San Pedro has been tipped to win the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
Graeme Hawkins (Race Coast)
A very competitive R135 000 Equi Feeds Class 3 Handicap over 1400m is the main attraction on an 8-race programme on the Winter course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Billed as the sixth race on the programme, the 10-strong field includes the progressive Landoftherisingsun from pole position, the equally promising Air Raid and the capable but sometimes erratic Please Be True, all three-year-olds who are likely to make their mark during the forthcoming season.
Landoftherisingsun has won his last two starts in very easy fashion, but the son of Danon Platina takes a steep rise in class. He has not been seen since early May and could well find 1400m a little on the sharp side. On the plus side Richard Fourie, who booted home four winners at the course during the week, takes the ride. Air Raid must shoulder top weight of 61kgs, conceding 4kgs to Landoftherisingsun, but the son of Lancaster Bomber is arguably at his best over this trip, and he could go back-to-back, having beaten Dawn Till Dusk by a whisker towards the end of May.
Please Be True, stable companion to Landoftherisingsun, scrambled home to a narrow victory over Prometerre over the course and distance a month ago. He meets Landoftherisingsun on even terms and there should not be much to choose between the pair. It would appear that Fourie has elected to ride Landoftherisingsun in preference to Please Be True, who will partnered by JP van der Merwe. Rule Of Thumb is the third string to the Snaith bow and the 5yo son of Royal Mo can never be safely ignored, although he does seem to prefer a touch further these days.
The list of potential winners does not end there. Captain West is handicapped with a fair chance of toppling Air Raid and is holding form well. San Pedro was heavily supported at long odds when third behind Sugar Mountain ten days ago and has racing fitness on his side. He drops in class here and could be rewarded with front-running tactics. Oliver has very decent form over the course and distance but faces a tough task at the weights. He last won in October last year and has not had much relief from the handicapper in the interim. Voorlopertjie and Sir Korski both return from spells on the sidelines while Gold Dust is very much unexposed and could find the company a little too strong.
From an exotic bets perspective, punters are advised to cast their nets as wide as possible but my each-way value play in the race would be San Pedro who sports blinkers for the first time in his career.
Candice Bass-Robinson holds a strong hand with Beach Verse and Chickasaw in the opening leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1200m, and speculators should have to look no further for the winner.
Race 4, and second leg of the Pick 6, is a trappy 1400m Middle Stakes (F&M), in which Fun Zone could prove good value, while the fifth race is a modest Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, but it may pay to follow the promising 2yo Oncidium from a neat draw.
The seventh and eighth races are very competitive but She’s My World is a highly regarded 2yo daughter of One World and she may prove good enough against more seasoned opponents in the final event. Stable companion and fellow juvenile Music Of The Night warrants a mention as does the lightly weighted 2yo Between The Lines. Lhasa could prove best of the older brigade.
