RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: KENILWORTH@2023.12.23
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: A typically competitive Cape summer maiden. KYALAMI GIRL finished 2nd in both 2yo outings but has been off for 10 months and her fitness (race readiness) will have to be taken on trust. However, she is open to any amount of improvement so it could pay to follow her progress. Both PRETTY PRECIOUS and FIGURE EIGHT should have more to offer with the benefit of encouraging debut outings under their belts. PRANKSTER wasn’t disgraced in an open maiden last time and is likely to pose more of a threat back against her own sex. TEQUILA SKY, SEE YOU IN A BIT, MARPORI and newcomer KOSUKE have claims too.
Selections:
#16 Kyalami Girl, #14 Prankster, #12 Figure Eight, #10 Pretty Precious
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. IGUGULETHU and STAR PERFORMER finished 2nd in consecutive outings before disappointing last-start displays. Both are capable of better and could make amends so can’t be written off. Well-bred HOODIA caught the eye on debut when a fast-finishing 2nd over this course and distance (that form has been franked) and is good value to go one better with natural improvement on the cards. MANEKI NEKO and JACK IN THE GREEN return from respective layoffs during which they were gelded, but have shown enough to warrant respect on their reappearances. SONG TO THE MOON has a role to play too.
Selections:
#2 Hoodia, #12 Igugulethu, #10 Song To The Moon, #6 Star Performer
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: LICKETY SPLIT has found one better in each of her last four outings but ought to get her head in front reverting to this shorter trip after three narrow misses over 1600m. ICE RAIN will also enjoy dropping back to this and is likely to pose a threat if making any improvement with blinkers now fitted. BASIC MANEUVERS, F EIGHT and NILE THE BOSS should acquit themselves competitively with their headgear removed. MAD WORLD made an encouraging KZN debut on the Polytrack in September and must be taken seriously on her reappearance/local debut. Watch the betting on well-bred newcomer LUCKY THIRTEEN.
Selections:
#10 Lickety Split, #11 Ice Rain, #4 Nile The Boss, #8 Mad World
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Well-related FOUDRE has shown enough to win a race of this ilk and is likely to have improved having been gelded, so is the one to beat. BLUE BAY ran on powerfully to finish behind GIVETHATMANABELLS over course and distance last time, when the latter was aggressively ridden to overcome a wide draw. There’s little to choose between them on that form and both ought to be competitive, though a bigger threat is expected from THE NIGHT FERRY whose last start confirmed the promise of his debut and on pedigree, will have more to give over the extra. PRINCE OF TIBET and KING VISERYS have claims too.
Selections:
#5 Foudre, #12 The Night Ferry, #3 Prince Of Tibet, #11 Givethatmanabells
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R155.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: A small but competitive lineup. SIDDELEY confirmed her liking for this distance by winning at a slightly lower level last time and she ought to acquit herself well again, even in this grade off a 3-point higher mark. UNCONQUERABLE LADY has a score to settle with that rival. She was 2nd over this distance in a similar contest last month and will be a factor once more with improved fitness on her side. However, MONTELENA was unlucky not to have won that day/race in her first attempt over this trip and is good value to make amends. FUN ZONE is closely matched on that form so should be involved.
Selections:
#8 Montelena, #7 Unconquerable Lady, #4 Fun Zone, #6 Siddeley
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R155.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Recent winners ETERNAL OPTIMIST and TIME FOR LOVE have more to do now out the maidens but are open to improvement. The latter, a lightly raced 4yo, is probably ahead of the handicapper and likely to prove better than her current rating. She is also favourably treated by the conditions of the race, so ought to be competitive. PASSCHENDAELE also only opened her account last time out but boasts both the form and experience to play a leading role. DOUBLE CHECK caught the eye when a fast-finishing 3rd in a similar contest last time and she is weighted to confirm her superiority over MY FLOWER FATE.
Selections:
#6 Passchendaele, #7 Double Check, #4 My Flower Fate, #2 Time For Love
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R155.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: A quality Class 3. NATYAM finished ahead of PREVALENCE in a similar contest over this track and trip last month and should do so again on 1kg better terms. HARAJUKU and AFRICAN TORRENT have a bit to find on that form but are not incapable of making their presence felt. Pomodoro’s Jet beat both TAMARISK TREE and BLACKBERRY MALT in their most recent outings but, on a line through that rival, the latter ought to fare better on these terms and could represent the value in the race, with the step up to this distance also likely to suit. GAINSFORD, JUST VAR and KING PELLES aren’t out of it either.
Selections:
#8 Blackberry Malt, #5 Natyam, #4 Prevalence, #1 African Torrent
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R155.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. BLUE HOLLY finished behind ONI SAN and course-and-distance winner MISS MARGUERITE in a Listed race but turned the tables on those rivals at Grade 2 level last time and should be a factor once more, despite the weight turnaround with both rivals. MISS GREENLIGHT was impressive in winning over 1200m recently and will make her presence felt with a repeat of that performance. However, she races off a career-high mark and steps up in class, so faces an uphill task. On that form, both PACIFIC GREEN and THE CHARLESTON should get closer. HIGHLYCONFIDENTIAL is on the up so isn’t taken lightly.
Selections:
#1 Blue Holly, #5 Oni San, #8 Miss Marguerite, #3 Highlyconfidential
Kenilworth, 23.12.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R155.000, 17:20GMT+2
Race Summary: A lot of collateral form to dissect. PORQUE TE VAS is well treated by the conditions and ought to be competitive. She’s weighted to reverse recent form with last-start conqueror THE ABDICATOR who isn’t incapable of playing another leading role having rediscovered form after gelding. BLUFF ON BLUFF and BARNEY MCREW are hard-knockers closely matched with those rivals, so aren’t overlooked. TEFLON MAN and TYRION LANNISTER ran better races recently than their finishing positions suggest – the former is capable of winning. YELLOWPORSCHEROAD, BEERENBERG and PLAZA ACCORD will have more to offer.
Selections:
#9 Teflon Man, #11 Beerenberg, #2 Porque Te Vas, #4 The Abdicator
Best Win: #16 KYALAMI GIRL
Best Value Bet: #8 BLACKBERRY MALT
Best Longshot: #8 BLACKBERRY MALT
