Bermuda Sloop – should appreciate the extra
Sun Classique Handicap (L) over 2400m at Kenilworth (new course) on Saturday
The best of the weekend action takes place at Kenilworth on Saturday where listed handicaps are the order of the day. Taking everything into account seven of the ten runners are in under sufferance in the mile and a half Sun Classique Handicap, but with a number of the younger improving females untried over the distance we could be in for a surprise, writes Steve Furnish.
Shouldering top weight of 60kg is last season’s Jamaica Handicap (L) winner Croc Valley. A winner of five races in total, Mike Bass’ charge is yet to score over a distance greater than 1800m and she was comfortably beaten in her only two outings over further, both over 2000m. Usually one to race up with, or close to the speed, this daughter of Western Winter has her third run after a four month break here and should now be at her peak. She undoubtedly has a shout on form over shorter, but will she see out the extra?
Satin Silver
As well as the top weight, the powerful stable of Mike Bass is also represented by the 4yo Satin Silver. This daughter of Commands caught the eye running on strongly on a couple of occasions prior to shedding her maiden tag in impressive fashion last March and it was no surprise to see her take her place in the Winter Oaks two runs later. She battled to fulfill that early promise after breaking out of the maiden ranks though, and it was only in her latest outing, a graduation plate over 2000m that her zest for racing appeared to return. Indeed, Satin Silver finished best of all in that event and she did have Audrey Rose behind her. On paper, Satin Silver has a very stiff task at the weights here. She is clearly much better than her lowly mark of 73 in the handicap would suggest though and already proven over the distance, she could surprise.
Inca’s Spirit
In all honesty a fair number of the runners making the trip from Port Elizabeth to contest Cape Town features in recent years have been optimistic entries to say the least, but that may not be the case with Inca’s Spirit. Mitch Wiese’s charge has won five of her nineteen starts on home turf and most significantly, her three latest successes have been gained over today’s distance. She was well weighted with most when beating the boys in a conditions event in her penultimate outing, but then she couldn’t have been more impressive when winning in handicap company, with an absolute ton in hand, last time out. Against Inca’s Spirit is that those latest three successes were all achieved in soft going, and she is undoubtedly taking on stronger here. She is clearly still improving though, and on that alone she must hold some kind of a chance.
Mary Hinge
One of two runners from the stable of Glen Kotzen, the Second Empire filly Mary Hinge has silently been progressing very nicely. Third in the Winter Oaks at the back end of last season, Mary Hinge showed good improvement on her return to action after a three month break in October. Indeed, she won her first two starts, the latter of which was over today’s distance at Fairview where interestingly, she had Inca’s Spirit on 0,5kg worse terms behind her. Mary Hinge was taking on the boys when only tiring late in the listed Durbanville Cup over much further last time out and now back against her own sex, over what could be her optimum trip, she could still improve.
roc Valley – Fairly weighted, but will she see out the extra?
Touche
Sean Cormack rode both of trainer Glen Kotzen’s two runners last time out and with him aboard Mary Hinge one would expect her to be the stable elect. Her lightly raced stable companion Touche has done absolutely nothing wrong though. She was finishing best of all when only beaten a neck by Audrey Rose in the maiden ranks a year ago and she did then show that she will probably appreciate today’s extra ground when again finishing best of all, despite being reported as not striding out, when a runner up to Valhalla. Off the track for nine months after shedding her maiden tag next time out, Touche has come to hand very nicely since her return to action in December and she was running on strongly at the finish when only beaten 2,2 lengths by the subsequent Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Thunder Dance in a graduation event last time out. She has her third run after the rest here and as with Satin Silver she is clearly much better than her current merit rating of 73 would suggest. She’s a runner.
Bermuda Sloop
Dean Kannemeyer’s charge took a little time to learn her trade, but after shedding her maiden tag at the sixth attempt in July she suddenly took off. Indeed, she ran on best of all when winning two of her next three starts and in the process earned herself a crack at both the Gr1 Cape Guineas and Gr3 Victress Stakes. She was undoubtedly below best in the Victress Stakes, but the manner in which she was running on when only beaten 3,55 lengths by the champion filly Princess Victoria in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas would suggest that there is still improvement to come. The extra ground looks sure to suit. Expect a bold effort.
Dubai Gina
The most lightly raced runner in the field, the Dubai Destination filly Dubai Gina has been progressing very nicely. Her two wins have both been gained in soft going and she is yet to race beyond 1800m. She had Bermuda Sloop a length and a quarter behind her when running on into fourth in the Gr1 Cape Guineas and although she has been beaten in handicap company since, she does appear to still be improving. The extra looks sure to suit Dubai Gina and in command of a fair turn of foot on her day, she could pop up.
Audrey Rose
Rarely out of the frame, the ultra consistent Audrey Rose looks sure to give of her best here. At her best from the front though, Justin Snaith’s charge has gained all three of her successes over 1800m and she has been comfortably beaten by other runners in this race in each of her two latest outings over further.
Flaming Dame
Also representing the Justin Snaith yard is the Jet Master filly Flaming Dame and she too has stamina doubts. Indeed, she is yet to win beyond 1600m and couldn’t finish better than twelfth in her two starts over further. She has sporadically shown signs of real ability though, most notably when running on strongly to take fifth just 1,9 lengths off A Daughters Legacy in last season’s Victress Stakes. She’s been coming to hand nicely since returning from a break in November and now having her third run after the rest it will be interesting to see how she goes.
Rushing Elf
The 3yo Rushing Elf is as honest as they come and thoroughly deserved her only success to date when breaking out of the maiden ranks at the seventh attempt three runs back. She’s been beaten comfortably in both of her post maiden outings and now considerably up in class and badly out at the weights to boot, she cannot be seriously fancied.
About The Pace
With a number of the runners having done well racing up with, or close to the speed, a fair pace looks assured. Although on paper the race should be won by one of the three at the top of the weights, there are a number of runners here who will appreciate the extra and have plenty of scope for further improvement. One such runner is Bermuda Sloop. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge gave the impression that today’s trip would suit when a winner over 2000m on the old course in November and the longer straight of the new course can only aid her cause. She gets the vote.
