Garth Puller Explains The Cape Guineas Wind Factor And Strategies

Former jockey great and now KZN’s leading trainer Garth Puller reckoned the cream would rise to the top in Saturday’s Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, despite the role draws and a strong South Easterly breeze would play.

Charles Dickens Needs A Messi Finish To Take Cape Guineas

Racing fans believe trainer Candice Bass-Robinson’s unbeaten colt is the new equine star.

Commentator Rouvaun Smit Comments On The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Meeting

CLICK HERE to watch his big race analysis

Mark Van Deventer’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Analysis (Interbet)

Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 17/12/2022 – Preview For Interbet

AT MY COMMAND S/S 108 – Brett Crawford’s entry has twice performed admirably against the track bias/race shape and figures to get the run of the race here from the inside post under top jockey, de Melo. Versatile running style gives him a high probability of at least hitting the board, and can challenge for the winners circle if Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey suffer tough trips.

PORT LOUIS S/S 102 – keeps making steady progress with escalating speed scores of 96 + – 98 + – 100 + but has twice been out finished by stronger rivals, making him a plausible place candidate rather than a possible winner.

CANFORD LIGHTS S/S 95 – in deep here.

UNION SQUARE S/S 103 – was bested by Anfields Rocket in the Graham Beck Stakes, then defeated stable mate Shoemaker in the Dingaans. Trainer de Kock has an excellent record in this G1 race, so U.S. can be taken seriously.

STREET OUTLAW S/S 99 – neat prep when finishing energetically behind subsequent Merchants 2nd We’re Jamming at most recent start in the South Easter Sprint. In good hands (trainer Maingard) but needs to find still more. Could make a marginal case for inclusion in bottom slot of quartets.

ROYAL AUSSIE S/S 100 – should work out a good trip racing handy for top connections (Snaith/Fourie) but will be under threat in deep stretch from the market favorites and needs to boost finishing punch.

SHOEMAKER S/S 105 – carries plenty of upside potential after running on well in both the Graham Beck (when badly blocked) and Dingaans. This one rates a legit contender and is bound to be turned out in fine fettle by de Kock but will need to make a speed figure leap (not out of the question) to have a winning shake.

FAMOUS AND RICH S/S 94 – looks outclassed.

LORD WILLIAM S/S 98 – game colt but with 100 the historic s/s cut off to be a Classic contender, he falls short on what is needed to be a factor, especially given the unusual strength of this year’s race.

MONEY HEIST S/S 101 – ran on from miles back under this jock when 5th in the Selangor. That was a laudable effort, and he could conceivably do the same thing here under hold-up tactics by Strydom and burgle into the single race exotics at a big price.

CHARLES DICKENS S/S 112 – towering performances over shorter make him 5/10 odds-on favourite to stay perfect. Sceptics may query that he’s unproven over a mile, shows a tendency to over-race briefly, whilst the double- digit draw is obviously not ideal. That said, CD is a freakish talent measured either by accurate speed figs or by conventional class/weight handicapping. He looks teed up to provide a first ever Guineas winner for Bass Racing.

DAVE THE KING S/S 99 – could be an important pace influence but has repeatedly run four to five lengths off the principals which puts his chances into context.

ANFIELDS ROCKET S/S 102 – humbly bred but shows heart/ability to just keep on winning on the Highveld. This is his acid test.

COUSIN CASEY S/S 109 – on a winning roll with a great record in KZN and Cape Town. Glen Kotzen’s runner will again try hit the oppo out the park for six, but a very wide draw complicates matters for jockey van Niekerk. Last term’s Champion juvenile is clear second favourite at 7/2.

LE MORNE S/S 104 – very smart, smoothly developing colt who ran on powerfully when just under three lengths off Cousin Casey in the Selangor. A repeat would put him on the premises so he is a must use in single race exotics. However, the extreme outside stall tempers enthusiasm for any winning squeak he may have held.

Mark van Deventer’s Grades:

Yeni, Munger Doubles

Muzi Yeni and Ryan Munger both scored doubles t the Vaal Classic track today.

Yeni goes to joint second place on the log with Richard Fourie on 74 wins, 42 behind Keagan de Melo, and he has done it at a strike rate of 12.23%

Munger’s double took him to 50 wins for the season, done at a strike rate of 11.24%.