The R1 million Gr1 Cape Flying Championship provides a nice variation of high-class speed on the Met day programme and the weight-for-age conditions makes it a mouthwatering spectacle for the purists. Carry On Alice’s last below-par run throws the race wide open.
Carry On Alice – that wasn’t her run last time
The Sceptre Stakes run by the Tarry flyer was a rare blot on the copybook for a top filly – and while things didn’t work out as planned, she is going to have to pick up her feet to pace it with the hot boys.
Carry On Alice ran third in this event last year by the outstanding filly Alboran Sea and in the interim turned the tables on her with a great win in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint.
While an automatic choice, the Sceptre Stakes ‘flop’ niggles and despite a reversion to the 1000m, we have to consider some top class speedsters.
Heading the list is Louis Goosen’s superfast Trippi 5yo Trip Tease, who missed a prep run when injured in the pens three weeks ago.
He thus has not seen race action since being beaten 2 lengths by stablemate Doing It For Dan in the Hampton Handicap on the Vaal sand on Supreme Cup day and this will not be seen as an ideal prep for his major summer target.
But trainer Louis Goosen is a master – and he will have him ready to roll.
Brutal Force wins the Joburg Merchants
Joey Ramsden’s smart Western Winter gelding Brutal Force has hit peak speed form, winning 3 of his last 4 starts, including a great win in the Gr2 Joburg Merchants.
He was narrowly beaten at his return home over the course and distance by Harry Lime and is bound to be a sharper fellow come Saturday.
Tsogo Sun Medallion winner Guiness
Interestingly, Anton Marcus, who could have ridden Brutal Force, will be riding another top speedster in Dennis Drier-trained Guiness.
The Gr1 winning son of Seventh Rock was well beaten behind Harry Lime after a 15 month break and will be expected to improve plenty.
Dennis Drier also saddles Cape Merchants winner Triptique. Another smart son of Trippi, the 4yo gelding failed to kick in the Diadem Stakes when tamely finishing 4 lengths behind Lanner Falcon.
He has plenty to do off his rating of 101.
Gulf Storm is very capable
The Brett Crawford-trained Gulf Storm is improving steadily and looks to be peaking at the right time.
After a close up fifth in the Merchants, he showed to good advantage in the Diadem when flying through late for a 1,55 length third to Lanner Falcon.
Against Gulf Storm is the fact that he has never won over the Kenilworth 1000m, and does take time to get going.
Yvette Bremner with her evergreen 8yo Gr1 winner Copper Parade, who is a regular earner back home in PE.
PE challenger Copper Parade – back over his best trip
He showed that he has lost little of his razor sharp ability, when fling up to get within a length of Brutal Force in the Joburg Merchants.
Talktothestars shows terrific speed up the Kenilworth 1000m but tends to get overhauled late in his races.
Gavin Lerena’s persistence suggests that he may be worth another chance and he did run a superb race when a neck third behind Harry Lime last time of asking.
Johan Janse Van Vuuren’s Belong To Me failed to show at his first Cape start on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate in his first start for 3 months.
Belong To Me wins the Durban Dash in style
While some way off Brutal Force at the weights, he can be expected to improve.
Eric Sands throws his 3yo Champery in at the deep end after two good wins over the course and distance. Her failure in the Sceptre Stakes against her own sex suggests she will battle here.
Justin Snaith saddles a coupling with the speedy Daring Dave looking for some improvement after an extended formless spell.
He came back from a four month break when showing little in the Merchants, but then showed a flicker of more to come when slow away and running on well for fifth behind stablemate Harry Lime last time.
He was beaten 7,80 lengths in this race last year and could be more competitive in a handicap.
Harry Lime came back to form after an extended drought with a smart win when beating Brutal Force in receipt of 4,5kgs on Queen’s Plate day. On his official rating of 97, he has some leeway to make up on the front-rankers here.
Mike Bass’ stable is in hot form and he is always competitive in the feature sprints.
Tevez – powerful turn of foot
Tevez just failed in the Merchants when storming through late, but then ran a quiet 5,30 lengths Lanner Falcon in the Diadem. He can improve on his fourth behind Alboran Sea last year.
Stable jockey Grant van Niekerk rides the 97 rated Line Break – a son of Dynasty who has shown touches of class, but who may be outgunned over the minimum trip on past form.
The 6yo mare Fly By Night is a Gr1 winner against the boys and has run decent races in the Diadem and the Sceptre Stakes recently. While past her explosive best, she gets Anthony Delpech back in the irons and cannot be discounted on a familiar hunting ground.
Match fitness places question marks against the likes of Trip Tease and Guiness and this could open the door for the recently consistent Brutal Force to maintain his positive streak.
That is not discounting the ability of the high-class Carry On Alice – whose last start looks all wrong.
