Picture: Hitthemhardsunshine (Wayne Marks).

Hitthemhardsunshine To Beat A Top Field In Sophomore

If Charles Dickens is the best three-year-old in the country then the Eric Sands-trained Hitthemhardsunshine must have the best three-year-old sprint form in the country.

He has had two wins and two seconds and in both seconds he was giving away weight to highly touted opposition.

He was beaten 1,50 lengths by Charles Dickens over 1200m when giving him 2kg and was beaten 1,25 lengths by the highly touted Trompie when giving him 4kg.

The What A Winter gelding is going to be hard to beat under the country’s leading rider Keagan de Melo in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow (Saturday)..

The draw one can be an advantage as it gives the horss the rail to run alongside.

However, it can be a disadvantage if the jockeys deem the going to be on the inside.

In that case they all come from the outside and the number one drawn horse has to be used up to a certain extent to hold position. Otherwise he has to risk being boxed in.

Good horses can extract themselves from boxed in positions, but the draw does have to be a bit of a concern if recent racing has been anything to go by where they have all tended to come across towards the inside.

Trompie is a long-striding individual who is highly regarded and he has impressed in both of his wins.

However, they have both been over 1000m and he faded over 1200m in his only other start after taking quite a strong hold.

They could not find a reason for that below par run and did not believe it was the distance, but tomorrow’s race will tell.

Gavin van Zyl clearly thinks a lot of the Vercingetorix colt Quandary and said he would like to arrive for the WSB Gold Rush on WSB Met day unbeaten in three starts in Cape Town.

He has won one so far, a maiden over 1200m in authoritative style, and this will be the next one.

Saturday will tell if he is able to live up to those expectations and it would be no great surprise if he does because he ran that maiden in quite a good time. He looks the part and seems to be on the up.

We’re Jamming disappointed in the Grade 3 Cape Classic, but was ultra impressive over this trip before that in the Cape Farm Sale race, so he is a big player too, although he does have to give 2kg to the rest of the field.

Iconic Destination has done little wrong over sprints and could also be involved.

Hammie’s Hero has won two out of three and could also be in the shake up.

Those are the leading players in what will be as intriguing a race as a the big one on the day, the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup.

Picture: Munchkin runs out a comfortable winner (Lucky Houdalakis Racing Stables).

GimmeALight, Munchkin Catch Eye At Turffontein

Long-time owner Richard Fitzgerald deserves a good horse and might have one in the Paul Matchett-trained Gimmealight.

In the first race over 1160m at Turffontein’s Standside’s day-night meeting today this Gimmethegreenlight filly was slow away but produced a devastating late burst to get up under Diego Degouveia, despite starting odds of 40/1.

In the second race the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Rafeef colt Munchkin was all the rage, just as he was on debut.

This time he made no mistake.

He was in the lead on the stand side under the hands.

He pulled away under S’Manga Khumalo at the 400m mark and later on repelled a dangerous looking challenge from Insightful (Oratorio) to win by 2,25 lengths with the rest of the field beaten seven lengths.

He converted odds of 36/100.

Picture: Chansonette gets up to win the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas (Wayne Marks).

Chansonette Will Not Have It Easy In Summer Bowl

The Andre Nel-trained Vercingetorix filly did not have a perfect passage in her reappearance in the Grade 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and was caught late by the Candice Bass Robinson-trained 106 rated Santa Maria, to whom she was giving 3kg.

She quickened well after being caught one wide without cover near the front and most expected her to go on to victory. However, she was returning from an eight month layoff and, having drifted from 5/10 to 15/10 in the betting, was caught late.

She will have come on from the run but now faces two progressive daughters of Silvano in the Bass-Robinson-trained Marina and the Justin Snaith-trained Silver Darling.

Marina, a full sister to July winner Marinaresco, was beaten only a neck by Chansonette in last season’s Grade 1 Paddock Stakes and will be using this reappearance as a preparation run.

Silver Darling, the winner of the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000, is also making her reapperarance.

However, Chansonette, like those two, will also be targeting the Paddock Stakes, so will not be at her peak either.

Marina and Silver Darling can be expected to be better horses this season and should come into their own, but the same can be said for Chansonette, who is by Silvano’s best son at stud.

All three fillies carry 62kg and Marina is drawn 1 under Aldo Domeyer, Chansonette 3 under Grant van Niekerk and Silver Darling 4 under the flying Richard Fourie.

They have to give the rest of the field between 6kg and 12kg, which won’t be easy considering they all have bigger fish to fry.

Nevertheless, on handicapping terms Chansonette, having won the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and then just been pipped by Captain’s Ransom in both the Paddock Stakes and Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, is well in at the weights tomorrow.

On official merit ratings she is 3kg better off with the Marina and 5kg better off with Silver Darling.

