The R250 000 Gr3 Matchem Stakes is a traditional early season launching pad for greater things as it gets the Summer Of Champions under way. The honour roll speaks for itself and the 2016 renewal looks set to provide some sparkling action.
The Matchem is probably best suited to the more classier venue of Kenilworth, where it was run until 2010. Some big guns have won this race and interestingly, two of the past three runnings at the country course show the names of new generation Summerhill stallions on the trophy!
Captain America – rested but a class powerful galloper
The 2016 renewal on Sunday looks unlikely to deliver any stallion hopes for the future with ten of the eleven runners geldings, but the quality is there with the standout class, the superb miler Captain America.
One of three Brett Crawford runners in the race, Captain America, a generally lightly raced fellow, returns from a 23 week break following an unsuccesful tilt on the Premiers Champions Challenge.
Brett Crawford – saddles strong hand
He is very well in here on the weight-for -age plus penalties conditions and can win it, if he is half ready. This will be his first appearance at Durbanville.
5-year-olds & older carry 57 kg, with penalties of 3kgs for a Gr1, 2kgs for a Gr2 victory and 1kg for a Gr3 win in the past 18 months.
Top Form
Captain America’s stablemate Sail South hit top form in the SA Champions Season , winning a listed event on July day.
The son of Sail From Seattle has also not run for a while – 14 weeks to be exact, and could beat Captain America if their ratings are spot on.
Third of the Crawford trio is the 18 week rested Midnite Zone who has plenty to do off his mark. The son of Trippi looks a decent sort in the making and may be worth watching in his next few runs.
Justin Snaith’s trio all return from their KZN campaigns and are likely to be slightly rusty.
The best of them may be Heartland who ran 4,20 lengths off Red Ray in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint 12 weeks ago.
Heartland ran a fair race in Gr1 company last time
The son of Dynasty is perfectly distance suited and ran second behind the brilliant Act Of War last year in this race.
Baritone ran a cracking fifth at level weights behind Marinaresco in the Champions Cup at the end of last season, and while seemingly held by Sail South on a previous clash, the son of Trippi could pop up fresh with a big try.
Ultimate Dollar has not run for 24 weeks and has had nominal racing recently.
Candice Bass-Robinson has Ernie and Rodney doing the business for her.
Both 4yo’s are capable of winning but have some ground to make up.
Rodney may the better as he is one of the few who will be racing fit after being humbled by the exciting Bishop’s Bounty last time.
Relentless galloper Blarney Bay runs from the 1 draw and is a real fighter
Mike Robinson’s 8yo Blarney Bay is a lionhearted front-runner and will enjoy the 1 gate. He has beaten Captain America previously, but looks hard-pressed to beat the top two on these terms.
Vaughan Marshall’s pair look longshots at best. Tomba La Bomba sparked at his penultimate run with a cracking third after a long quiet spell. He was slow next time and didn’t show. Dynastic Power returns from a poor effort in the Consolation July and will find this too hot for comfort.
Fitness
In a race where fitness clouds the issue, Captain America, Sail South and Rodney look the three to fight it out. Baritone is one we shouldn’t ignore, while Blarney Bay will be off like a dirty shirt when the gates are spring and he will be aiming to go all the way.
