RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: KENILWORTH@2024.01.27
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R600.000, 11:55GMT+2
Race Summary: A competitive 2yo contest to get Met Day underway. LION RAMPART confirmed the promise of his debut by winning last time out and runner-up ROMAN AGENT, who was making his debut that day, has franked that form by winning since – beating COLD SHINE who ought to have come on following that encouraging introduction. SWEETIE DARLING is weighted to reverse the form on 2kg better terms so should have a role to play. UN BEL DI, RAMA FORCESA, GRAND CRESCENDO, LADIES WORLD and debut winner PLAY ACT are all likely to improve after pleasing debut outings. Respect market support for any of the newcomers.
Selections:
#8 Roman Agent, #15 Sweetie Darling, #2 Lion Rampart, #12 Cold Shine
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R1.250.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: HANDSOME PRINCE is the only runner to have won a race, having put his experience to good use by leading throughout over 1000m last time. TALK TO THE MASTER finished 2nd on that occasion in his first outing and should pose more of a threat with the benefit of that run. COMMANDING and HEMISPHERE could also get closer. MASTER CASPER, SORCERESS SUPREME as well as DUCHESS OF PALOMA are also likely to improve after encouraging introductions so could get into the picture. Newcomers PROM QUEEN, LORD BYRON, THE MASK, AFRICAN PRINCE, BOMBERS IN THE SKY, SICILY and GREAT PLAINS are worth a market check.
Selections:
#19 Handsome Prince, #6 Talk To The Master, #14 The Mask, #5 Master Casper
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R350.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive renewal of this Grade 3 Cape Derby Trial. GREEN WITH ENVY ran on from a long way when a fast-finishing 4th in the Cape Guineas so should, on that evidence, be better suited to the longer trip. HAT’S PRIDE is held on that Guineas form but could also have more to offer stretching out to this distance for the first time. CALL TO UNITE and HARAJUKU are distance suited and have won over this trip recently so ought to make their presence felt, while Vercingetorix colts THE GREY KING and ORIENTAL CHARM are others open to improvement. The filly FATAL GEM isn’t without a chance either.
Selections:
#8 Green With Envy, #9 Call To Unite, #11 Harajuku, #13 Fatal Gem
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R185.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: There’s a MASSIVE PICK 6 MEGAPOOL on offer and a potential banker in Leg 1 with AT MY COMMAND, who is weighted to win and boasts the best recent form (back-to-back 2nd’s at Grade 2 level). SILVER OPERATOR and INNAMORARE won over course and distance last time and ought to acquit themselves competitively once more, while POMODORO’S JET could be ahead of the handicapper so must also be respected. SILVER FALCON, QUASIFORSURE, CAPTAIN FONTANE and UNDERWORLD are effective over this distance and likely to get involved too. For larger perms, consider KING REGENT and ZOOMIE.
Selections:
#4 At My Command, #6 Quasiforsure, #7 Captain Fontane, #13 Underworld
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R200.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide-open Listed sprint. WINTER CLOUD bounced back to form in a Grade 2 over course and distance last time and need only reproduce that level of performance to fight for victory. SHANTATSIC, closely matched on that form, is also likely to play a leading role. The former’s stablemate, DISTANT WINTER, will appreciate reverting to this trip and is capable of posing a threat as is MISS MARGUERITE who is weighted to be competitive. ENEMY TERRITORY, COLDHARDSTARE, SIDDELEY and MISS GREENLIGHT are versatile and not without chances either. HIGHLYCONFIDENTIAL and ONI SAN are capable of having a say too.
Selections:
#5 Winter Cloud, #12 Shantastic, #2 Distant Winter, #16 Enemy Territory
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R1.500.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: THUNDERSTRUCK has won both Cape Summer outings, beating SURJAY (1100m) and ISIVUNGUVUNGU over this course and distance. The latter would’ve needed his last start, though, after a layoff and will strip fitter on this occasion, so is good value to turn the tables and confirm his status as the leading sprinter in the land. MUFASA and MR COBBS are held on that form and at the weights are unlikely to pose a threat, although BEREAVE could get closer. Veteran RIO QUERARI is not incapable of staking a claim either. Highveld raider DYCE is well in under the conditions and cannot be taken lightly.
