Post Merchants winner Splash Gold has his third run after a rest
Gr2 Betting World Merchants over 1200m at Kenilworth on Sunday
With top jockeys from around the world once again taking on our local boys, it’s sure to be a very exciting day at Kenilworth on Sunday. The Gr2 Betting World Merchants tops the bill and with a full field of twenty going to post, it’s not going to be an easy puzzle to solve, writes Steve Furnish.
Shouldering top weight of 61kg is last season’s J&B Met winner Past Master. A winner of six of his thirteen outings to date, Past Master is more often than not seen out over further, but it is worth noting that he has won two of his three starts over today’s distance and those successes include victory in the Gr2 Diadem Stakes last season. He undoubtedly has a shout if at his best, but he is making his seasonal debut here and will no doubt be primarily aimed at forthcoming top grade events over further.
Uncle Tommy
Past Master won the Gr2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m last season
As well as Past Master, trainer Darryl Hodgson is also represented by Uncle Tommy. This 4yo son of Kahal showed good improvement towards the back end of last season and he has been progressing nicely in his two starts in this campaign. He is now taking a big step up in class and at the weights does have a bit to find. He did win well over the course and distance last time out though and now having his third run after the rest further improvement can be expected.
Dean’s Bid
The highest rated of trainer Dean Kannemeyer’s two runners is the Goldkeeper gelding Splash Gold. In command of a fair turn of foot on his day, Splash Gold had a number of today’s rivals behind him when winning the Gr2 Durban Merchants over today’s distance in his penultimate start last season. He was reported as not striding out when contesting the Gr1 Mercury Sprint next time out, but he has shown his well being in his two starts since his return in October. Indeed, Splash Gold ran up to his best rating when running on over 1000m last time out and now having his third run after the rest further improvement can be expected.
The Shark is rated 14 points inferior to Splash Gold by the official handicapper, but he is getting that amount of weight from his stable companion here. The Shark progressed quickly after winning his maiden over 1200m last October and caught the eye in particular when flying up late to beat the duel guineas winner Solo Traveller in a pinnacle event over today’s distance in July. He may well have needed the outing when fourth to Variety Club in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m on his seasonal debut last time out and he too could still improve plenty.
Rushing Wind commands a very powerful turn of foot.
Mike’s Big Five
With four of trainer Mike Bass’ five runners being ridden by top jockeys based outside of the Western Province, determining his best performer on the day is not that easy. Anton Marcus does have a very good record when riding for the stable though and his mount Rushing Wind does certainly have the ability to win a race like this. A bit of an enigma, Rushing Wind commands a very powerful turn of foot and has flattered only to deceive on several occasions. He was running on stoutly with Marcus on board when third in a conditions event in his seasonal debut over 1000m last time out and as well as stripping fitter here, he is sure to appreciate the extra. Rushing Wind was finishing by far the best when third in this race last season. Expect a bold effort.
In terms of bare ratings, the highest rated of Mike’s Quintet is Captain’s Secret. Up there with the best of his generation as a youngster back in 2009, this son of Captain Al won four of his first seven starts. Since picking up a conditions event on his return from a nine month break in Oct ’10 he’s failed to win in twelve starts and although he has run some cracking races in defeat, others are preferred.
The 4yo Castlethorpe progressed nicely towards the backend of last season and after completing a very smart hattrick in Cape Town he went on to run a very creditable fourth to Dancewiththedevil in the Gr1 Gold Challenge at Clairwood. Castlethorpe has gained four of his five career victories over 1600m though, and yet to score over a trip shorter than 1400m, he hasn’t raced over sprint distances since his first two career starts.
After cruising in by nine on debut back in Apr ’10 Sports Coach showed himself to be up there with the very best when only run out of it late by Link Man in the Gr1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Scottsville next time out. Since then though, he has undergone two lengthy layoffs and after a running on steadily on his return from the latest of those breaks in September, he was reported as making a respiratory noise when well beaten in the Matchem Stakes last time out. Sports Coach has his third run after the rest here and although he could still improve considerably if all is now well, he is perhaps best just watched for now.
