After showing his minerals as a horse to stay onside with as a sprinter, Empire State is back to a more suitable trip in race 7 over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday. This emerging three-year-old looks to have better days ahead of him and he is tipped to win what should be an exciting race despite the small field to face the starter.
From his early starts he looked like a horse with ability. He started his career on a soft track so good runs might have been cued up to a wet track but he showed that he is no one-trick pony by romping to victory at his penultimate start. He beat African Prince by 1,75 lengths over this course and distance. His prior run was also encouraging when he made late headway to finish less than a length behind Golden Destiny in fourth at the end of January with many useful sprinters around him.
His last run was a chance worth taking. For 5 Million there was no reason to pass up on the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap over 1400m. He was not disgraced finishing five lengths behind All Out For Six in fifth but he is simply a sprinter who is stretched over anything past 1200m.
Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson has been in great form this year and she is in charge of this son of Rafeef. Aldo Domeyer is carded to take the ride. He was on duty at his last win.
In the same silks, Elusive Winter stands a good chance of troubling Empire State for Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford. He is a 1000m specialist so the extra 100m is always going to stretch him but he is in such good heart at the moment so one can expect a big run. His swashbuckling style makes the chasing pack have to knuckle down over the closing stages. Gareth Wright rides him best and he stays aboard.
If Elusive Winter is given a chance, Nordic Chief should be right there. He is 3kg worse off for when he defeated Elusive Winter by 1,25 lengths. That should swing favour to Elusive Winter but Nordic Chief is gallant and should be around the action regardless.
Precocious should have a huge chance of winning in race 1 over 1200m. She made her debut two months ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville where she ran second behind stable companion, Amen Corner. She looked like she has the profile for the straight and she seems to have found a rather weak field. Oswald Noach retains the ride for Bass-Robinson.
South Of France for Bass-Robinson and Domeyer looks the part in race 2 over 1200m unless a debutante looks the goods. South Of France ran a pleasing debut when finishing fourth behind Match That at this course over 1000m. Judging by how she hit the line in the latter stages, she looks set to improve. Viva La Vida will be interesting under Gavin Lerena. She is nicely bred so check the market about her chances around race time.
Sierra Sagrada stands out as the bet of the day in race 3 over 1400m. His last start took him close to winning when older horse, Thomas Jenkins denied him by less than a length. Even his debut over 1000m behind impressive young sprinter, North Point, should point preferably to Sierra Sagrada. There is not much in terms of quality opposition in this race and he must be the reason why Lerena catches the two-hour flight in the morning.
Thingamabob should bounce back in race 4 over 1000m. Cursed with a bad draw of No 11 last time at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she made little impression but she did finish behind Wehaveasituation who has won and placed since. Running in a straight line, with fitness more on her side and every chance of some improvement, that should see her take all the beating. Corne Orffer takes the ride for Andre Nel.
Ruby Rex does look like a danger on the end of her much-improved last run when Ukuduma snared her by a short head, but the level of that form leaves something to be desired.
Rhydian needed his last run badly following a 10-month break. He finished behind Green Planet which might not be much to write home about but he was only beaten by a length at this course over 1200m. Craig Zackey is carded to take the ride and he should finally deliver his maiden win in race 5 over the same course and distance. His two-year-old form behind some top-notch horses is too good to ignore.
Race 6 over 1200m is a very tricky event to make head or tail of but a chance is taken on the lightly raced Call Me Jane to beat exposed winners and taste victory for the first time for Orffer and Nel. Her last start came in a weak field behind Dive Bomber but the measure between that race and this cannot be wife.
There are a few in with chances in race 8 over 1500m and there is some encouraging form to work with. Oni San under Lerena for Vaughan Marshall is given the narrow verdict. She has finished close to rivals who are in great heart of late like Callmegetrix and My Only Weakness. She seems to not round off her races which is why she is still a one-time winner but the performances are getting better. All of Kleinzee, Lady Look Alike, La Divina, and Jou Lekker Ding are respected as lively chances.
The conditions of race 9 over 2200m suits the fairer sex because they receive a generous allowance. For that reason, Lady Springfield could continue her good performances. She gave hints of being a fairly high-level filly through the Summer Festival Of Racing and if she can see out the extra trip (she runs like she should) she could be the horse to beat.
