Jack Milner
The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas is one of the platinum Classic races in the country. While there are Guineas run in the other major centres, the one that takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth each year is the most revered, as it is the only one that carries Grade 1 status.
The race has been won by some of the best horses ever to race in South Africa and many of those have gone on to become some of the best stallions.
Vaughan Marshall has played no small part in all of these events in recent years and one of his three winners in particular, Captain Al, has not only gone on to be one of the greatest sires in the country but also went on to produce two winners of this race, both also trained by Marshall, in William Longsword and Tap O’ Noth.
And while another of Captain Al’s progeny, One World, could only finish third in the Guineas, he has gone on to be a superb sire in his own right and will play a prominent role in the outcome of this year’s race.
Marshall has two runners in this year’s renewal on Saturday, both are sons of One World and both have winning chances. However, the focus of attention will be on One Stripe, who is the runner who sets the standard in this event.
He has raced six times for four wins, a second place and a fifth over 1000m on debut where he was only beaten 1.95 lengths.
His lone defeat as a three-year-old ironically came against last year’s Guineas winner Snow Pilot. The winner went on to frank that form next time with a six-length victory.
What was particularly impressive about One Stripe’s performance is that under the race conditions he had to give 1kg to his year-older rival which meant he was well out of the weights on a weight-for-age basis. One Stripe was only beaten by one length in his first run following a five-month break and he was closing the gap fast in the closing stages.
He then went on to reel in stablemate All Out For Six, who will reoppose in the Guineas, to win the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup over this course and distance.
As there is a R1-million kickstarting the Pick 6 tomorrow, which is likely to procure a R4 million pool, One Stripe will be a very popular banker.
Justin Snaith's hopes of defending the title won last year by Snow Pilot, lie with Cape Punters Cup third-placed Eight On Eighteen and Grade 3 Cape Classic winner Great Plains. However, both may be short of a run having raced just once this season.
Somehow One Stripe looks to have the beating of the Cape Town-based runners, especially from draw No 1 with Gavin Lerena, who rode to victory last time, in the irons.
The one unknown factor is Mie de Kock’s unbeaten sone of Rafeef, Heather’s Boy. Of course, he has not raced against the this class of runner but he has always had a huge reputation, his form lines have produced many winners, and he is a stunning looking animal.
De Kock is unlikely to have brought him all the way to the Cape if he did not believe his charge would be up to the task.
Craig Zackey will be back on board.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Parental Guidance, 1 She's My World, 6 Better Man, 7 Captain Jon Snow
Race 2: 10 Music Of The Night, 1 Wild Wild Green, 9 Between The Lines, 3 Paralegal
Race 3: 9 Englefield Green, 1 Tuscan Romance, 10 From A Distance, 6 Bezonder
Race 4: 4 Saartjie, 3 Rainbow Lorikeet, 5 Gold Poker Game, 6 Knockout
Race 5: 4 Landoftherisingsun, 3 Green Garnet, 8 Crowned Hornbill, 1 Tenpenny
Race 6: 5 Kaiboy, 6 War Chariot, 10 Handsome Prince, 8 Dumbledore
Race 7: 1 One Stripe, 4 Heather's Boy, 10 All Out For Six, 6 Eight On Eighteen
Race 8: 2 Triple Time, 6 Future Swing, 10 William Iron Arm, 11 Infrared
Race 9: 4 Cork Bay, 9 Please Be True, 3 Arctic Wizard, 16 Counter Attack
BEST BET
Race 6 No 5 Kaiboy
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 4 Cork Bay
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 3x4
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 1, 3, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 9, 10
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 3, 4
Leg 5: 5
Leg 6: 1, 4
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R192
Leg 1: 1, 9, 10
Leg 2: 3, 4
Leg 3: 3, 4
Leg 4: 5
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 2, 6, 10, 11
Leg 7: 3, 4, 9, 16
PICK 6
R1200
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 3, 4
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 4
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11
Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 16
JACKPOT 1
R40
Leg 1: 3, 4
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1, 4
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 5
Leg 2: 1, 4
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 16