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