Snaith targets Summer Country Championships

The success of Cape Racing’s strategic approach to bolster a once-flagging horse population in the Western Cape is - in no small part - emphasised by their Country Championships, which was introduced on 1 January 2024 to attract 'new blood' that, coupled with an innovative racing programme, would highlight genuine race and earning opportunities for lower-rated horses, thus increasing its field sizes and boosting stakes - ultimately, making the ownership experience economically attractive, allowing existing and prospective owners to continue experiencing the thrills of racing in Cape Town, “where everyone's a winner”.

The five Summer Country Championship Finals on the eight-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday promise fierce on-track competition and guarantee generous Eachway value with TAB, as cases can be made for most in each of the five R200,000 Country Championship Finals - run over five different distances – 1000m, 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 1800m.

The idea that “weaker horses should be racing elsewhere in the country” no longer exists for lower merit-rated runners in the province, particularly those that campaign predominantly in Class 4 (ratings of 62 to 78) and Class 5 (66 and below).

Given the embarrassment of riches at his disposal, both at the top end and in the lower divisions, Champion trainer Justin Snaith is set for another good day out at Cape Racing HQ on the weekend.

Future Turn will likely get the ball rolling for the Snaith juggernaut by winning Race 2 over 1600m - the same course and distance over which this consistent Futura gelding finished second in his last start - before the stable's Country Championships Final stranglehold begins.

Improving last-start winner Okavango gave weight and a comprehensive beating, as a maiden, to his Class 5 rivals over 1600m last time out and the manner of that performance three weeks ago suggests this Master Of My Fate gelding is capable of following up in the first of the finals, over 1600m in Race 3.

Stablemates Kwite A King and Groovejet make up a formidable coupling in Race 4, the 1800 Final, which should also go the way of the Snaith operation. It could, however, pay to follow the progress of the hat-trick-seeking latter whose momentum is unlikely to be halted by the three-point penalty earned for his latest victory.

Pomodoro filly Swiatek was a 125-1 winner on debut over 1250m but has proved that was no flash in the pan by finishing second in three subsequent outings, all over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She deserves to get her head in front and would not be winning out of turn when in the 1400 Final (Race 5).

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Tripping Thunder, 2 Chasingtherainbow, 5 Imokelly, 10 Wave Of Glory

Race 2: 5 Future Turn, 6 Prevalence, 4 Solar Power, 8 Hat's Pride

Race 3: 3 Okavango, 4 Iconic Destination, 1 Rich Folks Hoax, 9 Master Of Paris

Race 4: 9 Groovejet, 3 Kwite A King, 5 La Pulga, 6 Aladdin's Lamp

Race 5: 11 Swiatek, 3 Family Power, 12 What A Fortune, 4 Golden Angel

Race 6: 4 Un Bel Di, 3 Bluff On Bluff, 1 Maneki Neko, 2 All About Al

Race 7: 9 Golden Destiny, 12 Sooty, 5 Tough Terrain, 3 Elsinore

Race 8: 11 Tenango, 8 Arctic Wizard, 10 Dumbledore, 1 Oliver

BEST BET

Race 8 No 11 Tenango

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 3 Okavango

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 1x2

BIPOT

R108

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4

Leg 4: 3, 5, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 11

Leg 6: 3, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R96

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 3, 4

Leg 3: 3, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 11

Leg 5: 3, 4

Leg 6: 3, 5, 9, 12

Leg 7: 11

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 9

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 11

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 5: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12

Leg 6: 11

JACKPOT 1

R300

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 4: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12

JACKPOT 2

R75

Leg 1: 2, 3, 11

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 3: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12

Leg 4: 11