The other four runners are between 5kg and 15kg under sufferance with Chansonette.

The three-year-old Dynasty filly Make It Snappy receives 12kg, and although 15kg under sufferance on official merit ratings, this is only her third start so she is unexposed and could still be anything. She does have to carry 1kg overweight under Kabelo Matsunyane though.

Kailene is also not out of it on paper considering she was only 3,10 lengths behind Silver Darling in the Woolavington and receives 6kg, although this is her second run after a layoff.

Do Angels Cry showed promise last season and is distance suited. Carrying just 52kg she is only 5kg under sufferance with Chansonette on official merit ratings.

Winter Scout is also distance suited and is 6kg under sufferance with Chansonette carrying 50kg.

Chansonette will be hard to beat, but all things considered it would be brave to take the 12/10 on offer with Hollywoodbets at the time of writing.

Picture: Light Speed runs in the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup (Wayne Marks).

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Formguides And Selections

www.atheraces.com

R1 12H40 – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Maiden Plate.

Competitive maiden featuring 3 last-start runners-up. GREEN MANDARIN was 2nd in a maiden at Fairview on his seasonal reappearance and ought to have come on since, so should make his presence felt. Both NEVADA KING and ROYAL PORT LOUIS are overdue and could fight it out, with the latter expected to fare better reverting to this grade after contesting an Eastern Cape feature last time. MONTIEN outran big odds when a staying-on 2nd on debut over 1200m and should have more to give with that run under his belt and natural improvement likely. SHOTGUN WILLIE, gelded after his debut, and WYLIE RILEY have claims.

Top Tip: NEVADA KING (2)

Watch out for: GREEN MANDARIN (1)

R2 13H15 – Summer Bowl (3YO & Older Fillies And Mares)

A cracking minor feature that includes several Grade 1 performers. MARINA was 2nd in the Garden Province Stakes over this trip at that level 2 starts back and need only run to that level (off a lower mark) to have a say in the finish on her return from a break. SILVER DARLING won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 before finishing 3rd in the Garden Province. She too returns from a layoff but is effective at this trip and could run well fresh. Best-weighted CHANSONETTE, however, has the benefit of a recent comeback run and with improved fitness should prove hard to beat under favourable conditions.

Top Tip: MARINA (1)

Watch out for: CHANSONETTE (3)

R3 13H50 – Summer Festival Of Racing Maiden Plate (F & M)

This could be fought out between Crawford and Snaith runners, with the former’s ALLENDE preferred to stablemate SUNLIT FROM HEAVEN after staying on to finish 3rd when trying this trip for the first time at her last start. Well-related GIFT FROM HEAVEN improved to finish ahead of that rival when aggressively ridden from the front last time, so must be respected from an inside draw. JAZZBELLA is held on that form but is capable of better. Stablemate LADY WRITER is likely to make further improvement which should see her play a role in the finish. RED KITE and GRANDI ORECCHIE have earning potential.

Top Tip: LADY WRITER (8)

Watch out for: ALLENDE (2)

R4 14H25 – Racecape Powered By Hollywoodbets Maiden Special Weights

Many with chances in a big field. WESTERN WALL has improved over this trip and from an inside gate should turn the tables on re-opposing SPIRIT OF SILVANO who is drawn wide. READY OR NOT is likely to improve going ground after a pleasing comeback run over a shorter, though the step up in trip should also suit MOHANDAS and SELUKWE who have the form and experience to pose a threat. RELEASE ME is another to improvement trying this trip for the first time with a tongue-tie now fitted. STORM BOULEVARD is likely to go forward from the widest draw and could prove hard to peg back. Go wide in exotics!

Top Tip: READY OR NOT (8)

Watch out for: I’M A MAN (9)

R5 15H05 – destinationcaperacing Fm 95 Handicap (F & M)

Wide open. FLEETING beat ACADEMIC GOLD, OFFICIAL SECRET and PEUT ETRE MOI over 1600m last time. She is effective over this trip but worse off at the weights with each of those, so could struggle to confirm. Stablemate SHE’S A RAINBOW, who would’ve needed her last start over an inadequate trip, should do better over this distance with improved fitness on her side. Last-start winner TIME FLIES is progressive and could make her presence felt. FLOWER OF SAIGON finished ahead of YOUNG LOVE in the Listed Woolavington and is better off on these terms, so could prove the value in the race.

Top Tip: PEUT ETRE MOI (5)

Watch out for: SHE’S A RAINBOW (4)

R6 15H40 – Cape Punters Cup (Grade 2) (3 Year-Olds)

The Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup (formerly the Selangor/Concorde Cup) is a traditional Guineas Trial and has again attracted a quality line-up. Champion 2yo COUSIN CASEY sets the standard and rates the one to beat on his reappearance. Langerman winner LIGHT SPEED is likely to have a fitness edge so should pose a threat. DAVE THE KING could make his presence felt with the step up in trip likely to bring about improvement. AT MY COMMAND and PORT LOUIS should be competitive on their Cape Classic form. Unbeaten stablemate LE MORNE continues to improve and could upstage them. Must see!

