Snaith set for great KZN start

Jack Milner

Justin Snaith is in town and some of his stable luminaries will be in action at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Headline acts include the Umzimkhulu Stakes for fillies and Byerley Turk, Grade 3 events over 1400m where up-and-coming three-year-olds get put through their paces before a tilt at bigger events.

Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot may be the star attraction in the latter race. The colt is highly regarded by champion trainer Justin Snaith but will give away 6kg to stable companion Underworld and Mike De Kock-trained Gimmeanotherchance.

It has been argued the field Snow Pilot beat in the Guineas wasn’t of the usual standard with the highest rated runners coming in with a merit rating of 111. That argument may have been augmented when he took on the likes of Charles Dickens and See It Again in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate over the same course and distance as the Guineas but could only finish ninth, beaten 5.90 lengths.

But Snow Pilot was well supported at long odds to win the Guineas and it is worth noting jockey JP van der Merwe, who rode him to victory that day, is making the trip from Cape Town to ride him.

Gimmeanotherchance has been battling arguably the best around, however, and has come close to beating both Sandringham Summit (MR 123) and Purple Pitcher (MR 120) at level weights. He may also be at his best over 1400m.

De Kock’s charge has the advantage of having won at Greyville and the 6kg he receives from Snow Pilot could be enough to see him get back into the winner’s enclosure.

Underworld is at his best over 1400m, is drawn No 1 and has Richard Fourie in the irons.

Snaith’s top three-year-old filly Double Grand Slam could dominate proceedings in the in Race 6, the Umzimkhulu Stakes. She is a high-class filly in the making, proven by her sparkling win in the Prix Du Cap in Feb with perhaps the Cape Fillies Guineas coming too soon at the end of last year. Interestingly at a 117 she is rated one point higher than stablemate Snow Pilot.

She is at her best over 1400m, having a record of two wins and a second place over the distance, has Fourie up and looks a banker in all bets.

Rascova, who has a high cruising speed, did finish (a short head) ahead of her in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes at level weights, but Double Grand Slam looked a bit unlucky not to finish closer then and then crushed Rascova in the Prix Du Cap by 3.40-lengths (albeit carrying 2kg less).

They meet at level terms this time but it is hard to see Rascova turning the form around.

Race 1: 2 Plettenberg, 1 Red Mountain, 3 Summer Shade, 6 Rototo

Race 2:  7 Tambla, 8 Power Star, 3 Trip To Nebraska, 1 Basie Raakvat

Race 3:  1 Master Josh, 5 Music Is Life, 8 Nelson Bay, 9 Shanta's Pride

Race 4:  4 Diani, 9 Plaza Accord, 8 Shampompo Shampizi, 1 Donquerari

Race 5:  2 Winter Greeting, 6 Baltic Secret, 3 Moonshiningthrough, 11 Ripple Effect

Race 6:  5 Double Grand Slam, 6 Rascova, Minogue, 1 Mia Moo, 4 Bomber Girl

Race 7:  6 Snow Pilot, 1 Underworld, 4 Gimmeanotherchance, 3 Red Bomber

Race 8:  3 Midnight Caller, 2 Political Party, 6 Lou Lou The Legend, 1 Rugger Bugger

BEST BET

Race 6 No 5 Double Grand Slam

VALUE BET

Race 8 No            3 Midnight Caller

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 5x6

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 3, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 5, 8

Leg 4: 1, 4, 8, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 6

Leg 6: 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 3, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 5, 8

Leg 3: 4, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6

Leg 5: 5

Leg 6: 6

Leg 7: 2, 3, 6

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 11

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 1, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7

JACKPOT 1

R60

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 6, 11

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 4, 6

JACKPOT 2

R60

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 11

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 1, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7