The consistent Tiger Ridge gelding Jaguar looks the best hope of a hometown victory
Have horse will travel. Even to Kimberley. National log topping Cape trainer Justin Snaith and his stable jockey Richard Fourie head inland in a quest to plunder the spoils in Monday’s R100 000 Kimberley Classic to be run over a mile at Flamingo Park.
It is very rare indeed to see the Cape glamour boys deviating from their Coastal playground and even though they travel to a town without pity in an environment that is largely foreign and inhospitable, they are not going to visit the tourist attractions and their runners must be taken seriously.
The combination is riding high again this season and look set to break more records after their best ever winner tally last year.
The illustrious visiting presence and the bumper fields conjure up memories of the Kimberley cards of old, and the meeting should make for good racing.
Modest Field
That said, the 2014 re-newal of the Classic does not look a particularly strong race. There are mostly recent maiden winners and the overall form is not strong. That, together with the handsome stakes, is no doubt what persuaded Justin to pack his bags and take his chances. Last year’s winner Kingofmountain has gone on quite well, progressing with a further three wins and Cliffie Miller’s son of Ravishing has proven a model of consistency.
Miller saddles a trio of runners this time and the best of his may be the lightly raced Tobe Heather, who is named in honour of his partner, who also owns a share. Tobe Heather won at the first time of asking and ran on well enough in a weak fillies race over the course and distance last time, to suggest that she could play a role from her 2 draw here.
Top Rated
Our top rated runner is Dorrie Sham’s Princess Creo, who races for Greg Bortz and Bryn Ressell. The daughter of Kahal is the only two time winner in the race, but has been disappointing recently.
She would have to find her best form to challenge, but is another whose sand skills are largely untested. She has run only once on the polytrack, finishing unplaced and 5,60 lengths behind the smart stakes winner , Winter Fantasy
Snaith Duo
Justin Snaith travels into unchartered waters
Justin Snaith saddles the oddly named He’s A Nadoe and the Windrush filly True Gift, who has unfortunately drawn in Upington. Both have good enough PE Polytrack form to suggest that they could adapt to the new challenge.
He’s A Nadoe is a son of Stronghold, who was well thought of in his 2yo season. He is to be ridden by Richard Fourie. If we translate his polytrack form(sure we know that is not Kimberley sand) into collateral here, the likes of 2 lengths off a good sort like Bonnard starts looking like winning form.
He is drawn 12 but has the gate speed to overcome that and to go out front and make them gallop. Sherman Brown rides recent maiden winner, True Gift. She showed good pace on her two polytrack efforts and while no star, she could burgle place money. Her draw won’t make it easy though.
Jaguar Looks Best
Corrie Lensley’s lightly raced Tiger Ridge gelding Jaguar looks best of the local hopes. A winner of one race from eight starts, he has been a consistent placer since winning his maiden. He ran handily last time before being overtaken by Giant Strides and beaten two lengths.
He won a weakish maiden over 1800m, so should handle the mile. Corne Spies is a regular visitor to these parts and he saddles the well bred Western Winter gelding Campbell Black. The Varsfontein Stud bred 3yo is quite a looker and started his career off in style when well backed to win his second outing in impressive fashion.
He has found things rather tough and his recent form in four runs since does not inspire great confidence. It is worth noting that he ran handily and dropped out in his solitary sand effort. The rest look to have plenty to do.
Questions
If the Snaith runners adapt their polytrack experience to the local stuff, then we could be in for fireworks and He’s A Nadoe could pick up an overdue second win. If that doesn’t work according to the Snaith plan, then Jaguar looks the right one. He has not done too much wrong since trying the sand and is proven at this venue.
The July Diary
The countdown has begun in earnest for the Gr1 R3,5 million Vodacom Durban July, which is run on Saturday 5 July. The next log is being published on Tuesday 3 June, after second declarations on Monday 2 June.
Other key dates to diarise:
• Final Supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Monday 9 June.
• The July weights will be published on Tuesday 10 June
• Final declarations are due on Monday 23 June.
• The final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday 24 June.
• The compulsory public gallops are being held at 07h00 on Thursday 26 June at Greyville.
• A final field of twenty horses will be carded. (16 plus 4 reserves).
• The reserves will be scratched by 08h15 on Friday 4 July.