Last but by no means least of Mike’s runners is Delago Deluxe. The winner of last season’s Gr1 Gold Medallion, Delago Deluxe was unbeaten prior to his third placing to Depardieu in the Gr3 Cape Classic on his return from a five month break last time out. He did run very close to his best rating in that his first outing for his new stable though and interestingly, he was going beyond sprint distances for the first time in that event. Delago Delux is very fairly treated at the weights here and being a 3yo he does have much greater scope for improvement than most of his rivals. A serious runner.
Joey’s Trio
One of three runners from the stable of Joey Ramsden, Copper Parade runs on nicely on his day, but he has only managed to win one of his last thirteen starts. He is certainly capable of making his presence felt in a race like this though, as he showed when a runner up in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint over today’s distance in July, and he did show his well being when running on over 1000m on his return from a three month break last time out.
The 6yo Shades Of Indigo has won five of his thirteen starts over today’s course and distance and although he has rarely been seen in feature race company, he would be thereabouts if at his very best. He’s been performing below par for quite a while now though and having failed to finish better than seventh in his last eight outings, he cannot be fancied here.
Formerly with Charles Laird, Curved Ball won the Gr2 Dingaans in just his third career outing and at that stage of his career he looked to be a top sort in the making. After winning the Sea Cottage Stakes next time out though, Curved Ball was reported as lame on the off fore when fourth in the Tony Ruffel Stakes and is set to race here for the first time in twenty months.
The Girls
The only two females in the race are both from the stable of Justin Snaith. State Blue has marginally the higher rating of the two and she was at the top of her game going into her current three month break. She won particularly well when beating her stable companion in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes over today’s trip last time out and usually one to race handy nowadays should be thereabouts if fully tuned up.
At first glance then, Dance With Al would look held on that latest run behind State Blue, but it is worth noting that prior to winning this race last season that Dance With Al could only finish sixth in the Champagne Stakes. Returning from a three month break here, Dance With Al has followed exactly the same route as she did last season and could well be involved again.
Wethreekings
Since landing a pinnacle event in December, the veteran Wethreekings has been battling to make his presence felt. Indeed, he’s only managed to make the frame once in seven starts and although he would be thereabouts if at his very best, he’s very unlikely to find friends in the ring here.
Natal Raiders
Here for the season, Natal based trainer Dennis Drier has gotten off to a good start in Cape Town and he is represented by both Never Forever and Phantom Fighter here. A winner of just three of his seventeen starts, Never Forever is yet to find the winner’s enclosure in anything other than a plate race. He has run some very good races in defeat though, as his fifth placing to August Rush in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint in his penultimate start will attest. He does usually find himself outpaced at the business end of a race though and was very harshly treated in my book when receiving an eight point penalty for that effort in the Mercury,
Much more likely to be a threat here then is Phantom Fighter. Third in the Natal Guineas back in May, this lightly raced son of Jet Master progressed very nicely last season. He was only 1,8 lengths behind The Shark on 2kg worse terms over today’s distance at Greyville in July and could still improve plenty.
Captain Harry
Lightly raced Captain Harry has won both outings over today’s course and distance. He’s been campaigned over 1000m since returning from a six month break in September and having won one of those and beaten less than a length when out at the weights in the other, he is clearly very well. Captain Harry now has his third run after the rest and with further improvement surely forthcoming now back over 1200m, he has to be a runner here.
Wild Shot
Although Stephen Page’s charge has more often than not been campaigned over further, he has gained three of his six career successes over 1200m. He showed good improvement during the course of last season and he did show his well being when fourth to Uncle Tommy on his return from a four month break last time out. This son of Strike Smartly is now taking a big step up in class, but he could make the frame if fully tuned up.
Copa De La Rey
A tremendous servant to connections, the 9yo Copa De La Rey has gained all of his eleven wins in soft going. The latest of those successes was way back in Aug ’09 and although his trainer Mike Stewart is in very good form at the moment, he cannot be seriously fancied here.
About The Pace
With a number of very useful couplings amongst the full field of twenty going to post, the pace looks sure to be on. That should suit those running on and most likely to benefit are Splash Gold and Rushing Wind. Post Merchants winner Splash Gold has been coming to hand nicely since his return to action in October and should now be cherry ripe having his third run after the rest. He gets the vote.
