The 10-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 13 April looks set to be dominated by leading Western Cape trainers Brett Crawford and Justin Snaith, who are both well-represented on the day with strong winning chances throughout the meeting.
They are responsible for 25% of the 123 runners engaged at the next Cape Town meeting – the former sends out 16 runners on the day to rival the 15 from Snaith’s yard. Ultimately, that could prove the difference between the two formidable stables with Crawford likely to earn bragging rights on the day by bettering Snaith’s haul of three potential race wins with a four-timer of his own.
After a promising (albeit unlucky) third on debut over 1000m, Lancaster Bomber filly Be Merry should improve with the benefit of that experience to get Snaith and stable jockey Grant van Niekerk off to a winning start over the same course and distance in Race 1.
The same combination is also expected to land the spoils in Race 2 over 1600m with Master Of Paris, who wouldn’t be winning out of turn after two seconds and a third in his last three starts (all over 1400m).
Crawford, however, should settle the score with a quick race-to-race double of his own. He saddles a three-pronged attack in Race 3, and while a case can be made for each of his runners in this 2200m event, it could pay to side with consistent Sudden Song whose encouraging last-start second over track and trip was his first outing beyond 2000m.
Gareth Wright partnered this five-year-old son of Sudden Storm last time and will again be aboard Crawford’s charge, who is good value for an each-way bet under just 52.5kg.
Stablemate Mont Loisir is one of the better bets on the card and ought to get title-chasing jockey Richard Fourie on the board in Race 4 over 1400m.
This progressive Vercingetorix gelding has finished second in both course-and-distance appearances under the same rider but is unlikely to be beaten on this occasion from a favourable No 2 stall – as opposed to No 10 of 12 last time out.
Improving last-start winner Pomodoro’s Jet could defy a resultant five-point penalty and continue Crawford’s winning ways in Race 6 over 1600m. This lightly raced five-year-old son of Durban July winner Pomodoro remains relatively unexposed after just 13 outings, so is probably better than rated.
He races off a career-high mark after winning a similar contest five weeks ago and on the evidence of that victory, seems more than capable of preserving his unbeaten course-and-distance record.
Snaith’s equaliser comes in the form of Gimmethegreenlight gelding Prevalence who lines up in Race 9 over 1800m, the same track and trip over which he finished second in his last start when fitted with blinkers for the first time.
The headgear and Van Niekerk will again be on Prevalence who need only confirm the improvement he showed last time to register an overdue second career success.
The absence of a Snaith-trained runner and a Crawford coupling in Race 10 over 1100m presents the latter with an opportunity to snare bragging rights at the meeting. And that he could do with Dynasty filly Great Cat, who bounced back to form last time when reunited with Louie Mxothwa to finish an improved third over 1200m three weeks ago.
Unsurprisingly, Mxothwa retains the ride.
Clive Robinson
