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R1 12H40 – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Maiden Plate.
Competitive maiden featuring 3 last-start runners-up. GREEN MANDARIN was 2nd in a maiden at Fairview on his seasonal reappearance and ought to have come on since, so should make his presence felt. Both NEVADA KING and ROYAL PORT LOUIS are overdue and could fight it out, with the latter expected to fare better reverting to this grade after contesting an Eastern Cape feature last time. MONTIEN outran big odds when a staying-on 2nd on debut over 1200m and should have more to give with that run under his belt and natural improvement likely. SHOTGUN WILLIE, gelded after his debut, and WYLIE RILEY have claims.
Top Tip: NEVADA KING (2)
Watch out for: GREEN MANDARIN (1)
R2 13H15 – Summer Bowl (3YO & Older Fillies And Mares)
A cracking minor feature that includes several Grade 1 performers. MARINA was 2nd in the Garden Province Stakes over this trip at that level 2 starts back and need only run to that level (off a lower mark) to have a say in the finish on her return from a break. SILVER DARLING won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 before finishing 3rd in the Garden Province. She too returns from a layoff but is effective at this trip and could run well fresh. Best-weighted CHANSONETTE, however, has the benefit of a recent comeback run and with improved fitness should prove hard to beat under favourable conditions.
Top Tip: MARINA (1)
Watch out for: CHANSONETTE (3)
R3 13H50 – Summer Festival Of Racing Maiden Plate (F & M)
This could be fought out between Crawford and Snaith runners, with the former’s ALLENDE preferred to stablemate SUNLIT FROM HEAVEN after staying on to finish 3rd when trying this trip for the first time at her last start. Well-related GIFT FROM HEAVEN improved to finish ahead of that rival when aggressively ridden from the front last time, so must be respected from an inside draw. JAZZBELLA is held on that form but is capable of better. Stablemate LADY WRITER is likely to make further improvement which should see her play a role in the finish. RED KITE and GRANDI ORECCHIE have earning potential.
Top Tip: LADY WRITER (8)
Watch out for: ALLENDE (2)
R4 14H25 – Racecape Powered By Hollywoodbets Maiden Special Weights
Many with chances in a big field. WESTERN WALL has improved over this trip and from an inside gate should turn the tables on re-opposing SPIRIT OF SILVANO who is drawn wide. READY OR NOT is likely to improve going ground after a pleasing comeback run over a shorter, though the step up in trip should also suit MOHANDAS and SELUKWE who have the form and experience to pose a threat. RELEASE ME is another to improvement trying this trip for the first time with a tongue-tie now fitted. STORM BOULEVARD is likely to go forward from the widest draw and could prove hard to peg back. Go wide in exotics!
Top Tip: READY OR NOT (8)
Watch out for: I’M A MAN (9)
R5 15H05 – destinationcaperacing Fm 95 Handicap (F & M)
Wide open. FLEETING beat ACADEMIC GOLD, OFFICIAL SECRET and PEUT ETRE MOI over 1600m last time. She is effective over this trip but worse off at the weights with each of those, so could struggle to confirm. Stablemate SHE’S A RAINBOW, who would’ve needed her last start over an inadequate trip, should do better over this distance with improved fitness on her side. Last-start winner TIME FLIES is progressive and could make her presence felt. FLOWER OF SAIGON finished ahead of YOUNG LOVE in the Listed Woolavington and is better off on these terms, so could prove the value in the race.
Top Tip: PEUT ETRE MOI (5)
Watch out for: SHE’S A RAINBOW (4)
R6 15H40 – Cape Punters Cup (Grade 2) (3 Year-Olds)
The Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup (formerly the Selangor/Concorde Cup) is a traditional Guineas Trial and has again attracted a quality line-up. Champion 2yo COUSIN CASEY sets the standard and rates the one to beat on his reappearance. Langerman winner LIGHT SPEED is likely to have a fitness edge so should pose a threat. DAVE THE KING could make his presence felt with the step up in trip likely to bring about improvement. AT MY COMMAND and PORT LOUIS should be competitive on their Cape Classic form. Unbeaten stablemate LE MORNE continues to improve and could upstage them. Must see!
Top Tip: LIGHT SPEED (6)
Watch out for: COUSIN CASEY (8)
R7 16H15 – Sophomore Sprint (Listed) (3 Year-Olds)
Good 3yo Listed race. HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE and TROMPIE were returning from respective layoffs in a recent 1000m meeting which the latter won. Both would’ve come on for that run and ought to be competitive with improved fitness on their side, though preference is for the former over this trip and on these revised terms. WE’RE JAMMING represents a red-hot trainer-jockey combination and is unbeaten over the course and distance, so is capable of making his presence felt reverting to this distance. ICONIC DESTINATION is versatile and holding form so must also be respected.
Top Tip: HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE (1)
Watch out for: HAMMIES HERO (4)
R8 16H50 – Hollywoodbets Bright Future Middle Stakes
Several with chances in this field but it could pay to follow the form of a similar course-and-distance contest won by SUN DAZED who had the race run to suit. He will get a hot pace to aim at, with a number of speedy sorts in the line-up, so should again be competitive. LET IT BURN (2kg better off) caught the eye in that race on his comeback from a rest and will enjoy conditions too, so could turn the tables with improved fitness on his side. TRANSACT is closely matched on that form and capable of posing a threat. POLTERGEIST, debut winner KING REGENT and KZN raider PROUD MASTER have claims too.
Top Tip: POLTERGEIST (3)
Watch out for: TRANSACT (4)