Montien is weighted to win the Gr 3 Variety Club Mile (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
The R350 000 Variety Club Mile (Gr 3), first leg of the well-established Cape Winter Series, takes pride of place on a 9-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow and pinpointing the likely winner is no easy task. All of Montien, Rascallion and Pacaya come back fresh following their runs in the WSB Cape Met at the end of January where Rascallion fared best of the trio when finishing second behind Double Superlative.
However 1600m is on the sharp side for Rascallion and it may prove better to side with Montien. The Piet Botha-trained son of Louis The King has previously won first-up from a break and three of his four victories have been recorded over this trip. He has matured very nicely as a 4yo and is a top class race horse in his own right. Nicely drawn in Gate 3, with regular pilot Anthony Andrews in the saddle, Montien should give us an excellent run for our money.
Despite being a little on the sharp side we can expect a forward run from Rascallion while Pacaya has all the class and ability to win a race of this nature. Two years ago he finished fourth in this race behind Gem King but his last gasp victory in the Jet Master Stakes last season makes him very much a livewire here. He pulled up distressed in the WSB Met but his form prior to that was solid and he has obviously recovered sufficiently from his setback last time to take his chances here.
Of those that have raced more recently, Wecangoallnight, Future Prince and Port Louis make most appeal but they will be hard pressed to lower the colours of Montien, Rascallion or Pacaya if these classy geldings return anywhere near their best.
The R200 000 Sweet Chestnut Stakes (Listed) for fillies and mares over 1400m is the supporting feature and Enemy Territory (Ire) stands out as the best handicapped filly in the race. The daughter of Canford Cliffs reeled off a hat trick of wins between August and November last year and her subsequent three unplaced runs have all been in high quality Feature races. She could certainly bounce back to best form here and warrants utmost respect in a very competitive line-up in which most of the 10-strong field have winning claims.
The consistent Fun Zone is well weighted here and could turn the form around with all of Summer Lily, Montelena and Siddeley. She also holds My Flower Fate on past form and the Candice Bass-Robinson trained daughter of Rafeef could prove to be the value in the race. That being said, Princess Izzy, drawn in pole position, Summer Lily, Siddeley and Montelena all come into the reckoning with big chances and must be considered for Jackpot and Pick 6 permutations. Kyalami Girl has her first run around the turn and it will be interesting to see how she goes. Not an easy race!
Fittingly, Cape Racing has named the second and third races in honour of the Hassen Adams and Rodney Dunn, both of whom passed away recently. They made a huge impact on our sport over many years and have left a lasting legacy for horse racing and thoroughbred breeding. Mauritius Kestrel, beaten a nose last time, can win the second race and opening leg of the Bipot while Cliff Swallow, runner-up in his last two starts, looks the part in the third race and first leg of the Place Accumulator.
The opening leg of the Pick 6, an Open Maiden over 1600m, could turn out to be a match race between Etoillefillante and Tsunami Warning but the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, looks wide open and presents something of a headache for exotic-bet players. Perhaps the consistent and distance suited Oliver, recent maiden winner Hoodia, All About Ronnie, the none-too-reliable Bardolino and Slurricane make up a viable short list but an upset cannot be ruled out.
The Andre Nel / Corne Orffer partnership were in good form during the week and they could strike with Axl in the eighth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1200m. He is weighted to turn the tables on Meu Capitano who only collared Axl in the last few strides four weeks ago. Gimmelightning and All About Al also warrant respect in another very competitive heat.
The race meeting closes out with a lowly Class 5 Handicap over 1200m and Beneath The Moon gets the opportunity to exact revenge after being demoted in the board room last time. But a good thing she is not, and all of Shifting Path, Seeking Peace, Royal Lytham and Country Time have the form to win in this class of race.