Top Tip: LIGHT SPEED (6)

Watch out for: COUSIN CASEY (8)

R7 16H15 – Sophomore Sprint (Listed) (3 Year-Olds)

Good 3yo Listed race. HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE and TROMPIE were returning from respective layoffs in a recent 1000m meeting which the latter won. Both would’ve come on for that run and ought to be competitive with improved fitness on their side, though preference is for the former over this trip and on these revised terms. WE’RE JAMMING represents a red-hot trainer-jockey combination and is unbeaten over the course and distance, so is capable of making his presence felt reverting to this distance. ICONIC DESTINATION is versatile and holding form so must also be respected.

Top Tip: HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE (1)

Watch out for: HAMMIES HERO (4)

R8 16H50 – Hollywoodbets Bright Future Middle Stakes

Several with chances in this field but it could pay to follow the form of a similar course-and-distance contest won by SUN DAZED who had the race run to suit. He will get a hot pace to aim at, with a number of speedy sorts in the line-up, so should again be competitive. LET IT BURN (2kg better off) caught the eye in that race on his comeback from a rest and will enjoy conditions too, so could turn the tables with improved fitness on his side. TRANSACT is closely matched on that form and capable of posing a threat. POLTERGEIST, debut winner KING REGENT and KZN raider PROUD MASTER have claims too.

Top Tip: POLTERGEIST (3)

Watch out for: TRANSACT (4)

Picture: Who will be the best dressed at this season’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate? (LKP).

L’Ormarins King’s Plate’s Best Dressed Competition

Blue and White remains the order of the day on Saturday, 7th of January 2023 for #LKP. Get those stylish and elegant outfits ready for #LKPBestDressed, and you could be enjoying some incredible prizes from event sponsors!

Once again, we will be running the competitions for Best Hat, Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Lady, with the main prize giveaway to the Best Dressed Lady being a trip for two to experience Qatar Goodwood Festival in the UK in July 2023.

Read all the main prize details on our website: https://lormarinskingsplate.co.za/event…/best-dressed/

Picture: State Man: impressive winner of the County Hurdle last season (Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)).

Champion Hurdle Hopeful State Man Returns On Sunday

By David Jennings (Racing Post)

It is State Man rather than Sir Gerhard who will try to be moulded into a Champion Hurdle contender by Willie Mullins this season after the five-year-old appeared among a final field of five for Sunday’s Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (16H05 SA Time) at Punchestown.

Mullins, who is chasing a remarkable 12th win in the race, has also declared last year’s winner Sharjah, who was also successful in 2018. He will be once again ridden by the champion amateur Patrick Mullins who has been on board for five of his six Grade 1 wins as well as his Galway Hurdle success in 2018.

Sharjah has not been seen since running out an odds-on winner of the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas having missed the remainder of the campaign with a setback. Saldier, the 2019 Morgiana winner, completes the three-pronged attack from the Mullins stable with Danny Mullins booked.

But it is State Man where most eyes will be drawn. He landed a monster plunge in the County Hurdle last March, where he was an emphatic winner at 11-4. He backed that up by winning the Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown festival and is now priced between 7-1 and 10-1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Speaking in his Racing Post stable tour this month, Mullins said of State Man: “We thought he’d be a nice novice chaser. He’s one of those horses we’re in two minds about in terms of chasing or hurdling. He’s third or fourth favourite for the Champion Hurdle and it’s easier to keep him sound for that, and his family tend to improve with age. We’ll have to speak with connections.

“I had him and Sir Gerhard pencilled in as novice chasers at the start of the season, but as we near our kick-off point I’m beginning to question whether we should look at the Champion Hurdle for them. I think he’s got the quality to be a Champion Hurdle horse. Whether he’ll be good enough to win it I’m not sure, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him at all.”

It now seems that Mullins has changed his mind about State Man going novice chasing and he begins a potential path to the Champion Hurdle in the first Grade 1 hurdle race of the season.

Gordon Elliott won the Morgiana in 2020 with Abacadabras and this time around he relies on Teahupoo, who who looked a potential star when winning the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park in February and was sent off a single figure price against Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle.

He trailed in last of ten there and disappointed behind the unbeaten wondermare at Punchestown too but Elliott is adamant that he needs soft ground to be at his best and he will get that on Sunday.

Jesse Evans completes the quintet for Noel Meade and Bryan Cooper. He was a stylish winner of the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary last month but blotted his copybook with a below-par effort in the November Handicap on the Flat at Naas last time where he only beat one home.