Racing returns to the Western Cape with a bumper 10-event fixture at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, headlined by the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes and Grade 3 Variety Club Mile
This meeting was scheduled to take place on Saturday but, after incessant rain over the Cape Peninsula, the meeting was postponed.
Another interesting subplot to the meeting is the return to Cape Town of veteran jockey Andrew Fortune, who only recently came out of retirement having been granted his licence after a long, contentious application process.
Fortune has a competitive book of eight rides on the card, including no fewer than four good winning chances.
He should get the day off to a winning start aboard Vaughan Marshall-trained Ashikule in Race 1 over 1100m.
This two-year-old colt stayed on encouragingly to finish second on debut over 1000m and he needn't improve much - if at all - to go one better in his first start for the Marshall outfit after joining from Mike and Adam Azzie's stable last month.
The son of Erupt finished second to subsequent feature-race winner Military Command and any improvement from run one to run two should see Marshall's charge winner's box-bound under Fortune.
There's a good chance Captain Of All filly Paralegal will make it a quick race-to-race double for the yard in Race 2 over 1200m. She finished second over the same course and distance 60 days ago and, with further progress expected on her reappearance, Gareth Wright's mount looks good value to open her account.
In the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile (Race 7), Fortune rides Marshall's stable stalwart Rascallion, a hard-knocking seven-year-old son of Vercingetorix. This veteran gelding is at the peak of his powers and favourably treated by the conditions of the race.
He was last seen 11 weeks ago when running on late to finish a close-up fifth in the Grade 1 Cape Town Met, and a repeat of that performance in calmer waters will suffice.
However, he will have to get the better of improving three-year-old Garrix who, while 2.5kg out with Rascallion based on merit ratings, has always had a big reputation.
The word about this son of Vercingetorix is that for any further improvement to occur, he needed to be gelded.
Well, he was gelded just two days after his third place in the Grade 1 Cape Derby and we can expect some major improvement from the Piet Steyn-trained runner.
Garrix is well drawn in gate No 3 and with just 52.5kg on his back, he could be a hard runner to beat. Ashton Arries takes the ride.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 2 Ashikule, 7 All The Rage, 1 Roland Garros, 11 Demanding Dave
Race 2: 2 Paralegal, 1 Una The Unicorn, 12 Marketa, 13 Beautiful One
Race 3: 9 Cape Captain, 6 Alex Miller, 8 Wild Applause, 16 Meg's Legacy
Race 4: 5 Heritage Ridge, 2 Tripping Thunder, 3 Gimmeathrill, 11 Iko Iko
Race 5: 2 Vapour Trail, 4 Gold Dust, 8 Konnichiwa, 12 Loui's Star
Race 6: 9 Scarlet Macaw, 3 Princess Izzy, 4 Lock And Key, 11 Rainbow Lorikeet
Race 7: 3 Garrix, 11 Rascallion, 6 Magic Verse, 5 Billy Bowlegs
Race 8: 7 La Pulga, 9 Call To Unite, 8 Rule Of Thumb, 5 Pinot Grigio
Race 9: 7 Kaiboy, 2 First Masterpiece, 4 Dumbledore, 6 Air Raid
Race 10: 5 Counter Attack, 7 The US Of A, 11 Rattlesnake, 16 Peace Of Mind
BEST BET
Race 8: 7 La Pulga
VALUE BET
Race 3: 9 Cape Captain
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 3x11
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 1, 2, 12
Leg 2: 6, 9
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 2, 4
Leg 5: 3, 4, 9
Leg 6: 3, 11
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R144
Leg 1: 6, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 2, 4
Leg 4: 3, 4, 9
Leg 5: 3, 11
Leg 6: 7
Leg 7: 2, 7
PICK 6
R720
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 10, 11
Leg 2: 2, 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11
Leg 4: 3, 11
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 2, 4, 6, 7
JACKPOT 1
R36
Leg 1: 2, 4, 8
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11
Leg 3: 3, 11
Leg 4: 7
JACKPOT 2
R40
Leg 1: 3, 11
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 11, 16