Danie Toerien
RACE COAST presents one of the season's best meetings at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and to make it even more exciting for racegoers, TAB has boosted the Pick 6 pool with R500,000.
With five graded feature races contested on Cape Guineas Day, don't be surprised if the Pick6 pool tops R4-million.
Raiders from across the country will also be in action, promising to make this meeting an unforgettable experience for those at the track, and for bettors across South Africa.
The headline event, the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas over 1 600m, sees 15 three-year-olds lining up to win their share of the R2-million stake. Considering that 13 boast triple-figure ratings, it should produce a spectacle.
The early favourite is Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmie Rules, who has won three of his four outings to date, but this son of Gimmethegreenlight goes the distance for the first time.
Mike and Mathew de Kock's raider Jan Van Goyen, however, has proven himself over this distance and has proven himself on the road, having won at Greyville when travelling down from the Highveld.
Jan Van Goyen is, on paper, weighted to win by the proverbial mile judged on ratings, but horses don't run on paper. Gimmie Rules gets the nod due to home town advantage.
In Race 6, the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes, seven of the 14 runners have won at Grade 1-level.
It is, however, Sail The Seas who appeals most as this Vercingetorix colt comes into the race in red-hot form.
Trained by Justin Snaith, his prep run was exactly that when he was beaten just 0.50-lengths by Great Plains. Sail The Seas runs well for Muzi Yeni and he will be a deserving winner.
The Pick 6 opener, the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over 1 800m, is a wide-open affair where Snaith's Swiatek could steal it under JP v'd Merwe.
This daughter of Pomodoro tries the distance for the first time, but judged on her last two runs, she can't wait to get a bit more ground. There are a number of factors which play in her favour, notably the relatively small field size of 10, and the fact that she was not penalised by the handicapper for her last two runs which means she will be carrying only 52.5kg.
Swiatek has also attracted money in early betting, which suggests that many punters believe she goes into the race with serious winning credentials.
Race 8, the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m and the penultimate leg of the Pick 6, is a contest where a case can be made for most.
Snaith and V'd Merwe team up with Regulation, who is coming into the race on the back of a victory over the course and distance. While the form of that race still has to tested, it was the way in which Regulation won that caught the eye. This gelded son of Legislate made it look all too easy when romping home by 4.50-lengths. That was, admittedly, against weaker, but that confidence boost and the fact that he will be carrying only 53kg, makes him the one to beat.
Selections:
Race 1: 6 Champagne Castle, 7 Fyfield Legend, 4 Omkhulu Boss, 5 Godric Gryffindor
Race 2: 2 Rockanrollin, 1 Theshowmustgoon, 4 Gallic King, 7 Cardinal Point
Race 3: 4 Azzurri, 5 Churchillian, 1 Nightrain, 3 Spirit
Race 4: 8 Swiatek, 5 Rainbow Lorikeet, 9 Red Palace, 10 Sukhumvit
Race 5: 10 O'Tenikwa, 1 Outlaw King, 4 The Us Of A, 18 Cafe Culture
Race 6: 4 Sail The Seas, 12 Snow Pilot, 3 The Real Prince, 6 Mon Petit Cherie
Race 7: 2 Gimmie Rules, 4 Jan Van Goyen, 7 Happy Verse, 10 Randolph Hearst
Race 8: 5 Regulation, 3 Zeitz, 6 Major Master, 1 Landoftherisingsun
Race 9: 1 It Is My Time, 3 Mente Et Manu, 8 Afrique, 4 King's Quest