Alistair Cohen
For an out of season raceday, on what is likely to be a soft track, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth hosts a hot card today. With two minor features to headline the action, racing fans should be treated to some fun as the dust settles after the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the TAB Jubilee Stakes over the weekend. Just a reminder, minor races that were carded for 1200m down the straight will be run over 1250m around the turn. This could literally produce anything.
Please Be True is rated 30 points lower than the highest mark of Sugar Mountain off 122. He should carry 15kg less than the well-proven Sugar Mountain according to strict handicapping. He carries 10,5kg less but his runs since a break have been revealing that he must be close to breaking into the winners’ box. Plus, Sugar Mountain has not been at the peak of his powers of late. Please Be True could be the horse to side with in race 7, the Winter Mile.
Please Be True returned from a three-month rest in late April. He was run in a sprint and gave a pleasing reintroduction over a trip short of his best. He stayed on beautifully behind Give It Laldy beaten by only two lengths. His next start was the adequate step forward when he finished second behind Chasingtherainbow over 1400m at this course. He is 2kg better off with Chasingtherainbow who was so ready. That should give Please Be True enough hope to potentially turn the deficit. Muzi Yeni takes the ride. There are few riders worldwide as effective as him at 51kg.
Major Master is undoubtably on the up. He beat the super-consistent Boogiefied last time when the runner-up had close to the perfect setup on a soft track and fit. Major Master has always hinted that there was something in the locker and eventual progress to come. He may have arrived slower than ideal but he is not out of place at feature race level especially here. He comes from the in-form yard of Candice Bass. Aldo Domeyer takes the ride.
Chasingtherainbow wrote his trainer and owner one of the stories of the year when he won last time. He recently transferred to the yard of Rob Barrett who took out his license a few months ago. He was Barrett’s first runner and he won with ease, possibly delivering his career best in the process. He is owned by Barrett’s grandfather. There was not a dry eye in the house. Richard Fourie retains the ride. Life is a little harder at the weights but there is no reason to suggest that he cannot win.
The Us Of A could be in the right place at the right time in the supporting feature, the Winter Sprint over 1200m. Being a feature, this will be down the straight. He has a blistering turn of foot. He has showed his effectiveness at this level and Richard Fourie gets the most out of him. His main rivals have their claims but valid reasons why they might be vulnerable for now.
His last run was a superb effort finishing second behind Café Culture over this course and distance in the Listed Champagne Stakes. Café Culture was narrowly beaten in the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last month. That level is hard to run away from.
Dance Variety is wildly inconsistent. He was safely behind The Us Of A last time and his slight swing at the weights might not be enough to turn the form around. He is not the easiest to judge due to his issues. No result would be a surprise with him.
All The Rage could ultimately end up being the best horse in the field. The three-year-old had little chance at the weights in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes last time but he was not disgraced finishing sixth behind Questioning who has had an unreal 2026. He is back from a break and not being seen in nearly four months suggests he will step forward with the run. This is not his “cup final” and his bigger picture could be revealing.
Jewel Mule ran a fair debut that gives hope for progression. She finished third, five lengths behind Sparkling Star over 1000m at this course. She is back over the same course and distance in race 1 which she should win. Fourie is up for Vaughan Marshall. There are some potentially nice debutantes who could be worth monitoring.
Saratoga Sunrise might be a run from figuring it all out but he made enough of an impression on debut behind Bachata to expect good improvement and suggest a winning chance. He was nowhere at the start but he did well to run past most of the field to fill fifth place behind a horse deemed good enough to run at feature level this Saturday past. He runs in race 2 over 1250m under Champion Jockey elect, Craig Zackey.
Mente Et Manu and Handsome Prince look set to fight out race 3 over 1400m. Mente Et Manu could have a slight edge due to a favourable draw. His last run was a little flat but he had travelled between Cape Town and Gqeberha. They can run flat after a travel up the Garden Route. Keep an eye out for Miami Summer who is back from a break. He is reported to have a lot of class but returning from over six months off, he strikes as a better proposition next time.
Race 4 over 1400m will not supply something to Grade 1 level. Something will win. Miss Attitude for pure consistency could end up as the right one. Trainer Adam Marcus has had an excellent year thus far. Draw No 7 is not ideal but her biggest asset is versatility.
Black Cheetah has not run with the class he finds himself against in race 5 over 1250m. Who knows how draw No 9 is going to work with the ideal of the outside of the course possibly being exploited. Mickaelle Michel rides. This horse started his career with a bang. He went into the population of winners with a high rating which has taken a while to fall. His recent form suggests that he must be at a place of opportunity. Kelp Forest must be considered as his main danger from gate No 1. He likes a soft track.
Super Viking looks like he is ready to break out of this low level and salute in race 8 over 1600m. He was penalized for being a narrow loser in his last run when going down a nose to Trip To Camelot. He looks less exposed than his opposition and he could confirm his recent upward trajectory.
Apricity has been hinting at a win lately. She loves a soft track too. After winning about a year ago, she did not feature on a hard course but as winter struck, life has been found. She went down by half a length in her last run behind Raffish Trend over 1500m at this course. She runs over 100m further in race 9 and she stands out as the horse to beat under Keagan de Melo.
