far better than his last run when things went badly awry from a wide draw but, as a winner of six of his last eight starts, Vaughan Marshall’s runner commands respect in a trappy contest. He beat Future Turn by a length over the track and trip back in November, but the latter is now 2kgs better off which could be enough for Snaith’s runner to turn the tables.
It’s not an easy race, and much will depend on the pace and how the contest pans out, but Future Turn should give us a good run for our money and could prevail over Aspect, Hat’s Pride and Promettere.
The impeccably-bred and very well-named Hoerikwaggo could get Jackpot punters off to a good start in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m. Hoerikwaggo, bred by Ridgemont, is out of the quality mare Our Table Mountain and thus a half-sister to two Equus Champions, namely the former Cape Fillies Guineas (Gr1) winner, Silver Mountain, and former SA Nursery (Gr1) winner Cloth of Cloud, who was subsequently exported.
Hoerikwagga, named after a trail on Cape Town’s most famous landmark, is raced by Ridgemont in partnership with Hollywood’s Devin Heffer and will be ridden by Richard Fourie. She caught the eye on debut when third behind From A Distance and she should have benefitted enormously from the experience.
The obvious threat to Hoerikwaggo is the Lucinda Woodruff-trained Another Dream who has been sidelined since her promising debut in August behind subsequent Grade 2 winner Mon Petit Cherie, due to recovering from a spider bite. She may just need her comeback run and the betting market could be the best indicator as to her current wellbeing.
Fourie could also land the honours in the seventh race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m, in which he partners Landoftherisingsun, who should enjoy stepping up in trip. He has been placed in his last five starts and his maiden victory is clearly imminent. Future Frequency, Ahead Of The Facts and Bombers In The Sky all have useful form coming into this race but I fancy that Landoftherisingsun has a little more to offer.
The first of the ten races, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, is due off at 12:00 and the field of eight runners is largely made up of newcomers. Keep an eye on the market as race time approaches with particular regard to Nicostratus and Winter Snap. Another debutante to keep a close eye on is Sugarbush in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m. Trainer Andre Nel reports that she has had a gallop and a “good run is expected”.
