Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
After the Novak Djokovic saga, it was very much a question of “advantage Australia”. As far as the R2m WSB Met at Kenilworth on January 29 is concerned, it is very much a case of “advantage Snaith”.
Though the final field is only being announced at a function in the Western Cape on Wednesday night, there is every chance the Snaith stable will have four runners: Double Superlative, Jet Dark, Hoedspruit and Do It Again.
Anton Marcus was in the saddle when Double Superlative won the Cape Guineas (Grade 1) over 1,600m at Kenilworth in December, and — if he takes the mount again — will probably have to stop eating for the next nine days as the three-year-old’s weight is 54kg.
Richard Fourie had ridden Double Superlative in each of his previous four starts, but this season’s leading Cape jockey now looks likely to be just a spectator. He did ride Hoedspruit to win the Premier Trophy — the Legislate gelding isn’t exactly prayerless after that run.
S’manga Khumalo will certainly be aboard Jet Dark after his Queen’s Plate triumph, while Louis Mxothwa has been mentioned for Hoedspruit and Bernard Fayd’herbe for Do It Again.
One of the big decisions that had to be made in the last few days surrounds Candice Bass-Robinson’s filly Marina. After her excellent third behind Captain’s Ransom in the Paddock Stakes, the Silvano filly was entered for the Met and Majorca Stakes.
It is understood that the Met is the choice and this looks the right move as the four-year-old has no stamina limitations — she has won over 2,400m — and will get her 3kg sex allowance.
Add in the fact that Aldo Domeyer has a good record in this race and that Marina’s career tally is eight wins from 14 starts, the suggestion from this column is that punters should start taking win and place doubles with Bass-Robinson’s star.
The Met has always been the target of Durban July hero Kommedieding and there is every chance Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix’s four-year-old will maintain his position as favourite over the next nine days.
Gavin Lerena has been booting home the winners on the highveld in recent weeks and he is a rider who can handle the big occasion.
Linebacker, the mount of Craig Zackey, may well put his poor run in the Queen’s Plate behind him as he is also trained by someone with a fine record in this race, 70-year-old Vaughan Marshall. The stable’s most recent winner is One World.
Work Riders have a meeting to themselves at the Vaal on Thursday, and Chamu Mabaya has a chance of notching a double for trainer Mike de Kock. Both Iphiko (fifth race) and Jaipur Jewel (sixth) have the best form in their respective events.
Iphiko, a R700,000 daughter of Trippi, stepped up on a poor debut when third behind Insatiable on her second start. Mabaya will have most to fear from Paul Matchett’s filly Country Flame.
Jaipur Jewel, a son of Twice Over, has been placed in four of his six starts and has pole position in race six. His opponents include Global Approach (Daniel Baase), Absolute Value (Tshepiso Matsoele), Spring Will Come (Thomas Ncume) and Gold Ambition (Joe Gwingwizha).
It is not often Gwingwizha leaves a Work Riders meeting without a winner and he has chances on Monsieur Chevelle (second race), Broadway (seventh race) and Twice A Miracle in the final leg of the Pick Six.
Twice A Miracle could be a banker bet for punters as the filly boasts some consistent form and is overdue to leave the maiden ranks.
SELECTIONS
First race: (1) Verolina (6) La Banquiere (2) Risky Business (5) Red Hot
Second race: (2) Monsieur Chevelle (1) Indian War Dance (6) Arizona Lady (7) Vaguely Familiar
Third race: (5) Trust The Fire (3) Black Burner (8) Orgetorix (1) JP Two Thousand
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Snaith stable holds the aces in R2m Cape Met
After the Novak Djokovic saga, it was very much a question of “advantage Australia”. As far as the R2m WSB Met at Kenilworth on January 29 is concerned, it is very much a case of “advantage Snaith”.
Though the final field is only being announced at a function in the Western Cape on Wednesday night, there is every chance the Snaith stable will have four runners: Double Superlative, Jet Dark, Hoedspruit and Do It Again.
