Pacaya to close off series in style

Jack Milner

Cape Racing's Winter Series comes to its conclusion on the winter course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday with the running of the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes for fillies and mares over 1800m and the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m.

Leg 2 of the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes saw stablemates Pacaya and Rapidash fight it out over 1800m With Pacaya coming up trumps by 1.50 lengths.

And as has become the norm at race meetings across the country this season, record-chasing Richard Fourie is the rider to follow on the day. He is aboard Pacaya who looks the one to bat again in the final leg.

Justin Snaith-trained Pacaya is one of many horses countrywide to have run their best races under Fourie. This five-year-old gelding bounced back to his best when reunited with Fourie to win the Legal Eagle Stakes 21 days ago and a repeat of that performance over 1950m in his peak outing (third run after a rest) should bring with it career win number seven from 20 starts.

Snaith's charge, a Drakenstein Stud-bred son of Trippi, won the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 last year and finished second in the Grade 2 Premier Trophy in two starts under Fourie prior to his last-start success.

He raced prominently throughout that day and found plenty in the finish to fend off stablemate Rapidash, putting 1.50 lengths between himself and the runner-up to whom he conceded 5kg.

Snaith's inmates renew rivalry on identical weight terms so it is unlikely the form will be reversed. Rapidash should again complete a stable 1-2, as this progressive Danon Platina gelding would've tightened up with the benefit of that comeback outing and is better suited to this extended trip.

The Stormsvlei Stakes looks far more open, and the value could lie with Greg Ennion-trained Love Is A Rose. This Master Of My Fate filly did not run in the first two legs but prior to a rest, she contested some really strong races, including the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m in which she finished a 5.10-length fifth behind Beach Bomb.

She was rested after that and made her return to last month is a Middle Stakes over 2200m and it was a winning comeback in which she beat Allez Moris by 0.20 lengths with Corne Orffer up.

Interestingly, Love Is A Rose was fitted with blinkers in the Paddock Stakes but they clearly did not do their job. They were removed for her comeback run and they have stayed off for this.

Orffer retains the ride.

Others to consider are Rainbow Lorikeet, Time For Love, Princess Izzy, My Flower Fate and Gold Poler Game.

Fourie should get the meeting off to a winning start aboard Snaith-trained Bela Vista who caught the eye on debut against older rivals. This well-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly, who is out of former stable star and grey fan favourite Bela-Bela (a multiple Grade 1 winner), ran on strongly despite her inexperience to finish second over 1100m, so with any improvement should open her account against fellow two-year-old fillies.

Jack Milner

Race 1: 1 Bela Vista, 2 Roccapina, 14 Worldcraft, 9 Exquisite

Race 2: 3 The US Of A, 8 Einstein, 7 Boundless Energy, 10 Cosmic Rhythm

Race 3: 7 Ice Rain, 1 Glee Club, 3 Enchanting Choice, 6 Kamakazi, 4 Flight Display

Race 4: 7 Mr Belvedere, 12 Sound Of The Sea, 6 Song To The Moon, 13 Landoftherisingsun

Race 5: 7 Solomons Seal, 1 Innamorare, 3 Tyrion Lannister, 5 My Golly Molly

Race 6: 1 Tothemoonandback, 5 Jovial, 4 African Torrent, 7 Eternal Optimist

Race 7: 4 Love Is A Rose, 2 Rainbow Lorikeet, 11 Time For Love, 1 Princess Izzy

Race 8: 4 Pacaya, 8 Rapidash, 6 Future Prince, 7 Voorloopertjie

Race 9: 11 All About Ronnie, 4 Fly Futura, 10 Master Of Paris, 5 Double Olympic

Race 10: 7 Surge Of Power, 9 Night Tiger, 11 Winter Pearl, 12 All About Al

BEST BET

Race 1: 1 Bela Vista

VALUE BET

Race 7: 4 Love Is A Rose

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 4x8

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 3, 7

Leg 3: 6, 7, 12

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 11

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 1, 7

Leg 2: 6, 7, 12

Leg 3: 1, 7

Leg 4: 1, 5

Leg 5: 2, 4, 11

Leg 6: 4

Leg 7: 4, 10, 11

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 6, 7, 8, 12, 13

Leg 2: 1, 3, 7

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11

Leg 5: 4, 8

Leg 6: 4, 5, 10, 11

JACKPOT 1

R108

Leg 1: 1, 3, 7

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11

Leg 4: 4, 8

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11

Leg 2: 4, 8

Leg 3: 4, 5, 10, 11

Leg 4: 3, 7, 9, 11, 12