South Africa Horse Racing Previews: KENILWORTH@2023.01.28
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R135.000, 12:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Only a few with winning chances in the opener on a high-class 12-race card and betting bonanza, with a Jackpot to get involved in from the off. APPLE CATCHER outran odds of 50-1 when a close-up 2nd on debut over track and trip, so rates the one to beat with natural improvement expected. Stablemates HEAD GIRL and JAZZ DIVA have shown enough in their 3 starts each to have a say in the finish. The former returns from a rest but appears the stable elect on riding arrangements. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN and MY FLOWER FATE are likely to improve following quiet introductions and could complete the minors.
Selections:
#2 Apple Catcher, #6 Head Girl, #9 Jazz Diva, #3 Hierkommiebokkie
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R115.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky Special Weights Maiden. GREEN FALCON won’t be winning out of turn having finished 2nd in his last 2 starts, including once over the course and distance. SEATTLEGREENLIGHT has been sparingly raced but is obviously thought enough of to make his reappearance. He showed ability on debut in Joburg and confirmed that promise after a rest in Durban, so has to be respected. Bottom weight ON BOARD ought to be competitive. She is distance suited and gets weight from the boys. CARRIACOU boasts useful form and is a likely improver after gelding, so worth following. SIR WILLIAM has claims too.
Selections:
#9 Carriacou, #1 Green Falcon, #4 On Board, #2 Seattlegreenlight
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 13:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Open. LIVE MY LIFE made good progress from the rear of the field when beaten little over 2 lengths in a 1200m Grade 2 last time. On that evidence and on pedigree, she could have more to offer over this trip with the blinkers removed. GOING UP has a bit to find on the form of the Grade 2 meeting but has run well over this trip and should get closer to that rival on 0.5kg better terms. The latter’s stablemate, WHO DO YOU LOVE, was not disgraced in a Grade 1 last time and ought to fare better on these terms, while the extra 200m is also likely to bring about improvement from capable BONIKA.
Selections:
#7 Live My Life, #6 Going Up, #4 Who Do You Love, #3 Bonika
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R1.000.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: CAPTAIN’S RANSOM retained her title last year (gave 5kg and a beating to CHANSONETTE) and is on course to complete a Majorca Stakes hat-trick. She failed to reel in Make It Snappy in the Paddock Stakes but travelled so well into the closing stages that reverting to this trip should be very much to her liking. She is unbeaten over the course and distance and will be a tough nut to crack in Leg 1 of the carryover Pick 6 MEGAPOOL. CIAO BELLA and GOLDEN HOSTESS placed in the Fillies Guineas and could do so again receiving 5kg, with DESERT MIRACLE likely to emerge as the biggest threat. Pick 6s on?
Selections:
#3 Captain’s Ransom, #2 Desert Miracle, #6 Ciao Bella, #1 Golden Hostess
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R115.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: The Snaith yard holds a strong hand in this with stable companions FUTURE TURN and NEVADA KING closely matched and expected to play leading roles, having finished close-up in a similar contest over 1600m last time. WINTER AIR has proved inconsistent recently but is weighted to make his presence felt too after finishing behind the aforementioned pair when last seen. BARDOLINO and Snaith inmate GIMME MORE TIME have acquitted themselves well in both post-maiden outings and from favourable inside gates ought to be competitive again. GENTLEMAN JOE is versatile and also capable of featuring. Tricky!
Selections:
#13 Nevada King, #1 Future Turn, #3 Gimme More Time, #2 Bardolino
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R500.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: First-up scorer THE ABDICATOR knew his job on debut and the professional attitude he showed, with the benefit of that experience ought to stand him in good stead once more. GOLDEN SICKLE and East Cape raider FIRST ORIGIN are forward types who attracted betting support when winning on debut, and they ought to have come since so are best kept safe, along with DUMBLEDORE, another debut winner, open to any amount of improvement. GOLDEN TATJANA, DISTANT WINTER, WILLIAM WEST, NOON DAY GUN and BOHEMIAN GROVE have all shown promise and are likely to have more to offer, so also worth considering. Open!
