Cape Racing has rejigged its Winter Season programme hoping to build on the momentum of a successful summer campaign.
The programme has undergone a complete overhaul and had its stakes increased, with the three legs of the Winter Series for both sexes also opened to horses aged three years or older.
The first legs of those Winter Series ‘Triple Crown’ and ‘Triple Tiara’ will be run on the nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, with the Listed World Sports Betting Sweet Chestnut Stakes (Race 5) over 1400m restricted to the fairer sex and the 1600m Grade 3 World Sports Betting Variety Club Mile (Race 7). Those races are complemented by the 1200m Grade 3 Champagne Stakes (Race 6).
And as is usually the case at a Cape Town feature-race meeting, bettors are likely to be rewarded for following trainer Justin Snaith and jockey Richard Fourie.
The pair should get off to winning ways in Race 2 with Danon Platina colt Koyomai who got going too late in his last start when his inexperience appeared to cost him victory. He ran on from nearer last to finish fifth behind re-opposing rivals Avignon and Lord Fyfield over 1400m on that occasion but ought to turn the tables with any improvement.
Progressive Future Swing is a good bet to continue his winning ways in Race 3 over 1600m, having reeled off a hat-trick of wins over the distance in his last three starts. He is one of three Snaith-trained runners in the line-up but appears the pick of the stable’s trio on jockey bookings with Fourie engaged to ride.
Intimidator could complete his hat-trick in Race 4 and provide the Snaith-Fourie combination with a third consecutive race win of its own. This son of The United States was raised two points for winning his last start over the course and distance but that is unlikely to prevent him from following up in a competitive field.
Well-bred Ciao Bella is worth a good each-way bet in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes and should get her career back on track reverting to 1400m with a tongue-tie fitted for the first time. Fourie has partnered the Gimmethegreenlight filly, who is a daughter of former stable star Bela-Bela, to victory in a Grade 2 over this distance four starts back and will be reunited with her.
Pomp And Power bounced right back to his best in the Grade 1 Cape Met, when a fast-finishing third from the widest draw and could return to winning ways in the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile if confirming that improvement.
He will, however, have to be on his A-game to thwart the likely challenge of Fourie’s mount, Without Question, who also finished third in a 2000m Grade 1 (Cape Derby) last time.
Swinger and Exacta with these stablemates should pay handsome dividends!
Clive Robinson
