RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: KENILWORTH@2024.02.24
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R150.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: A competitive opening event to lift the lid on a cracking Cape Derby card. TALK TO THE MASTER will not be winning out of turn having finished 2nd in both starts, including over track and trip last time. UN BEL DI, however, has been close-up behind an exciting prospect in consecutive outings, so could have his measure. ZANTHAR, WORLDLY and SHOWGIRL are likely to improve with the benefit of their pleasing introductions under the belt, which also applies to LONELY AS A CLOUD. Ante-post market support for well-bred newcomer RHYDIAN has to be taken seriously.
Selections:
#4 Un Bel Di, #13 Talk To The Master, #2 Zanthar, #8 Worldly
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R250.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: A small but competitive field assembled for this 3yo fillies Listed race. SUMMER LILY impressed over 1400m last time and gave the impression there will be more to come over further, so it should pay to follow her progress. RAINBOW LORIKEET, CALLMEGETRIX and PRINCESS IZZY renew rivalry and are closely matched on the revised weight terms. FATAL GEM finished 4th from a wide draw in an 1800m Grade 3 against the boys last time and will be more competitive against her own sex at level weights.
Selections:
#1 Summer Lily, #5 Fatal Gem, #2 Rainbow Lorikeet, #6 Princess Izzy
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R1.000.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: High-quality 2yo Grade 3 featuring several promising juveniles, though none makes more appeal than hat-trick-seeking ROMAN AGENT who has displayed a willing and professional attitude in winning his last two starts. WINDS OF CHANGE belied his inexperience when a fast-finishing 2nd behind that rival on debut and ought to pose a threat with improvement expected given the benefit of that effort. Debut winners SYMPHONY IN WHITE and BANFF are also open to any amount of progress, so must be respected. ONE STRIPE and LITTLE BALLERINA were winners over track and trip recently so have claims too.
Selections:
#10 Roman Agent, #9 Winds Of Change, #8 Banff, #6 One Stripe
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R155.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: POMODORO’S JET stayed on to finish a close-up 4th in a stronger race over track and trip on Met day so ought to take advantage of this drop in class off an unchanged mark. CAFE CULTURE was outrun late in the same race having done much of the donkey work and will be competitive again with the removal of blinkers expected to make him settle better. INNAMORARE didn’t go unnoticed in the same race, despite finishing unplaced from the widest No 14 gate, and is likely to pose more of a threat from a better draw. USA’S HOPE, MAGIC VERSE, SOLOMONS SEAL and CHARLIE CROKER can also get into the picture.
Selections:
#3 Pomodoro’s Jet, #5 Innamorare, #4 Cafe Culture, #6 Usa’s Hope
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R250.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Top-rated ROYAL AUSSIE acquitted himself well in back-to-back Grade 1 races and on the form of his King’s Plate 3rd over this track and trip, will be hard to beat under favourable weight conditions. FUTURE PRINCE is held by that rival on their Cape Mile meeting but should get closer on these terms. A bigger threat, however, is likely to come from QUASIFORSURE who will enjoy this longer trip having run on from a long way back over 1400m last time. CAPTAIN FONTANE is held on that form but could also get into the picture. Best-weighted GOLD POKER GAME isn’t without a chance either.
Selections:
#7 Royal Aussie, #4 Quasiforsure, #5 Gold Poker Game, #3 Captain Fontane
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R250.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: A mouthwatering renewal of the Grade 3 Prix Du Cap. OCTOBER MORN made no mistake over 1200m last time and on that evidence should have no issue stretching out to this trip. RASCOVA and DOUBLE GRAND SLAM placed in a 1600m Grade 1 last time and ought to remain competitive over this shorter trip, which could favour the former given her strong frontrunning style. GOLDEN HOSTESS is versatile and likely to give another honest account. MRS GERIATRIX will be more effective over this trip after an eye-catching last start over 1200m, which bodes well for her chances over the extra 200m. Good race!
Selections:
#11 Mrs Geriatrix, #6 Rascova, #8 Double Grand Slam, #2 October Morn
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R600.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: The speed will be on. THUNDERSTRUCK has maintained a high level of form in 3 Cape Summer starts, winning twice before finishing 2nd in a 1000m Grade 1 last time ahead of BEREAVE, RIO QUERARI and SURJAY. He is weighted to confirm his superiority on these revised terms, although those rivals could get closer over the extra 200m. SILVER FALCON is effective over this trip and is likely to be sharper for the fitting of first-time blinkers. FUTURE VARIETY and COSMIC HIGHWAY are others to consider.
Selections:
#9 Thunderstruck, #1 Rio Querari, #3 Bereave, #2 Surjay
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R1.500.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: GREEN WITH ENVY gave weight and a beating to several re-opposing rivals in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes Derby Trial and on that evidence has strong winning claims on these terms. BEACH BOMB is a lively contender too, in receipt of a 2.5kg sex allowance as the only filly in the race. She is a two-time Grade 1 winner (over 1600m and 1800m) and, like the former, is expected to improve going this trip for the first time. The same could also be said of Gold Rush winner RAPIDASH who appears the stable elect on riding arrangements. Stablemates HLUHLUWE and HARAJUKU complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#6 Green With Envy, #4 Beach Bomb, #8 Rapidash, #7 Hluhluwe
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R135.000, 16:50GMT+2
Race Summary: A wide-open sprint event in which the value could lie with well-related DAME OF TRIX who confirmed the promise of her debut win by finishing 2nd in a stronger race last time and should improve with a step up in trip. NORDIC QUEST enjoyed a return to this distance last time and will remain competitive under 61kg, though may find it tough confirming that form on these terms as PINEAPPLEMINTGREEN, DOUBLE DREAM, GIMMETHEWALTZ and GIRL LIKE US are all better off at the weights. GREAT CAT and RED MOON RISING aren’t discounted either.
Selections:
#2 Dame Of Trix, #13 Pineapplemintgreen, #8 Nordic Quest, #14 Double Dream
Kenilworth, 24.02.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R200.000, 17:30GMT+2
Race Summary: The annual Jockeys’ vs. Work Riders Championship is likely to go the way of SPEED RACER who ought to have improved following his last-start 2nd over track and trip when returning from a rest/gelding. WISSA’S ON FIRE and THE US OF A have shown enough to make their presence felt and have scope for improvement too. NOON DAY GUN was disappointing last time but has claims on his earlier form. Watch the betting on newcomers GIFT OF GRACE and SCIMITAR, and respect any market support.
Selections:
#1 Speed Racer, #7 Wissa’s On Fire, #10 The Us Of A, #2 Noon Day Gun
Best Win: #6 GREEN WITH ENVY
Best Value Bet: #2 DAME OF TRIX
Best Longshot: #2 DAME OF TRIX
