Mike de Kock has been a thorn in the flesh to Cape Town trainers over the years and will be out to land his sixth Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and he has a lively candidate in the unbeaten Heather’s Boy.
The Rafeef colt is unbeaten in three starts, the first over 1450m and the next two over the Guineas trip of 1600m. He has landed a good draw of four. Craig Zackey is contracted to the owners Khaya Stables, so stays aboard. The question is whether Heather’s Boy is physically and mentally mature enough yet. He is a big, rangy type and so is likely to have scope for further improvement. It will be his first time around a left hand bend.
One World’s star son One Stripe landed pole position and proved he stays the trip with an impressive performance last time in the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup. He showed a fine turn of foot despite the race not panning out perfectly and is going to be hard to beat. Gavin Lerena will ride him for the fourth time in succession. Trainer Vaugthan Marshall will also be going for a sixth Cape Guineas success.
Eight On Eighteen is a scopey sort who will have been brought to his peak by the Punters Cup, in which he was beaten 2,75 lengths by One Stripe.
Great Plains stormed home with long strides to win the Gr 3 Cape Classic over 1400m. In his only try at this trip he was too far out of his ground in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champions Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville, but ran on for a 3,25 length fourth. From draw two here he should be closer turning for home and could be in the shake up.
Boundless Energy showed a fine turn of foot from off the pace in the Cape Classic to be beaten only half-a-length by Great Plains. He should manage the step up in trip but has a wide draw.
Sail The Seas impressed last time out when producing a fine turn of foot to beat older rivals over this trip. He has won three from five and has scope for further improvement, but has to overcome a draw of nine out of ten.
All Out For Six led in the Punters Cup and almost stole it, although the class of One Stripe won the day cosily in the end. Before that All Out For Six was beaten by Great Plains and Boundless Energy in the Cape Classic, but he could ensure a good pace for stablemate One Stripe.
O’Tenikwa is by Vercingetorix out of a Captain Al sprinter and has plenty of speed, but on the other hand he is a half-brother to the useful Kampala Kampari, who won the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m. Therefore, O’Tenikwa might see out the trip and he will be interesting as he has a big stride and led a long way out last time out when winning impressively over 1200m. However, he has a wide draw in his first attempt at a trip beyond a sprint.
Bjorn Ironside is well regarded but was beaten 7,95 lengths by last year’s Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot last time when receiving 8kg and on formlines that gives him no chance of getting close to One Stripe.
On My Honour was beaten 8,40 lengths in the Punters Cup and has a mountain to climb here.
The Hollywoodbets Cape Guines final is below:
