Jack Milner
The Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas has launched the careers of many a champion of South African racing.
Horses like Hawaii, In Full Flight, Politician, Empress Club, Jet Master, Horse Chestnut, Variety Club, and more recently Charles Dickens and One Stripe, have won this race and on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth we hope to unveil another racing icon.
There are some promising names among the 15 carded runners but if the betting is any indication, the bookmakers suggest this looks a two-horse race between Dean Kannmeyer-trained Gimmie Rules and Mike and Mathew de Kock inmate Jan Van Goyen.
Gimmie Rules is from one of the most successful instances of matchmaking seen in this country for quite a while. Australian-bred sire Gimmethegreenlight and top-class mare Real Princess have been a marriage made in heaven, producing five foals so far.
Oldest brother Gimme A Prince, who has recently been retired, won eight of his 17 starts, three of them Grade 1s, while younger brother The Real Prince is the current HWB Durban July champion. Sister Gimmie’s Countess is a two-time winner while Gimmie Rules has won three of his four starts and comes into this race with a massive reputation. Continue The Dream is a juvenile and has yet to race.
All of them are bred and owned by Khaya Stables.
While he looks quite decent, Gimmie Rules takes a huge jump in class and he might not be ready to face a field of this standard.
But one has to have respect as he is well drawn at No 2 and has log-leader Craig Zackey in the irons.
However, the horse that does stand out is Jan Van Goyen, who has already built up a sound track record, including a Grade 1 victory in the Premiers Champion Stakes in KZN.
The son of Master Of My Fate has only had one run since winning that Grade 1 race and that came in the Grade 2 Betway Dingaans on Summer Cup day. He was beaten 0.70 lengths by Candice Dawson-trained Trust, who is raved about by his connections, and it is worth noting that the third horse was a further 4.50 lengths behind.
Jan Van Goyen clearly needed that run and will come on in leaps and bounds in this event.
While some people may argue this will be his second start after a layoff and he has to travel, this is not the first time the De Kocks have pulled off the same move with great success.
Mike de Kock confirmed on their website, Dekockracing.com, that Jan Van Goyen had arrived in the Cape and was doing well.
"Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas prospect Jan Van Goyen arrived in Cape Town on Wednesday for his tilt at Saturday's three-year-old classic at Kenilworth.
"This will be the partnership of Mike and Mathew de Kock's first try at the Guineas, and they are crossing fingers it can be a successful effort, as Jan Van Goyen is a very talented individual.
"Mike de Kock, who has won the race five times himself, reported from Milnerton: "Jan Van Goyen travelled like an old pro. He is in good shape.
|"Jan Van Goyen stretched his legs on the track under Callan Murray on Thursday."
Jan Van Goyen looks to have “champion” stamped all over him and from No 4 draw with Callan Murray aboard, he could be the best banker of the day.
That could come in useful as this is a difficult card and there is a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover with a likely pool of R3-million.
The entire Pick 6 is made up of feature races and the one that looks a real thriller is the Grade 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes over 1600m. The 14-strong field boasts seven Grade 1 winners and several other Graded-race scorers, in an event that is the traditional stepping-stone to next month's Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Durban July winner The Real Prince has his first run of the season and will go into a rematch against Gladatorian, who narrowly beat him in the Grade 1 Champions Cup at Greyville in July, and that form has held up with depth and authority.
See It Again, Fire Attack and former Horse-Of-The-Year Dave The King reoppose and are within touching distance on that line of form.
However, expect a massive run from Justin Snaith-trained Sail The Seas who defeated Eight On Eighteen in the Grade 2 KZN Guineas last season.
There was talk about him being the Snaith Racing entry into the Durban July but he had a few problems and had to be withdrawn.
The Vercingetorix colt made his comeback last month over 1400m at this course and did well to run a 0.50-length second to Great Plains. He will have come on for the run and jumps from gate No 2, with Muzi Yeni in the irons.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 6 Champagne Castle, 3 That's A Gimme, 4 Omkhulu Boss, 5 Godric Gryffindor
Race 2: 4 Gallic King, 2 Rockanrollin, 1 Theshowmustgoon, 7 Cardinal Point
Race 3: 5 Churchillian, 3 Spirit, 7 Winter Pearl, 10 Parental Guidance
Race 4: 8 Swiatek, 9 Red Palace, 6 Kamchatka, 5 Rainbow Lorikeet
Race 5: 13 Raven Black, 1 Outlaw King, 10 O'Tenikwa, 4 The US Of A
Race 6: 4 Sail The Seas, 2 Gladatorian, 3 The Real Prince, 1 Fire Attack
Race 7: 4 Jan Van Goyen, 2 Gimmie Rules, 10 Randolph Hearst, 7 Happy Verse
Race 8: 1 Landoftherisingsun, 5 Regulation, 3 Zeitz, 6 Major Master
Race 9: 8 Afrique, 11 Yamazaki, 3 Mente Et Manu, 7 Gallic Victor
BEST BET
Race 7: 4 Jan Van Goyen
VALUE BET
Race 9: 8 Afrique
BEST SWINGER
Race 4 8x9
BIPOT
R360
Leg 1: 2, 4
Leg 2: 3, 5, 7
Leg 3: 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 13
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 10, 13
Leg 6: 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R288
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 8, 9
Leg 3: 1, 4, 10, 13
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 13
Leg 5: 4
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5
Leg 7: 3, 8, 11
PICK 6
R2304
Leg 1: 6, 8, 9
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13
Leg 4: 4
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 6: 3, 7, 8, 11
JACKPOT 1
R192
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6
JACKPOT 2
R96
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 13
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 4: 3, 7, 8, 11