Trainer Justin Snaith bids for a remarkable fourth successive win in the R250 000 Gr3 Final Fling Stakes to be run at Kenilworth today. He sends out a smart trio that includes last year’s victress Cat And The Moon and, weather permitting, the yard looks set for a great afternoon.
Snaith won the Final Fling stakes with Galileo’s daughter Rain Gal in 2013 and the very smart locally bred Jet Supreme in 2014.
Snaith duo dominate 2014 Gr3 Final Fling Stakes
If history is a guide, the weather gods will be keeping a keen eye over Saturday’s proceedings as in 2013 and 2014 the race had to be postponed to August following heavy rain.
The race is run at weight-for-age, with penalties for Gr1,2 and 3 wins, and is a traditional final black-type bash for the mothers-to-be prior to their heading off to the paddocks.
Snaith’s topweight Cat And The Moon is the highest rated athlete in the fourteen horse field.
Cat And The Moon won this race in 2015
The daughter of Black Minnaloushe is very lightly raced and has not won again since last year’s great win under Craig du Plooy – who is aboard again.
The Danehill Dancer mare Acrostar catches the eye in the hands of Richard Fourie.
Richard Fourie – rides Acrostar
The Aussie bred mare is not for off the better gallopers and has run two smart preps,
The 1200m of her penultimate jump was on the short side and she was given too much to do last time when fourth behind Chevauchee in the Listed Ladies Mile.
From a decent draw she is a runner.
Justin Snaith’s third string is the Galileo mare, Gift Of Rain.
Another Australian-bred, she came back strongly in a good course and distance win last time in a lower rated handicap. She is drawn on the wide side, and one imagines Fourie could have ridden her.
Greg Ennion has two in the race and his big girl Petty Officer looks overdue to win again.
She was there for a long way in the Ladies Mile, when racing from a poor draw and hung in for a decent 3,25 length third.
Moonsong Magic – tough task on paper but may prove some value if finding earlier zip
Her stablemate Moonsong Magic has not been at her best lately as manifested by her rating tumbling froma peak of 92 to the modest 78 she currently carries.
She could well prove some serious value.
Mike Bass has a nice coupling of Ladies Mile runner-up Moonlight ‘N Roses and another very decent Captain Al 3yo Sublime Lady. The latter beat Petty Officer in a return to form last time. She is 3kgs worse off with the Ennion mare.
The nicely bred Moonlight ‘N Roses is on the up and her recent form suggests she is ready to tackle the 1800m.
The Glen Puller-trained Harlem Shake was second to Francia in the Winter Oaks and on her best summer form may have a shout – even though widely drawn.
Adam Marcus – engages Andrew Fortune
Adam Marcus-trained Fear Not gets the services of Andrew Fortune but has drawn wide and could only manage a fifth placed finish in the Listed Ladies Mile.
Joey Ramsden’s Jetano ran on well in the Listed Winter Oaks when third and only 2 lengths behind Francia.
The daughter of Silvano has a touch of class about her.
Mike Stewart trains the former Dean Kannemeyer-trained Indaba.
The daughter of Dynasty is drawn wide and was slow out when 3,95 lengths back to Neala last time. She has plenty of leeway to make up but could threaten for places on her better earlier form.
Brett Crawford’s trio of Elusive Wave, Amarillo Rose and the lightly raced Icy Fire are all contenders at best.
Favourites have a good record in the race, despite the fact that we could see a treacherous surface and a form swing or three.
Cat And The Moon and Acrostar look best of the older runners, while Moonlight ‘N Roses and stablemate Sublime Lady could be best of the rest.
Moonsong Magic is a value bet if finding her better form.
