Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Reconcile ready to score

BRENDAN PATHER

It’s been an action-packed Cape summer season thus far and the programme does shift down a gear this weekend but most on-track patrons are likely to stay until the very last as the South African champion jockey, Andrew Fortune, is carded to make a belated first start of the season in the ‘get out stakes’ at Kenilworth on Saturday. The tremendous effort Fortune had asked of his mind and body last season did take its toll on the Cape Town-born hero. But his legion of home-based fans will be buoyed by his name appearing in the ninth race at Kenilworth and his ride, Tokai, is likely to start a warm favourite.
Considering Tokai’s current form and running style, it would be no surprise to see Fortune deliver the goods. Besides Fortune’s return, there are also two Listed races for fillies and mares carded – the Sun Classique Handicap run over 2 400m and the Jamaica Handicap over 1 700m – both sponsored by the Cape Breeders Club. The Sun Classique Handicap has attracted a small but competitive line-up and recent form suggests that there is not much between most of them.
Reconcile ran a cracker in her last start against the boys over 2 800m in the Durbanville Cup when 2,25 lengths behind the improving young stayer Thanks John. She looks well in here back against fillies, she obviously stays well and looks the one to beat. Reconcile also has her first start for the Glen Kotzen stable, a yard that has built a reputation in recent times of extracting immediate improvement from their acquisitions. Gilmore Girl just failed to get to grips with Desert Mirage over this track and trip last time and there should not be much between the pair on this occasion. Gilmore Girl, who has been steadily progressing in Cape Town and looks primed for this race, may just have the edge on this occasion. The class in the race is Sangria Girl. She has been campaigning, albeit without much success, against the boys this season and she usually shows up well when facing her own sex. Her trainer, Greg Ennion, has lacked ammunition this summer and his stable has been on the quiet side of late. Sangria Girl has the class to win this though and she warrants respect in spite of her moderate recent form. Mike Bass has three in the race and all of them enjoy racing up with the pace. This should ensure a decent gallop which should suit the proven stayer Reconcile who is selected to outdo Sangria Girl with all of Gilmore Girl, Desert Mirage and Gay Fortuna worthy of a spot in quartet bets.
The Jamaica Handicap is a bit trickier to decipher with quite a few improving youngsters taking their place. A chance is taken on one of them, the Paul Lafferty trained Teresina who, on the evidence of her last win, is possibly better than rated. Teresina was receiving 2,5kg from Secret Pleasure in a Graduation Plate last time and made all to hold off the latter by 1,5 lengths over 1 800m at this track. Being a Graduation Plate win, the handicappers were forced to cap Teresina’s merit raise at 6pts and she is therefore a further 2,5kg better off with Secret Pleasure back in a Handicap. Secret Pleasure was coming off a short head defeat in the Odessa and a commendable effort in the Cape Fillies Guineas from a wide draw and could have been a bit flat in the Graduation Plate. But the turnaround at the weights is hard to ignore and Teresina could well be worth sticking with despite being up in class. Are We There Yet held off the highly-regarded Bass-inmate Croc Valley easily in her first start back from a long break and the three-year-old daughter of Dynasty is open to further improvement. Katici Princess comes here on the back of three wins and a 5,35 length defeat to River Jetez getting just 3kg. That sort of form, together with the scope for further improvement, makes her a big runner at this level. Summerley, Bayard Crown and Prima Donna are decent four-year-olds that are close to each other on recent form. All three are capable of winning at this level but a chance is taken on the youngsters to fight this out with preference for the potentially well-weighÿ¿O

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