Selections:
#9 Isivunguvungu, #8 Thunderstruck, #11 Surjay, #4 Dyce
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R1.000.000, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Cracking Majorca Stakes renewal, featuring reigning Horse Of The Year PRINCESS CALLA who had her colours lowered by 3yo rising star BEACH BOMB (1kg worse off) in the 1800m Paddock Stakes last time, with the latter having won the Cape Fillies Guineas over track and trip in her previous start. MAKE IT SNAPPY won the same Grade 1 events in consecutive outings last season but hasn’t been seen since finishing unplaced in the Met 12 months ago. Riding arrangements, however, suggest she’s fit enough to acquit herself competitively on her return. RED PALACE, HAPPY CHANCE and SAARTJIE complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#11 Beach Bomb, #5 Princess Calla, #6 Make It Snappy, #2 Happy Chance
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R7.500.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: A BIG PAYDAY awaits the winner of Cape Racing’s Gold Rush. BAVARIAN BEAUTY won a Grade 1 over this trip as a 2yo before winning on her reappearance over 1400m in preparing for this engagement, and she is favourably treated by the conditions so gets the nod. TAIL OF THE COMET has fluffed his lines in two starts at Graded level over this distance but is eased in class back into a Sales race, so can’t be written off. KING OF THE GAULS, READY TO CHARGE and WINTER RAINFALL are open to any amount of improvement going this distance. STORM BRASCO and INFRARED are capable of staking claims.
Selections:
#10 Bavarian Beauty, #8 Tail Of The Comet, #14 Ready To Charge, #11 Winter Rainfall
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R2.000.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: SEE IT AGAIN has been carefully prepared for this and arrives at the top of his game after a Grade 2 win over 1600m and a Grade 1 second over the same distance. He is distance-suited and favourably treated by the conditions, so is hard to oppose. ROYAL AUSSIE, AL MUTHANA, MONTIEN and DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE are all held on the King’s Plate form but aren’t incapable of posing a threat if improving over the extra . Filly BLESS MY STARS and rejuvenated PACAYA are held on the Durban July form and are worse off at the weights too. MUCHO DINERO, WITHOUT QUESTION and RASCALLION complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#11 See It Again, #8 Royal Aussie, #6 Mucho Dinero, #3 Pacaya
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 2800m, Turf, R500.000, 17:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. TRIPLE TIME finished 2nd in a similar contest over 2500m on King’s Plate day, so should acquit himself competitively. However, Highveld raiders NEBRAAS (2,5kg) and ARAGOSTA (4.5kg) are better off at the weights and likely to turn the tables on these revised terms. On that form,ONE WAY TRAFFIC ought to be a factor too. BLACK THORN gets the trip and could also get into the picture, along with THEFUTUREISBRIGHT who is at peak fitness. FLOWER OF SAIGON is weighted to be competitive so shouldn’t be underestimated either, while MASTER REDOUTE is another with claims. The pace could be key!
Selections:
#3 Aragosta, #13 Nebraas, #4 Triple Time, #11 One Way Traffic
Kenilworth, 27.01.2024, Race 11, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 18:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive Cape Summer maiden to bring the curtain down on a quality Cape Town Met race day. PEREGRINE FALCON and SEEKING THE LIFE could play leading roles with improvement expected after pleasing introductions. SPEED RACER, STAR PERFORMER and IGUGULETHU, however, have both the form and experience to also fight for victory. RIVERSTONE and THE US OF A acquitted themselves well in the Okapi Ladies Invitational and are likely to make their presence felt if confirming that form. HOODIA has finished 2nd in both starts, though, and wouldn’t be winning out of turn. Keep an eye on newcomer KINGSBOY!
Selections:
#8 Peregrine Falcon, #20 Hoodia, #9 Star Performer, #10 Igugulethu
Best Win: #11 SEE IT AGAIN
Best Value Bet: #8 PEREGRINE FALCON
Best Longshot: #8 PEREGRINE FALCON
