Racing in the Western Cape returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday 5 April for an eight-race card that ought to be dominated by Justin Snaith.
The trainer has just a sole representative in the first two races and none in the third but holds a strong hand in each of the remaining races from which his runners are likely to emerge victorious.
Youngster Four Jacks takes on older horses in Race 1 over 1200m after a promising debut over the course and distance. He would’ve come on in the eight weeks since that introduction so should be competitive, though his inexperience may count against him.
Well-bred Poltergeist sports blinkers for the first time when he lines up over 1200m in Race 2 and should play a role in the finish if improving for the fitting of the headgear.
It could pay to follow Richard Fourie, who rides the two Snaith-trained runners mentioned above, in Race 4 when he partners Doubling Up and aboard Royal Aussie in Race 5. Including this pair in a TAB Double should pave the way to a profitable return!
The former, a well-related son of Twice Over, is maturing and improving with every start. He finished 1.75 lengths behind stablemate Machete Man, with whom he renews rivalry on 1,5kg better terms, when third over 2000m at his last start and is good value to turn the tables with Fourie retaining the ride over 1800m.
Smart three-year-old Royal Aussie confirmed the form of his fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas by winning the R5-million Gold Rush on Cape Met day and Snaith’s charge should make a winning reappearance after a nine-week break under Fourie in Race 5 over 1400m.
Grant van Niekerk’s reunion with Rio Querari, coupled with the fitting of blinkers, has seen the star sprinter rediscover his form. This Querari gelding bounced back to something of his best with a close-up second in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m, and on that form should prove too good for his rivals over 1100m in Race 7.
Van Niekerk, however, makes way for Fourie on Wednesday while the blinkers will not be fitted – two very interesting changes.
Another Snaith-trained runner, Nevada King, is likely to provide Van Niekerk with a winner, though, as the drop in class and distance in Race 8 is likely to the three-year-old gelding who made no impression at Grade 1 level in his last start. In his previous outing, this son of The United States won from a wide draw over the course and distance.
Snaith and Candice Bass-Robinson have three runners each in the 1200m Magnolia (Race 6), with Fourie partnering Gimme Dat and Van Niekerk aboard Kwinta’s Light. While strong cases can be made for both fillies, it is probably worth siding with JP van der Merwe’s mount Pacific Green at a bigger price.
