Justin Snaith goes for his fourth consecutive victory in today’s R150 000 Listed Woolavington Handicap at Kenilworth. The SA Champion saddles the Dynasty colt Jailhouse Rock and he looks a runner in an open race.
Justin Snaith bids for a fourth straight Woolavington
Lyle Hewitson is a rare Cape visitor on a sleepy Sunday and the SA Champion jockey takes the reins on Nancy Hossack’s and Jack Mitchell’s Jailhouse Rock, a two-time winner from his eight starts. The 4yo tries the trip for the first time and with a handy galloping weight of 52 kgs must have a shout.
Let It Rain – carries a lot of weight
Another son of Dynasty, topweight Let It Rain is one of the gamest stayers around but has to lumber 64,5kgs over the 2400m – a big ask. He gave his trainer his biggest career success to date when he won the Gr2 Cape Stayers in January. Since then he also won the Gold Vase at Turffontein with a spectacular end-to-end effort and will set a new mark in terms of weight were he to win here after a 15 week break.
The SP top-rated Ballad Of The Sea should be cherry ripe after catching the eye when chasing Magnificent Seven home after a five month break. The son of Teofilo has a ‘progressive stayer’ look about him and showed his class with a good placed effort in the Winter Derby last season.
Joey Ramsden – top staying trainer
Joey Ramsden is a top staying trainer and he saddles two runners – the first of which is Rock My Soul, a course-and-distance winning Twice Over gelding. His one run so far this season was a 2 length unplaced effort off July Consolation winner Head Honcho two weeks ago. He must improve and Morne Winnaar is lethal when riding them on the pace.
Benjan is a solid plodder who always finds something to beat him. His recent form suggests that he not be left out of calculations under his galloping weight and he looks to have the turnaround on Paddington on their last meeting.
Dean Kannemeyer has a historical excellent record in this race and he saddles the only filly in the field in the form of Tiger Ridge daughter Meryl. This classy 4yo was placed in the Gold Bracelet and the Oaks last term and prior to that beat the boys at Scottsville. She cannot be underestimated but her trainer feels she may need the run after 15 weeks off.
Meryl may just need the run
Woodland’s Forest is battling and does not pose a threat on recent form.
One of the busiest, oldest and most well exposed one-time winners in the country, the luckless Ollivander has enjoyed two reasonable prep runs after a break and would have a shout if he can drop his bridesmaid tag and run to his better ability. It is encouraging that Richard Fourie is in the irons .
Paddington may think he is racing without a jockey as he steps up in class and down the weight scale. Ossie Noach rides the unsound 5yo who scored a convincing boosting victory beating Benjan a half length last time out. He is 3,5kgs worse off with the Bass-Robinson runner and needs to confirm his revival of enthusiasm.
Sister Soozie ran a fair third behind subsequent Algoa Cup hero Magnificent Seven in the Listed Settlers Trophy and stays well.She could be held by Ballad Of The Sea on that effort.
So a tough race to call and we’d suggest that Ballad Of The Sea may be strong enough to hold Meryl and the dangerous Rock My Soul. It should be a true-run affair with a few likely pacemakers in the mix.
