Alistair Cohen

Nothing gets the pulses flowing more than opening a card and expecting exotic bets to pay handsomely. Largely good-sized fields on a standalone Saturday and a few puzzles to solve invariably means that some lucky punters could be in for a day to remember. All of those factors mesh at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today.

One horse who catches the eye is Spirit Of Levana in race 8 over 1500m. She could start at a reasonable price. A once Grade 1 raced two-year-old, she totally lost her way, perhaps due to the fact that the handicapper might have gripped her from settling at her level or perhaps she simply did not train on. After a long time of patience and a rating drop of 26 points, life seems to be back on her side. Trainer Glen Kotzen has brought her towards winning form.

She won her penultimate run which came at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. She quickened from last and she easily accounted for Noon Day Gun by 0,75 lengths in a course which was running fast. Her last run came over 1800m and that is probably the end of her range. She was never a threat.

In November Spirit Of Levana ran 4,9 lengths behind Regulation who is towards the top of the boards for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. That run alone must bring her into the equation. The biggest kicker is that she is ridden by Bavish Soodoo who rode her to victory when she saluted in her penultimate effort. He clearly got a tune out of her and the quiet, balanced ride seemed to have worked wonders. His 2,5kg claim has her carry only 53kg.

My Only Weakness hails from the in-form yard of Adam Marcus. Her form suggests that she is ready to win having produced a fourth, third and second in her last three efforts. She jumps out of draw No 1 which will help her cause to no end. The best version of this filly would make her the horse to beat. Calvin Habib is carded to take the ride. He has been doing most of the Marcus duty lately.

Girl Magic is certainly no pushover and she seeks a hat-trick of wins after looking rather moderate at the start of her career. She seems to be going from strength-to-strength and interestingly, Andrew Fortune takes the ride. He has a good knack with a few in this race including the useful Hunga Tonga who must have claims. One needs to respect the decision of Fortune to step aboard Girl Magic. Perhaps the handicapper has not reached her yet.

There are three evident chances in race 1 over 1200m and it will take a serious first timer to win. Tag And Release has demonstrated a superb turn of foot in his two starts to date and he could be ready to step up and exit the maidens. He was all at sea on debut but he still found a late flourish to finish second before he found some impressive youngsters in his second start when he finished fourth behind Kalahari King. Tag And Release has run his races in a pleasing manner finding his feet late after initial signs of greenness. Corne Orffer rides for Greg Ennion.

Enticement should blistering pace on debut when she finished second behind Grapes Of Wrath before a flat run at her second attempt when she crossed the line in third. It seems like she has found the right event in race 2 over 1000m. As opposed to a race earlier, she could be vulnerable to a debutante but she brings the best form to the equation.

It is so refreshing that apprentice races are more common around the country. The first of three comes in race 3 over 1000m. Sicily must have a huge winning chance. He does not bring formlines that make headlines having run nicely in some weak races but this is perhaps weaker than who he has run against. Breven Plaatjies is back in Cape Town after a few months in the wilderness and he has found himself with a good book of rides. He steps aboard for Lucinda Woodruff.

There are four evident chances in race 4 over 1200m. In order of preference, Lucy’s World, Blue Lagoon, Future Red and Scandalize make a good impression and they all have the numbers to suggest a win is around the corner. Lucy’s World might just have a slight amount more improvement to come. She is a two-year-old so disclaimers apply about whether she is physically ready to take on her elders who have claims but she has made a good impression in her two runs to date.

The second apprentice race is not strong. Bonne Bouche is given the narrow verdict in race 5 over 1200m. Her last start showed a pleasing second behind True Horizon over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Young Damyan Pillay seems to have a knack around the tracks in Cape Town and he is carded to ride. Crucially, he rode her last time and familiarity can make such a difference in apprentice races.

A chance is taken on Elegant Noble in race 6 over 1800m. If he was drawn better than gate No 13, he would be a banker but his task is made complicated. He has Richard Fourie aboard which helps his cause. Trainer James Crawford has done wonders with this horse. Not long ago, his career seemed in tatters but a near two-year break has given a win and plenty of pleasing performances. In late January, he finished fourth, 4,55 lengths behind Note To Self over 2000m. Note To Self is hyped as a Hollywoodbets Durban July contender.

Winter Pirate is a two-year-old with some promise. He runs in the final apprentice event, race 7 over 1000m and he gets Blaine Marx-Jacobson in the irons. If he can turn over these older horses, he has a very bright future. He accounted for Tag And Release last time over this course and distance. If Tag And Release wins earlier, it will enhance any confidence in Winter Pirate.

There are a good few chances in race 9 over 1400m. If Charlie Bucket settles in running, he could get an overdue reward for consistency. He has been his own worst enemy but so have some of his rivals. Ferryman could have won on debut if he was wiser. His second run was flat. Mercenary has found traffic problems more often than not otherwise he would be running away from maiden opposition. A lovely race to end.