Captain America is in with a real chance of defying a seven-month absence in the aptly named Hollard Humdinger Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow.
The Horse Chestnut winner has a theoretical three lengths-plus in hand on merit ratings and Brett Crawford says: “He is obviously not at his best because we want him peaking in January but he has been on grass. He is definitely fit enough to run a good race and it wouldn’t surprise me if he won.”
KRA Guineas winner The Conglomerate has been off since the Durban July and, while Joey Ramsden’s treadmill gives him a big advantage, the trainer cautions: “He is a long way from being fully wound up and seven furlongs might be a bit sharp for him.”
The Mike Bass stable fields six of the 13 but it’s 11 weeks and more since any of them ran. Candice Robinson points to the trip being too short for some of the sextet and feels that Night Trip just might prove best as he is so well drawn.
Readytogorightnow is the best rated of the few that are provenly race fit but he has a coffin box of a draw – “We might have to drop him in but he is versatile and I will leave it to Bernard,” says Justin Snaith.
Blarney Bay is also fit and loves the trip but is not at his best on the fast ground. Mike Robinson disagrees, saying: “He looks like a mudlark but he is not and he will run a good race.”
Auditorium’s solid form makes him the obvious, safety-first choice in the first but don’t ignore newcomers Shamrock Skipper (a R450 000 Captain Al out of a half-sister to Vercingetorix) and in particular the Var colt Percival – “He is very smart and he can run,” says Andre Nel who has had five winners in his first five weeks and struck with a 50-1 first-timer on Wednesday.
Ramsden’s Free Agent is the form pick in race two but the potential shown by Purple Rock on debut makes him a more appealing bet, particularly now that he is stepping up in trip.
La Flambee, 100-1 when second on her first outing, missed a subsequent engagement because of coughing but she stands out in the Fig Fillies Maiden. “She is above average and, although it’s her first run for some time, she is doing well at home,” comments the in-form Adam Marcus.
The Tripster was quoted at 5-10 for the Prescient Maid In Pink Handicap in the TAB sheet forecast and at that price the top weight is worth opposing.
The one that stands out is Illuminator who showed an extraordinary turn of foot to win on debut, making up ten lengths in little more than a furlong. The third and fifth have won since and runner-up Arctic Blast was second on Wednesday.
By Michael Clower
Picture: Captain America (Wayne Marks)
