Clive Robinson
If Ready Or Not did not hang and race wide on debut the result may have been different. He was also given a sympathetic ride but whatever the case Trainer Dean Kannemeyer deemed his charge good enough to go straight into the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes.
The drop in distance from 1600m to 1400m looks to have caught him off guard, but he was not disgraced in finishing sixth – and the race has already produced three subsequent winners including Cousin Casey who went on to win the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe on Durban July day.
Add to that the winner of his debut, Royal Victory, ran second in the above-mentioned feature event and Ready Or Not is starting to look the proverbial penalty in Race 2 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, a Maiden Plate over 1600m.
Once again Kagan de Melo takes the ride.
It’s hard to believe that Shavout is a one-time winner. He won his maiden almost two years ago and confirmed high-class ability with a third place in the Listed Sledgehammer before taking the same position in the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 (won by recent Grade 1 winner She’s A Keeper).
Horses from that race are usually fighting for their places in illustrious races like the Hollywoodbets Durban July and have top division wins in the tank.
Shavout’s high rating (91) may have something to do with it and while he has now dropped to a workable mark (82) he still appears well in at the weights in a race where a high mark is needed. He runs in Race 4, a Conditional Novice over 1600m.
Imbewu looks a big danger. While she has failed over 1600m on the Highveld, it may work a treat on the poly. She was running on well at the end of her poly debut over 1400m and being the best-weighted horse in the race must be given the utmost respect.
Wins on Shavout but take the boxed exacta with Imbewu.
Other value options on the day include Bay Of Dreams (Race 1), back to 1400m, her best trip, and Desolate Road (Race 6) – in top form and given a handy weight. Most will follow Expeditioner as best bet in Race 8 as this horse brings very strong Highveld form into his heat.