Innamorare Impresses And Franks Some 3yo Formlines
The Justin Snaith-trained Master Of My Fate colt Innamorare won impressively over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today to upheld the form of another couple of promising three-year-olds, the Brett Crawford-trained Futura colt Le Morne and the Vaughan Marshall-trained Grade 3 Cape Classic contender Dave The King (Global View).
Innamorare was having his second career start on June 15 when beaten 3,25 lengths over 1200m at Kenilworth by Dave The King, who was making his debut.
Innamorare won comfortably over 1400m next time out at Kenilworth in July.
However, in his first start as a three-year-old over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in September he was beaten 0,75 lengths by Le Morne, to whom he was giving 2kg.
Le Morne remained unbeaten in three starts when following up over that same course and distance, beating the 73-rated older horse Tizona, to whom he gave 1kg, by 0,40 lengths.
However, the three-year-old beaten 2,40 lengths in the latter race, the Marshall-trained Scalini, provided some formlines to other strong three-year-old races.
Innamorare was backed into 18/10 favourite today.
He travelled beautifully in the running towards the back of the field in the nine horse field.
In the straight he quickly made up the ground on Blackberry Malt (Ideal World), who had come from a handy position to hit the front.
They duelled briefly but in the end Innamorare won easing up by 0,40 lengths under Richard Fourie.
Innamorare went into this event for three-year-olds merit rated only 84.
However, under the Classified Stakes conditions he was officially 1,5kg under sufferance with the best-weighted runners.
There was surprisingly not a single filly entered in this race, despite them receiving a 3kg allowance under the conditions.
It is an intriguing time of year, as the three-year-olds sort out the pecking order.
It is usually at this time that a few pundits start saying it is “an exceptional” crop, because a lot of them put in seemingly top class performances.
However, the “top class” band becomes thinner and thinner during the Cape Summer Season – the cream usually emerges from certain formlines which turn out to be genuinely good, whilst some impressive winners turn out to have been winners of weaker form races, and fall by the way side.
Nevertheless, Innamorare is going to provide a reference point to a few formlines and might turn out to be a feature contender himself.
Daughter Of Ilha Bela Makes Debut At Vaal
David Mollett (Business Day)
Mike de Kock has trained many talented females in his illustrious career — notably Durban July winners Ipi Tombe and Igugu — and another who performed with distinction for the stable is Fort Wood’s daughter, Ilha Bela.
8th Race: (7) Angel’s Wish (11) Reny (4) Asiye Phambili (2) Gin And Tonic
Greg Bortz New Chairman Of Kenilworth Racing
Cape Racing Press Release 18 October 2022.
Summer Rains Have Finally Arrived In Jo’Burg
The first big downpour happened yesterday heralding the arrival of the Summer rains.
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Being Refurbished
Greg Bortz has delivered on his promises at lightning speed and after the upliftment of Hollywoodbets Durbanville, which saw spin off effects, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is now also being refurbished.
In his capacity as the newly appointed Kenilworth Racing chairman, Bortz told the Sporting Post Kenilworth Racing were in the stages of a year-long project to upgrade the historic Southern Suburbs venue.
He added, “Most things will be completely indiscernible to the public, but were nonetheless critical fixes. There were some really massive projects, included repairing the entire roof of the Grandstand and next door buildings, which were all leaking terribly. We have changed most of the windows, which were housed in broken frames and a future potential health hazard,” said Bortz, who added that upgrading the broken escalators was a massive repair job.
“We have also painted the entire building, installed perimeter fencing and overhauled all the bathrooms. The carpets were replaced and we have redone the floors throughout the building. Then there are the staff break areas, as well as a new jockey’s room.”
He said that the KR team was working with third parties to add some exciting new entertainment features to help drive traffic to the venue all year round. These will be announced in due course.
“The capex budget is extensive and the project is a work-in-progress. The scaffolding for the roof and window maintenance will be removed for Saturday’s race day and put back up afterwards,” said Bortz, who suggested the public should watch the news for major new non-racing initiatives (entertainment, food & beverage) that would be announced in the upcoming months.
Saturday’s meeting features the Grade 3 Cape Classic and the first race is off at 12H35.
Timeform’s Post Race Analyis Of The Champion Stakes
Check out the Timeform report on the QIPCO Champion Stakes, a great afternoon for Bay Bridge but a first defeat for Baaeed on his final start.
ADAYAR (IRE) ran a lot better than he had in this race last year, confirming he retains just about all his ability despite a bit of a lost season, though he has the option of the Breeders’ Cup Turf next month; held up, travelled well, rapid headway out wide home turn and led soon after, headed over 1f out, rallied but held final 100 yds.
De Melo/Kannemeyer, Fourie/Snaith Doubles
Keagan de Melo and Dean Kannemeyer combined for an early double at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today.
Later, Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith won two of the last three races together.
De Melo is now on 70 winners at 23.41%, 18 clear of second-placed Muzi Yeni.
Fourie in on 33 winners at 17.93%.
Snaith is on 32 winners at 12.50%.
Kannemeyer is on 12 winners at 15.79%.
Today’s Question
Who said the following about the 1976 Royal Ascot meeting, “I decided I’d have two grand on. I woke up the night before with sweat pouring off me. I dreamt he’d got beat. I thought I’d halve the bet. When I woke up again I decided I was off my head betting a grand, I’d have 500 quid instead. At the races I heard various trainers fancied their horses. I ended up betting 50 quid and he won by 30 lengths. That’s how bad a punter I am!”
Vaal Classic Fields
Today’s Question Answer
The quotes were the recollections of Tim Easterby about his 6/4 winner of the King’s Stand Stakes at the 1976 Royal Ascot meeting, Lochnager (Dumbarnie), who actually only won by three-quarters-of-a-length.
He was backed down from 5/2 “in one of the biggest gambles seen at Royal Ascot for years.”
Recalling the race from another angle once Easterby said in his thick Yorkshire accent, ” “Lochnager was such a good ‘oss and so strongly fancied, I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous before a race. I couldn’t stop sweatin’, just thinking about it. The one thing I told [Hide], over and over again, was not to come too soon. Lochnager was an ‘oss with all the gears. What made him so brilliant was that he was so switched off – he’d pick grass on’t side of a gallop at home while others galloped past him. But when you asked him to pick up in a race, he was like a Ferrari in overdrive, he had an unbelievable burst of speed. I couldn’t watch t’race from the stands. I ended up watching it from t’weighing room … I’ve never had an ‘oss like him and never seen a better sprinter. He was a machine.” He also recalled that he was reprimanded by the racecourse stewards for failing to wear appropriate dress as he appeared at the course in his usual suit and trilby.
