The Justin Snaith-trained Happy Verse is a leading contender for the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup and the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The raider threat in the three-year-old classic male division looks to be particularly strong this season with the like of the Mike and Matthew de Kock-trained Jan Van Goyen (Master Of My Fate), the Stuart Ferrie-trained Cognac (Rafeef) and others descending on the Cape Summer season.
Cognac, now rated 98, was ultra impressive in his second start at Hollywoodbets Greyville over the weekend and the yard believe he will get a mile, while 118-rated Jan van Goyen’s form has been franked by the Sean Tarry-trained 116-rated Tin Pan Alley (The United States) and the Candice Dawson-trained 114-rated Chronicle King (Vercingetorix).
The latter pair could also be candidates for Cape Town.
The Fabian Habib-trained 98-rated Echo Check (Master Of My Fate) is highly regarded and the Roy Magner-trained 109-rated King Harald (Erik The Red), the Peter Muscutt-trained 108-rated Count Of Rouen (William Longsword), the Mike Miller-trained 107-rated Soldier Boy (Royal Mo), the Paul Matchett-trained 105-rated Zalatoris (Erik The Red), the Alec Laird-trained 104-rated Tenjiku (Erik The Read), the Alan Greeff-trained 98-rated King Prawn (Master Of My Fate), the Robyn Klaasen-trained 107-rated Charming Cheetah (New Predator), the Mike and Matthew de Kock-trained 90-rated Buddy Boy (What A Winter), the 93-rated De Kock-trained One Eye On Vegas (Buffalo Bill Cody) are other possibles, although going to Cape Town can be an arduous test and it would be no surprise if a lot of the aforementioned chose to rather stay at home.
However, Jonathan Snaith has revealed that with the traditional classic route of the Gr 2 Punters Cup and the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in mind Justin has all of the following three-year-old males as contenders:
Happy Verse (Vercingetorix) (merit rated 103) – winner of three races from four starts, including the Winter Country Championship final over 1500m.
Absolutely Yes (Danon Platina) (103) – three wins including the Gr 3 Langerman.
Note To Self (Futura) (90) – won on debut and narrow runner up second time out over 1600m in an apprentice handicap against older horses.
Delta Pride (Hawwaam) (88) – won an open maiden by three lengths when stepped up to 1400m third time out.
Future Free (Futura) (89) – won fourth time out over 1400m but when stepped up to 1800m in a handicap he powered in by 2,50 lengths, so looks like a Derby type.
Malmesbury Missile (Lancaster Bomber) (110) – two wins including the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m and a 1,10 length second to Chronicle King in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.
Primal Instinct (Vercingetorix) (85) – won by 2,50 lengths second time out over 1400m.
Randolph Hearst (Gimmethegreenlight) (100) – won second time out over 1400m and was only beaten 1,10 lengths in the Langerman.
Roland Garros (Vercingetorix) (104) – two wins from four starts as a juvenile and beaten 0,50 lengths on his reappearance running over 1250m off a 100 rating.
The yard have a lot to be excited about, especially as there are some omissions from that list who could still step up to the plate such as Pomp It Up (Danon Platina) (90).
The threat from their Cape colleagues in the classic races will also be strong.
Heading it is the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Gimmie Rules, who is rated 98 after two impressive wins in three starts and he will likely leave that rating behind when going over a mile and more.
Another one is the Candice Bass-trained All The Rage (Rafeef) (105), who has won three out of five and beat Gr 1 winner, the Glen Kotzen-trained Good For You (Legislate) (108), in impressive style over 1250m on his reappearance.
Good For You has a lot of speed but looks likely to take a tilt at the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, whilst All The Rage will likely relish a mile.
The Candice Bass-trained Viva’s Liberte has won both starts easily and this 95-rated Vercingetorix colt should get a mile on pedigree.
The Vaughan Marshall-trained Vapour Trail, a 101-rated Erik The Red half-brother to One Stripe, disappointed last time but could still step up to the plate.
The Marshall-trained 94-rated Saudi Cat (Hurricane Cat) has won two out of three and will have to prove he stays further than sprints.
The James Crawford-trained Star Major looks to have scope for plenty of improvement.
There are others like the Greg Ennion-trained Sardinia Bay (Pathfork) who have been left off the above list because they look to be sprinters, but there are sure to be others who have inadvertently been left off, such is the plethora of classy sophomore males who have appeared this season so far.
It looks likely to be a humdinger of a season, not least in the male classic division.
Turf Talk’s picks of the bunch in that division, in no particular order, are Jan Van Goyen, All The Rage, Gimmie Rules, Tin Pan Alley, Happy Verse, Viva’s Liberte and Cognac.
