RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: KENILWORTH@2024.01.13
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive opening race, typical of a Cape summer maiden. KING OF SPIN had GIVETHATMANABELLS close behind him when finishing 2nd over this course and distance. Both had wide draws to overcome in a bigger field so ought to play leading roles, especially as the winner has franked that form with a subsequent success. PRESSONREGARDLESS and recently gelded SPELLING BEE have a bit to find but are open to improvement so could get involved. ETOILEFILLANTE has switched stables but is capable of making his presence felt. PATRICK’S ONE, TOM’S DINER and INDECENT PROPOSAL have claims too.
Selections:
#1 King Of Spin, #7 Givethatmanabells, #9 Patrick’s One, #12 Spelling Bee
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. ICE RAIN ran on well to finish 2nd over track and trip last time and need only repeat that performance to fight for victory. ROCKING PEONIE and LUCKY THIRTEEN didn’t go unnoticed when running on from further back (wide draws) in the same race and, with any improvement, are likely to pose a threat. TOKYO PRINCESS isn’t without a chance on that form but has to confirm with the blinkers now removed. KOSUKE and SILVAWARE are likely to improve with the benefit of experience, while COTONOU could have more to offer over this trip. CHARLENE and SUN SPECTACULAR ought to be competitive too.
Selections:
#6 Ice Rain, #8 Rocking Peonie, #1 Lucky Thirteen, #11 Sun Spectacular
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: LIGHTNING GLOW was backed/expected to win last time but finished 2nd over 1400m as an odds-on favourite. He was subsequently gelded and is likely to have improved during his 13-week absence, so is worth another chance. PRINCE OF TIBET and PLUS FOUR are held by that rival on the form of a previous meeting but should be competitive, nonetheless. A bigger threat, however, may come from VOORLOOPERTJIE who improved on his reappearance with a fast-finishing 4th over 1400m and should, on that evidence, have more to offer going 1600m. MR BELVEDERE and CLAW complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#6 Lightning Glow, #1 Voorloopertjie, #11 Plus Four, #5 Claw
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R155.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. PROMETTERE was rewarded for consistency with a last-start victory in a higher grade over 1400m and he ought to remain competitive under a 6-point penalty. However, ROSH KEDESH is closely matched with that rival on the form of an earlier meeting over this course and distance, and ought to turn the tables on 2.5kg better weight terms. On that form, versatile FUTURE TURN (not disgraced last time over an inadequate trip) could also make his presence felt on these terms. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN has come to hand and is another capable of playing a leading role, along with EXCEPT TEMPTATION. Tricky!
Selections:
#9 Rosh Kedesh, #5 Promettere, #8 Kingdom Of Heaven, #2 Except Temptation
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R135.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Open. LINDBERGH made an encouraging stable debut in his first start over 1600m, so is capable of having a say from the widest draw under a big weight. OLIVER blotted his copybook over 1400m recently and has a wide draw to contend with but does have the means to stake a claim in the finish. PREVALENCE and LUCE VERDE are closely matched on the form their 4 November meeting. Both ought to be competitive, though preference is for the former who has recent form in a higher grade. ROYAL SWAN MASTER, NO APOLOGIES, COASTAL COMMANDER and MASTER OF PARIS make the shortlist too in a competitive contest.
Selections:
#3 Prevalence, #12 Royal Swan Master, #4 Luce Verde, #8 Coastal Commander
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R135.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Open. WINDRUNNER was an authoritative winner of a similar contest over the course and distance last time out and, on that evidence, should remain competitive despite a 6-point penalty. However, runner-up ENCHANTING CHOICE is weighted to turn the tables on 3kg better terms, while 4th finisher SUMMER NIGHT CITY is 5kg better off so also likely to stake a claim. On that form both DUAL AGENT and WOMAN’S WORLD should get closer on these terms. EPIKLEROS has run well against male opposition and should enjoy facing females only but is drawn widest. TYPEFACE and PASSCHENDAELE aren’t discounted either.
Selections:
#8 Enchanting Choice, #6 Windrunner, #13 Epikleros, #5 Passchendael
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R200.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: It’s hard to oppose best-weighted HOLD MY HAND, despite proving hard to win with. Her sole success came as a 2yo, although she has maintained a good level of form and consistency since. She finished 3rd at Grade 3 level on her seasonal reappearance last month, with the form of that race franked by the runner-up who finished 3rd in the recent Grade 1 Paddock Stakes. Stablemate FLOWER OF SAIGON is also favourably treated by the race conditions, so may complete a stable Exacta. ROYAL INVITATION, SILVERLINKS and last-start winner SUPREME DREAM complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#6 Hold My Hand, #5 Flower Of Saigon, #2 Royal Invitation, #3 Silverlinks
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: A big field but only a few with genuine winning credentials, none more so than promising TRIP TO MAPUTO whose wide draw last time probably cost her victory. She shoulders top weight of 61kg but is favourably drawn in gate No 3 so is good value to give weight and a beating to her rivals. GIMMETHATPEARL and ANDI’S GIRL, like the selection, also run in the Drakenstein colours. Both ran well enough over this course and distance last time to suggest they too can play leading roles from inside starting stalls. RANI OF JHANSI caught the eye on her Cape introduction and should have more to offer.
Selections:
#3 Trip To Maputo, #1 Gimmethatpearl, #4 Rani Of Jhansi, #2 Andi’s Girl
Kenilworth, 13.01.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R135.000, 17:20GMT+2
Race Summary: A case can be made for several runners. WINTER PEARL is in good form (races off a career-high mark), after 3 wins from his last 4 starts – the latest over track and trip – but he’s up 15 points as a result, so this demands more of him. MIGHTY MAC is consistent, albeit at a lower level, and 4.5kg better off with the former on their 24 October meeting, so can turn the tables. THE TINKERMAN and NIGHT TIGER (reserve) are also competitive on these terms. PLAZA ACCORD and BENJAMIN should fare better dropping in class. NORDIC CHIEF, RAF’S ROCKET and LINES CROSSED have claims too.
Selections:
#8 Mighty Mac, #9 Winter Pearl, #1 The Tinkerman, #15 Plaza Accord
Best Win: #6 HOLD MY HAND
Best Value Bet: #3 PREVALENCE
Best Longshot: #3 PREVALENCE
