All The Rage can bounce back to winning ways for an in-form combination (Picture: Wayne Marks)
By Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)
All the Rage has the potential to become a fine sprinter, based on pedigree and his early performances. Trained by Candice Bass, who was sizzling hot mid-week with four winners, the Rafeef ex Gilded Minaret is already running some smart speed figures, and he gets an opportunity to record a fourth victory from seven starts in Race 6, a Class 3 over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.
He was capsized at odds on last time so punters may be leery. Yet, it may turn out that conceding weight and only succumbing by a length to the very smart Green Gateway on the 22nd of November was an effort full of merit. Bass has given the 3YO a month to recuperate after those exertions, and he should be primed third run after a rest.
Despite a slow start, Three Tigers recovered to run well from the front in that same race and should again set the target, but All the Rage is expected to out-finish him.
A bigger threat is arguably posed by Stuart Ferrie’s KZN visitor, Cognac. Like All the Rage, he is a son of 2017 TAB Computaform Sprint Gr 1 champ, Rafeef. He won his penultimate impressively then was undone by a wide draw and false pace at his Hollywoodbets Greyville follow up.
Golden Destiny is also in the mix. He ran out of puff at his first run back after a rest, and that effort should have brought him along nicely. As an older horse in receipt of 4kg’s from All the Rage, he is a live runner in Race 6.
Justin Snaith could have Race 5 locked up. He saddles Arbitration and Future Free. The former’s stretch rally only just fell short behind the re-opposing Coco’s Hero (now on a four-timer) and he is a late running threat under visiting rider Rene Piechulek, who caused a massive shock when winning the 2021 Arc de Triomphe on an 80/1 longshot – the German staying, mudlark, Torquator Tasso.
Future Free shapes as a way above average, developing stayer. He saw off Baton Rouge with a minimum of fuss on the 13th of September, then found stable mate Regulation too strong over the course and distance on the 22nd of November. There is no rival as daunting as Regulation here (his OMR is now 105) and Richard Fourie can stalk the likely pacesetters, Noble Hero, Baton Rouge and Ignite the Fire before pouncing.
A short field of seven go to post in Race 3, but there are some imponderables which make it compelling.
How will Dean Kannemeyer’s youngster Educator (beaten six lengths by Quickstepgal in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas Gr 1 after a bumpy passage) and Glen Kotzen’s Lock And Key (smart at two and hinting at a revival as a 4YO last start) stack up against the Var filly, Babelicious who stretches out to 1500m after sprinting nicely.
Kotzen also saddles Disting in Race 8 with winning prospects. If she can jump on terms, it will make her task more achievable. The Global View (USA) filly drops down to a contest where the average merit rating is 90 – much calmer waters than the last two fields she has tangled with, where the OMR average has been considerably higher.
In the Laisserfaire Stakes Listed, she mugged reopposing Tanneron on the line (smart and game, and now better off at the weights but slightly suspect over six panels) and then handled strong company admirably in the Southern Cross Stakes Gr 3, when only two lengths off wonder-mare, Asiye Phambili (admittedly whilst receiving plenty of weight relief).
Other than Tanneron, Disting may need to watch out for Sohot Sowhat (goes best for Gavin Lerena) and Worldcraft (positive form pattern second up after a break). Both sport attractive back figures and need only run to that level to get into the fray. Another tardy start by Disting on a quick running sprint track, would open the door still wider for these pace-pressers.
The current track bias suits Shesgotclass ideally in the last. The 4YO Querari filly likes to bowl along upfront and only a jinking, fast finish from Call Me Secret denied her victory on the 26th of November over the course and distance.
She is trained by Des McLachlan and ridden by a motivated Grant van Niekerk who is determined to make an impact after a lean spell. Horses run for this gifted jockey – with the right application to his craft and a better book of rides he will surely get amongst the winners again.
Bass Racing’s December Dawn is showing signs that a fourth win is imminent as she finishes with more vigour and drops back to her previous winning mark, whilst American Ultra has a couple of lengths to make up on Shesgotclass but should strip fitter at her second run after a freshening and could possibly make up that leeway.
Ricky Maingard’s entry is ridden by Andrew Fortune. Despite his age, the seemingly indestructible 57-year-old is an irrepressible presence at early morning track work. Fortune is currently riding like a dynamo, bagging a four-timer in mid-December at this venue.
American Ultra drifted like a gale in the betting last time (unwanted at 20/1) but any market moves about her on Sunday would suggest she has tightened up fitness wise and so, should be respected in Race 9.
Off time of the last is 17h20.
The meeting commences with a Maiden Juvenile Plate at 12h35.
