Fox On The Run (yellow colours, purple stars) will be out to give Richard Fourie a first win in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and would also be a first win for champion owners Hollywood Racing of the race they sponsor (Picture: Wayne Marks)
James Crawford has two runners in Saturday’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the iconic breed-shaping race that his now Hong Kong-based father Brett won twice, with Elusive Gold in 2013 and Kilindini in 2019.
James’ runners, Star Major (Querari) and Fox On The Run (Canford Cliffs) have tough draws of 12 and 15 in the 15 horse field and come off runs in the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup over this 1600m course and distance in which they were beaten 2,45 lengths into fifth and 5,15 lengths into ninth respectively.
James said about their Punters Cup runs, “Star Major still just needed the run, he’s a nice horse but I definitely think he’s looking for ground. Fox In The Run just got a bit lost in the running.”
He elaborated, “I wouldn’t put them in the race just to fill the field. Star Major is definitely going to be more of a Derby kind of horse. But if things go his way and he can get into a good position from that draw then there’s no reason why he can’t get into the money. Fox On The Run is a big horse and is looking for a bit of ground. His fourth career run, having made his debut on September 22, was in the Punters’ Cup and it was actually his first ever run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. I think for him to only finish five lengths back having been a bit hampered coming out the pens, I don’t think he disgraced himself.”
Fox On The Run also seemed to be tight for room down the inside in the straight in the Punters Cup.
Interestingly, Richard Fourie has stuck with Fox On The Run.
James is not concerned about the wide draw for Fox On The Run and said, “I think there’s going to be a lot of speed. From how I assess the race, I think it’s going to be fairly honest, so I’m not too concerned from that draw. If it was a race where there was no speed, then I’d be a little bit worried, but I think they’ll go and honest pace. If he’s good enough, he’ll win it with a good draw or a bad draw.”
The same can be said about Star Major, who managed to find the box seat from a tricky draw in the Punters Cup.
Star Major is a 25/1 shot with the sponsor and Fox On The Run is 33/1.
James runs Mon Petit Cherie against the boys in the Gr 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes where she has draw six out of 14 and Richard Fourie is also aboard this Ridgemont homebred four-year-old.
Mon Petit Cherie caught the eye in no uncertain terms in her reappearance as she looks to have blossomed into a horse with plenty of substance and she toyed with the opposition in that Progress Plate over 1200m.
James said, “She just had one or two hiccups along the way in her three-year-old career, but she is twice the horse she was last season. There are a few horses that have been prepared to come out and win the Green Point, but for me it’s just another stepping stone for bigger things. To put it this way, when she won her debut run of the season, it was her first run back after her rest and I didn’t have her fit and ready to win. I had her fit enough to run well and the fact she won was purely on her class. I think there’s still a lot more to come from her after having that debut run out of the way. I think there an exciting time ahead for her this season. There’s a few things we have in the pipeline, so nothing concrete just yet. A lot depends on how she runs in the Green Point.”
The yard contest the Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes with four-year-old Canford Cliffs filly Strawberry Thief, whose last run can have a line drawn through it as she was cleaned up completely when going for a run towards the inside and was lucky not to come down.
James said, ” I think her rating (89) has looked after itself. She’s a filly we’ve always rated, but she’s never going to win in an ecstatic fashion. At some point in time you’ve got to step them out and see what they’re really made of. We do think she’s a filly that’s got feature race ability. Obviously she’s got a lot to do at the weights (officially 5kg under sufferance with best weighted Red Palace), but she’s very well. She could definitely have an outside chance.”
James runs Surjay and Raven Black in the Gr 2 Splashout Cape Merchants over 1200m. Surjay carries joint topweight of 62kg from draw 11 with Luyolo Mxothwa up and Raven Black is 1kg under sufferance carrying 52kg with Kabelo Matsunyane up from draw 13.
James said, “Surjay is doing very well, very well. He may just need the run coming off of a rest, but his work at home has been impressive. I don’t think he’ll disgrace himself on Saturday. I like Raven Black a lot. He’s always been a pick of mine in the yard since he was a two-year-old. Unfortunately he’s had his setbacks, which is why he’s been raced so lightly in his career. But, I think he’s also full of ability, and if he jumps out on terms in the Merchants, I think he’s got every chance.”
In the Gr 3 Ownpay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m James runs The Futurist and Chasing The Rainbow.
He said, “The Futurist is doing well at home. Craig’s back on and he’s got a phenomenal strike rate with him, so I think he gets along with him pretty well. If he has things his way, there’s no reason why he can’t cause an upset. Chasing the rainbow, is also a lightly raced four-year-old. He’s getting back into the rhythm of things, and I think he’s a really progressive kind of horse. He’s a little bit under-sufferance, but I think he’ll make his presence felt.
