Questioning returns to action on Saturday (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
An interesting high quality Progress Plate over 1400m heads an 8-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow. Billed as the sixth event on the card, the race sees the return to action of the highly rated 3yo Querari gelding, Questioning.
Following a promising debut over 1200m in May last year, when second to the useful Café Culture, Questioning reeled off a hattrick of wins, including the first of the Classic trials, the R300 000 Cape Classic (Gr 3) over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville back in October. At that stage the Vaughan Marshall-trained inmate was being hailed as a potential Guineas winner, but he appeared not to see out 1600m when fourth in the Cape Punters Cup (Gr 2), before finishing a never-dangerous eighth behind Snow Pilot in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr 1) in December.
Questioning is unbeaten over 1400m but he will have to be at his best to lower the colours of the well-weighted Itsrainingwilliam, who ran out an easy start-to-finish winner in a similar contest a month ago. Itsrainingwilliam seemed to relish being allowed to stride along in front from the jump and a repeat of those tactics could result in Itsrainingwilliam proving difficult to peg back.
Eric Sands saddled a trio of winners at the recent midweek meeting and his charge Wecangoallnight should give a very good account of himself here. There was little to choose between Wecangoallnight and Itsrainingwilliam when they met over the course and distance at the end of December and Sands’ runner has to be taken seriously.
Hat’s Pride is an interesting runner. Glen Kotzen’s 3yo son of Hat Puntano finished ahead of Questioning in the Guineas and although never dangerous, Hat’s Pride was staying on when unplaced behind Green With Envy in the Politician Stakes (Gr 3). Hat’s Pride has won his only start over 1400m and may well appreciate the drop in trip. He is certainly one to consider for Trifectas and Quartets.
On best form Money Heist would have some claims at the weights but his recent performances are not encouraging. This should be a really good contest, but Itsrainingwilliam gets the vote to score at the expense of Wecangoallnight and Questioning, although all three must be included in Jackpot and Pick 6 permutations.
The meeting closes out with a very competitive Class 3 Handicap over 1600m. The list of possible winners is pretty lengthy, but the improving Lindbergh could take full advantage of a light weight and pole position to post a well-deserved victory. Last time out, from the worst of the draw, Lindbergh was a close third behind Quartermain and the latter franked the form with another good win during the week.
Prometterre has solid form coming into the race and will be looking to complete a hattrick. Richard Fourie retains the ride for the Marshall stable, but Prometterre has an awkward draw and does have to concede 7 kgs to Lindbergh which may be a tall order. Get Impressed was not disgraced in the Politician Stakes and will be far better suited here. Lindbergh appears to have his measure at the weights, but another honest run can be expected.
Get Impressed’s stable companions, Nevada King and Future Turn, both come into the race with more than just outside chances. At the weights there should not be much to choose between Future Turn and Prometterre and both must obviously be included in all exotic bet permutations. Rosh Kedesh and Kitchakal are capable of better than their recent form suggests and either could be the source of an upset result.
This is no easy race to nail one’s colours to the mast, but Lindbergh has a lot in his favour and he should give us a good run for our money.
The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m and there appears nothing to choose between In The Green Zone and Sheets and Goggles. The latter finished marginally ahead of In The Green Zone when they met in December but In The Green Zone has had the benefit of another more recent run, when a good second behind Gimmefabulous, and this could sway the outcome in favour of In The Green Zone. Priscilla Maisey and Prom Queen can improve and may be worth considering for larger Pick 6 permutations.
Bankers are never easy to find but Blue Bay looks the part in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1600m. He was tested as a maiden, and certainly not disgraced, when less than four lengths off Green With Envy in the recent Politician Stakes. His form prior to that in this class was good and he should prove superior to his seven rivals here.
Pretty Precious in race five, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, presents as another possible exotic-bet banker. The well-bred daughter of Potala Palace is improving quickly and was a good second behind the talented Kyalami Girl last time. Lucy Rocket has two promising runs under the belt and appears the main threat, but Pretty Precious gets the nod to shed her maiden ticket.
