Clive Robinson
As is the case in the English Premier League, the South African National Trainers’ Championship is going down to the wire. And just as time is running out for Liverpool to hunt down Manchester City, so it is for multiple champion trainer Justin Snaith in his pursuit of log-leader Paul Peter.
Snaith has 10 weeks remaining in the 2021/22 season to bridge the gap – which is a little more than R4-million – and deny Peter a maiden trainer’s title. However, Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal is well underway and Snaith is a perennial force to be reckoned with in the last quarter of the season.
His plethora of stable stars are again reappearing in feature races with an eye on bigger and more lucrative prizes later this winter, so it would be foolhardy to write him off just yet.
In the Grade 2 WSB KZN Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 7 May, Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power (third) and Cape Guineas hero Double Superlative (fifth) made eye-catching comebacks after a successful summer. Both Grade 1 winners will be aimed at the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 en route to the Durban July, while two-time winner of the illustrious race Do It Again reminded all of what he is capable of in running out a fluent winner of the WSB 1900.
This is undeniable proof that Snaith is on a mission.
Last week at Kenilworth, Snaith’s three winners went relatively unnoticed as Grant van Niekerk stole the show with a five-timer on the card, and the pair teamed up for another win on 18 May, as Snaith continues to chip away at Peter’s championship lead.
He should reduce the deficit even further still at the next midweek Cape Town meeting at Kenilworth on Tuesday 24 May with several probable winners among a strong contingent of runners on the eight-race card.
Last-start winner Quickstep beat older rivals when stepping up to 1400m to win her second start and she could follow up in Race 2 as she takes on fillies her own age. Well-related stablemate Pucallpa is another string in Snaith’s bow and both his runners should go well, so it could pay to follow the Swingers and Exactas/Quinellas route to profitable returns.
Duke Of Marmalade colt and Nursery winner We’re Jamming is a new recruit to the yard, having changed hands in a private deal and moving to Snaith’s yard. He makes his stable debut in Race 4 and looks well placed to make a winning start for his new connections over 1000m. He’s an exciting prospect and can be followed with confidence despite shouldering top weight against older rivals.
The Van Niekerk-Snaith procession is likely to resume its winning ways in Race 7 with Somerset Maugham, who should be good value to reverse the form of a recent meeting with Azores. He would’ve tightened up since his last run following a break and will have more to offer over 1700m with improved fitness on his side.
Steinbeck should complete a quick jockey-trainer double in Race 8 if building on the promise of his handicap debut. On that occasion, he stayed on well from off the pace over 1600m suggesting the step up in trip to 1700m will suit.
