Happy Chance has been tipped to win the Gr 3 Splashout Prix du Cap (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Gold Circle
R1
13 TALK TO THE MASTER has finished runner up in both of his career starts and was just touched off in the Cape Racing Sales Slipper in his latest effort. There have been two runners from that formline to have raced and both of them have won proving how strong of a formline it is turning out to be. 4 UN BEL DI has been consistent in all of his starts and his latest run was a solid third in the 2nd leg of the Juvenile Series and should continue his upward trajectory and be competitive once again. 2 ZANTHAR finished well enough on debut to finish second but does meet some tough opponents this time round. 8 WORLDY finished fourth on debut and is expected to improve from that run. Watch the betting for any support for the first timers (Devon Pretorius: 13-4-2-8)
R2
Competitive Fillies Classic field and most of the field arrive in top form and improving with every run. Trainer Brett Crawford has a strong hand with both 5 FATAL GEM and 6 PRINCESS IZZY with nothing much separating them and even dead heated at Durbanville back on the 18th of November. However, there is a slight preference for the former who recently ran in the G3 Politician Stakes against the boys and finished a respectable fourth. 2 RAINBOW LORIKEET is getting better with every start, just like her mother who was quite late when she hit her best form, and quickened up smartly to win her latest start. She is 1,5kgs worse off than Princess Izzy which could turn the form around over this trip. 7 EPIKLEROS is elected to finish ahead of stable companion 1 Summer Lily purely based on the fact she has proven to stay over this distance whereas Summer Lily tries the 1800m for the first time (Devon Pretorius: 5-6-2-7)
R3
What a renewal of The Cape Nursery and the final leg of the Summer Juvenile Series and it looks to be one of the races of the day. The winner of both legs of the series, 10 ROMAN AGENT, has barely put a foot wrong and has won two of his three starts holding a few runners from those formlines. He continues to improve and looks like a serious racehorse in the making but a chance is taken on 6 ONE STRIPE to reverse the form. They faced off in the Trippi Stakes and Roman Agent beat One Stripe 1,95 lengths but that was One Stripe’s debut run and was hopelessly green. With another run under the belt and a facile victor by 6 lengths in his next start, One Stripe could show the improvement to turn the form around. Ignore 13 LION RAMPART’S last start completely and he should bounce back to his best here. 9 WINDS OF CHANGE found some late support on debut and finished runner up to Roman Agent beaten only 0,4 lengths. It doesn’t stop there with CRS Slipper winner 5 Little Ballerina as well as 2 SYMPHONY IN WHITE; 7 HANDSOME PRINCE and 8 BANFF cannot be ignored (Devon Pretorius: 6-10-13-9)
R4
Another competitive field and punters will have to go wide to survive the the first leg of the P6. 3 POMODORO’S JET was just beaten by 0,4 lengths despite finishing fourth and should be in the shake up once again. 5 INNAMORARE came from too far back in his last start but was finishing off his race well. If he sits a little closer to the pace he should be involved. 1 MAGIC VERSE is better than his last start and if he repeats his effort when he beat Get Impressed, he has to be a serious contender. 8 WICCAN WARRIOR’s merit rating has fallen to an appealing mark and is starting to improve. He could be at a big price just for a place bet. 14 FIBONACCI was very unlucky in his last start but does step up in class. Respect for 6 USA’S HOPE; 11 SOLOMON’S SEAL as well as 12 SUN DAZED who will be flying at the finish (Devon Pretorius: 3-5-1-8)
R5
7 ROYAL AUSSIE is weighted to win here despite a below par effort in the WSB Cape Town Met. The drop back to the mile should suit and the drop in class should see him end up in the winners box. 6 FUTURE PRINCE comes in with a light weight of just 51,5kgs. He has had the ideal prep heading into this race and third run after a rest he should be in peak shape. 4 QUASIFORSURE was an unlucky loser in this race last year and should be right there to fight it out once again. 9 PONTE PIETRA was on the wrong side of the track turning for home in his last start and is much better than that run (Devon Pretorius: 7-6-4-9)
R6
1 HAPPY CHANCE was disappointing in the Majorca Stakes after finishing 3rd in the Paddock Stakes and she can be expected to bounce back from gate 1. Based on the Majorca formline, 8 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM is well in to finish in front of 6 RASCOVA as she is 2kgs better off at the weights this time round. Interesting to see Aldo Domeyer opting to ride 2 OCTOBER MORN who won the Sceptre Stakes and is a top sprinter now stepping up to 1400m over stable companion 9 GOLDEN HOSTESS who is returning to form and could be the lurker in the pack (Devon Pretorius: 1-8-6-2)
R7
9 THUNDERSTRUCK looks to be the best bet on the card. He finished second in the Cape Flying Championship and holds all of the runners from that race that he reopposes here. 4 COSMIC HIGHWAY won the G2 Merchants two months ago and then ran in the L’Ormarins Kings Plate over 1600m. He drops back to 1200m and should be the biggest danger to the first selection. 2 SURJAY is never far off the action but struggles to put his head in front when it counts the most. 3 BEREAVE is the defending champion and has found some solid form building up to this race. 8 SILVER FALCON could be the unknown after finishing third in a 1400m and now drops back to a sprint. (Devon Pretorius: 9-4-2-3)
R8
6 GREEN WITH ENVY looks hard to oppose after an impressive victory with top weight in the ‘Derby Trial’ Politician Stakes last month. The step up to 2000m won’t be an issue and he is the horse to beat. 4 BEACH BOMB is the best weighted horse in the race taking on the boys. Her latest effort in the Majorca can be completely ignored and she should bounce back here. 7 HLUHLUWE finished 3rd in the Guineas ahead of Green With Envy but with the step up to ten furlongs, Green With Envy will be better suited to turn that form around. 8 RAPIDASH won the Gold Rush pulling away from his opponents and it’s interesting to see that Jonsson Workwear sponsored jockey, Grant Van Niekerk, has opted to ride Rapidash over Hluhluwe (Devon Pretorius: 6-4-7-8)
R9
8 NORDIC QUEST won a competitive race in her last start and has jumped up just four points in the ratings from that win. She holds off a few runners from that formline but it wouldn’t be surprising to see 13 PINEAPPLEMINTGREEN reverse the form after a strong late run from her. Expect a better run 12 GIRL LIKE US who was unlucky not to have finished closer in that same race and was doing her best work late. 6 MIA’S HARPER is better than her last start and should bounce back to form (Devon Pretorius: 8-13-12-6)
Del
R10
1 SPEED RACER looks hard to beat and presents the perfect opportunity to finally shed the maiden tag after a hat-trick of seconds. 2 NOON DAY GUN looked like a winner in his last start and a win isn’t far away for him. 10 THE US OF A has William Bambiso in the saddle and not the worst of form behind his name. He is however held by Speed Racer from his last start. 9 CHAMPONELLE makes his local debut with some decent KZN form to his name and has the lucky draw of Richard Fourie engaged for the ride. (Devon Pretorius: 1-2-10-9)
