Clive Robinson
The final feature race of the 2021/21 Western Cape season will be staged at Kenilworth on Saturday with an eight-race card that includes a Grade 3 double-header for fillies and mares. And in keeping with the past season, trainers Andre Nel and Justin Snaith along with jockeys Grant van Niekerk and Richard Fourie appear those most likely to dominate proceedings.
In the Grade 3 Final Fling Stakes over 1800m (Race 6), Nel and Van Niekerk team up with hat-trick-seeking Young Love who won two legs of the Winter Series for three-year-old fillies. The daughter of Twice Over took out the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1600m and bypassed the Stormsvlei before returning to win the 2400m River Jetez Stakes from Snaith-trained second-leg winner Maria Querol.
On official ratings Nel’s charge has a bit to find at the weights with Rain In Newmarket – second in this race last year for Snaith behind Pretty Betty, who also returns to defend her title – as well as last-start winners Musical Glitch and stablemate So Flawless, but is progressive and likely to prove better than rated.
Earlier, Nel and Van Niekerk could notch up the first leg of a potential double with well-bred debut winner Iconic Destination in Race 4 over 1200m. This son of Gimmethegreenlight finished well over 1000m once the penny had dropped and will, on that evidence and on his pedigree, be better suited to the extra 200m.
Fourie may have left his role as Snaith’s stable jockey in December to freelance but continues to ride winners for the stable all over the country, including big Grade 1 prizes such as the Cape Derby, Majorca Stakes and Paddock Stakes back home in Cape Town.
He has three strong winning chances on the card for his former boss and should strike early with two-year-old Futura colt Future Turn in Race 2 over 1500m. Fourth on debut, third at his second start and runner-up over 1600m when last seen, Fourie’s ride should open his account with further progress expected,
Tout A Fait ought to represent each-way value in Race 5, a competitive 1600m handicap in which Pack Leader, Adios Amigos, Silent War and stablemate I Want It All have solid credentials. Box those runners in Trifecta and Quartet bets.
Snaith has a strong hand in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes (Race 7) over 1200m but the booking of Fourie aboard Major Attraction and the fitting of blinkers to the consistent daughter of Vercingetorix should stand the four-year-old filly in good stead.
Fourie has ridden her eight times and to four of her five career wins, to go with two seconds, a third and a fourth. Needless to say, he knows Major Attraction best and their supporters can expect another big run of Snaith’s charge.
Stable companion Phil’s Dancer, versatile Fusillade and enigmatic Kitty Cat Chat appear the biggest dangers and could well chase home Major Attraction.