The forecast of rain in the days leading up to the meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday could indicate some indifferent results. The complexities of the meeting adds to the intrigue. The card already looks setup for some horses to win who have not tasted success for a while which includes Dance Variety, who loves the soft, in race 8, the Winter Sprint over 1200m.
Dance Variety was last seen in late April when he gave weight to Tenango in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes over this course and distance. Tenango has subsequently won a Grade 2 in emphatic style and there is a push and a belief that he has a Grade 1 within. Dance Variety has won four of his last 12 runs including competing at a reasonably high level such as the Grade 2 De Grendel Cape Merchants. Sparingly raced by trainer Adam Marcus, he has placed him shrewdly to keep him in form despite probably never being at 100% peak fitness. Corne Orffer is carded to take the ride, he is the regular rider of Dance Variety.
His record in soft conditions reads two wins but five places from eight runs in the going. There is plenty which points towards Dance Variety and he should be a reasonable price.
Gimmelightning has shown capabilities of getting close to some of the best sprinters around but he can also look ordinary against moderate opposition. One has to keep safe of him because he can turn it on. His last start saw him run second, 1,5 lengths behind Empire State who is a progressive sort. His penultimate run cools enthusiasm because the talented Air Raid beat him to the tune of over six lengths. That performance, although not disgraceful, ought to have been slightly underwhelming because he can do so much better. No official excuses were offered for the run.
Kaiboy is a very exciting young sprinter in the making. He was in the same race behind Air Raid, finishing ahead of Gimmelightning but he is slightly worse off at the weights so there should be little to choose between them. Kaiboy has plenty more to offer going forward and he could come into his own this summer. Watch for a nice run even if he does not win.
Sugar Mountain is one of the most gallant horses in the country and he could win race 7, the Winter Mile. He came back to winning ways at his most recent run off at 16/1, beating Gallic Dream and the likes of top horses such as Let It Be Said, Bavarian Beauty and Makazole. Seeking The Stars was in that race too and they reoppose. They meet on identical terms, and there was 1,95 lengths between them. Sugar Mountain is looking for his 10th career victory and he could reach double figures here because the weight he shoulders suits him after his last run.
This trip looks too short of Mucho Dinero and Magic Verse who hold entries for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Both are more effective over further.
Spirit brings to best form into race 1 over 1000m but it could lead towards a first timer with just a little ability. Spirit finished four lengths behind All The Rage in his penultimate run with The Roaring Rock, who he reopposes, behind him. All The Rage has proven himself to be above average. Last time Spirit ran 1.3 lengths behind Happy Verse, who subsequently beat older, open opposition. The most appealing debutant is Fortune One under Andrew Fortune.
Fortune also rides Match That in race 2 over 1200m. She ran in a feature race against male opposition last time and she was not disgraced, 3,45 lengths behind Dreamworld. The runner-up, Absolutely Yes franked that form last weekend. Her rivals look rather limited so she ranks as one of the best bets on the card.
A massive field goes to post in race 3 over 1200m. Future Free caught the eye on debut when he finished off the race with a flourish ending up two lengths behind Rhydian over this course and distance. It is interesting to note that he is back in a sprint before going a distance which should suit ideally. He is a half-brother to the conquering Eight On Eighteen. If he learned anything from his debut, he can win. There is talk for Nightrain. Consider him and check the market near race time.
Clair De Lune was beaten at 4/10 last time she ran. She has been so costly to follow finishing second in four of her five career starts. She meets such a shallow field in race 4 over 1200m. Gavin Lerena is carded to take the ride for Justin Snaith. This is a matter of now or do not fall for her anytime soon.
Nothing jumps off the page in race 5 over 1500m. Kisses showed huge improvement in her last run behind Thomas Jenkins who has won subsequently. That was her first run around the turn and over this middle distance range as she went from nearly double-figure beatings to 1,5 lengths behind. If she confirms that trend, she should go very close.
Strawberry Thief is improving with every start and she is starting to emerge as a filly who could be capable of scooping a feature race, even if at below Grade 1 level. She turned over Lavender Bay in her last run by 1,5 lengths over this course and distance. She is slightly worse off at the weights with Lavender Bay but she seems to be ahead of the curve after starting her career without many fireworks. She is selected to win race 6 over 1800m.
Sun Dazed is his own worst enemy but he would be rewarded for consistency if he were to win race 9 over 1200m. After a list of places in his last few runs, surely at this level, a win must be within his grasp.
Pink Pigeon ranks as one of the best bets on the card in race 10 over 1000m. Her last run saw her go close to Babelicious who looked hard to beat. She is down in class, as a receipt of that carries 61,5kg as opposed to 55,5kg of her last run. But she ought to confirm her most recent start under Richard Fourie.