Anton Marcus was in the saddle when Double Superlative won the Cape Guineas (Grade 1) over 1,600m at Kenilworth in December, and — if he takes the mount again — will probably have to stop eating for the next nine days as the three-year-old’s weight is 54kg.
Richard Fourie had ridden Double Superlative in each of his previous four starts, but this season’s leading Cape jockey now looks likely to be just a spectator. He did ride Hoedspruit to win the Premier Trophy — the Legislate gelding isn’t exactly prayerless after that run.
S’manga Khumalo will certainly be aboard Jet Dark after his Queen’s Plate triumph, while Louis Mxothwa has been mentioned for Hoedspruit and Bernard Fayd’herbe for Do It Again.
One of the big decisions that had to be made in the last few days surrounds Candice Bass-Robinson’s filly Marina. After her excellent third behind Captain’s Ransom in the Paddock Stakes, the Silvano filly was entered for the Met and Majorca Stakes.
It is understood that the Met is the choice and this looks the right move as the four-year-old has no stamina limitations — she has won over 2,400m — and will get her 3kg sex allowance.
Add in the fact that Aldo Domeyer has a good record in this race and that Marina’s career tally is eight wins from 14 starts, the suggestion from this column is that punters should start taking win and place doubles with Bass-Robinson’s star.
The Met has always been the target of Durban July hero Kommedieding and there is every chance Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix’s four-year-old will maintain his position as favourite over the next nine days.
Gavin Lerena has been booting home the winners on the highveld in recent weeks and he is a rider who can handle the big occasion.
Linebacker, the mount of Craig Zackey, may well put his poor run in the Queen’s Plate behind him as he is also trained by someone with a fine record in this race, 70-year-old Vaughan Marshall. The stable’s most recent winner is One World.
Work Riders have a meeting to themselves at the Vaal on Thursday, and Chamu Mabaya has a chance of notching a double for trainer Mike de Kock. Both Iphiko (fifth race) and Jaipur Jewel (sixth) have the best form in their respective events.
Iphiko, a R700,000 daughter of Trippi, stepped up on a poor debut when third behind Insatiable on her second start. Mabaya will have most to fear from Paul Matchett’s filly Country Flame.
Jaipur Jewel, a son of Twice Over, has been placed in four of his six starts and has pole position in race six. His opponents include Global Approach (Daniel Baase), Absolute Value (Tshepiso Matsoele), Spring Will Come (Thomas Ncume) and Gold Ambition (Joe Gwingwizha).
It is not often Gwingwizha leaves a Work Riders meeting without a winner and he has chances on Monsieur Chevelle (second race), Broadway (seventh race) and Twice A Miracle in the final leg of the Pick Six.
Twice A Miracle could be a banker bet for punters as the filly boasts some consistent form and is overdue to leave the maiden ranks.
SELECTIONS
First race: (1) Verolina (6) La Banquiere (2) Risky Business (5) Red Hot
Second race: (2) Monsieur Chevelle (1) Indian War Dance (6) Arizona Lady (7) Vaguely Familiar
Third race: (5) Trust The Fire (3) Black Burner (8) Orgetorix (1) JP Two Thousand
Fourth race: (4) Corapi (5) Castle Of Glass (1) Ra’ed (6) Soweto Spina
Fifth race: (9) Iphiko (2) Country Flame (4) Crown Plaza (3) Back To Formentera
Sixth race: (7) Jaipur Jewel (1) Global Approach (4) Absolute Value (5) Spring Will Come
Seventh race: (1) Broadway (8) Rule Book (3) Viceroy (6) Apache Gold
Eighth race: (5) Twice A Miracle (1) Tuuletar (2) Kissed By Fire (3) After Me
Full house predicted for UK’s Grand National
Gavin Lerena has chance of quartet of winners at Vaal
The leading lights of SA horse racing in 2021
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Mishriff can become highest-earning racehorse if he wins Saudi jackpot
The leading lights of SA horse racing in 2021
Gavin Lerena has chance of quartet of winners at Vaal
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.