Selections:
#5 The Abdicator, #15 Dumbledore, #1 Golden Sickle, #14 First Origin
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R7.500.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Big-money sales race. ROYAL AUSSIE was 4th in a course-and-distance Gr.1 and need only run to that level of form to play a leading role. SEEKING THE ONE won a sales race before returning from a break to finish a pleasing 4th over a shorter trip, so with expected improvement should be competitive. SEE IT AGAIN fits a similar profile. He will appreciate the extra 200m and should make his presence felt. KING REGENT pleased in his first go at the distance and with further progress can bank connections a hefty stake cheque. Unbeaten filly WINTER GREETING and HAMMIES HERO could show more this trip.
Selections:
#8 Royal Aussie, #7 See It Again, #6 Seeking The One, #3 King Regent
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R1.250.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide open. PRINCESS CALLA has been imperious, winning back-to-back sprint features against her own sex, but despite being best treated by the conditions, will find this tougher. GIMME A PRINCE and CRUISE CONTROL have taken their form to another level since gelded. Both arrive in winning form and could have even more to offer, so are best kept safe. ISIVUNGUVUNGU, touched off over course and distance last time, would’ve tightened up for that comeback run so should make his presence felt. Reserve MR COBBS and RESONATE are closely matched so must also be respected. Many others with claims.
Selections:
#1 Isivunguvungu, #2 Gimme A Prince, #14 Resonate, #16 Princess Calla
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R2.000.000, 17:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Vintage renewal. Defending champ KOMMETDIEDING boasts a high level of consistency but has failed to add to his tally since his win 12 months ago and renews rivalry with familiar foe JET DARK (2nd last year) who has had his measure in both the Durban July and King’s Plate. There’s little to choose between the pair but the latter has edged recent meetings and has few chinks in his armour so rates the one to beat. Star 3yo filly MAKE IT SNAPPY is likely to give cheek from the front under just 51.5kg. Guineas 2nd COUSIN CASEY could improve going this trip to make his presence felt. Get bets on!
Selections:
#4 Jet Dark, #6 Kommetdieding, #2 Make It Snappy, #14 Cousin Casey
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 10, Gallops, 2800m, Turf, R500.000, 17:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky stayers contest which could be decided by the pace at which the race is run. BARATHEON is the likely frontrunner but hasn’t raced this far so won’t be going hard up front. CROME YELLOW beat several of these rivals when staying on from a handy position to win over 2500m last time, and could confirm. SENSO UNICO, 2nd in that race, must eke out some improvement to turn the tables. ARCTIC DRIFT and REX UNION will need a true-run race to make their presence felt. NEBRAAS and SILVER HOST renew rivalry and could fight it out, with the former’s fitness edge likely to count in the finish.
Selections:
#6 Nebraas, #9 Silver Host, #12 Crome Yellow, #8 Salvator Mundi
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 11, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R200.000, 18:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Many with chances. USA’S HOPE and VELDSKOEN returned from respective layoffs to make winning comebacks over this course and distance. Both would’ve come on since and are likely to have more to offer, so could be worth following. Preference, though, is for the latter who gets weight from his younger rival. SWIFT ACTION, BULLITT, KITCHAKAL and DANCE VARIETY arrive in good form and are capable of playing a role in the finish. TRANSACT won a stronger race last time so must be respected. ENSUING has more to do in his bid for a course-and-distance hat-trick following a 5-point penalty. Quartet race.
Selections:
#11 Veldskoen, #4 Usa’s Hope, #9 Kitchakal, #10 Dance Variety
Kenilworth, 28.01.2023, Race 12, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R115.000, 18:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide-open sprint handicap. MULBERRY STREET was a big-price winner on debut and while the form hasn’t worked out well, she could be anything and, with natural improvement likely, is best followed until beaten. FLYING FIRST and TURN THE PAGE acquitted themselves well in a stronger race over track and trip when last seen, so ought to be competitive racing off the same marks. DOUBLE DREAM fluffed her lines over 1400m last time out but is better than that run suggests. She could be worth another chance reverting to this distance, which also applies to both SPYWING and COPPER VIEW. Tricky!
Selections:
#15 Mulberry Street, #12 Flying First, #6 Turn The Page, #4 Double Dream
Best Win: #3 CAPTAIN’S RANSOM
Best Value Bet: #9 CARRIACOU
Best Longshot: #9 CARRIACOU
