Kapteinspandiseile can play to the right tune for Mike Robinson and Richard Fourie in the 1 400m maiden at Kenilworth today.
Both men are bang in form – the Philippi trainer had a double last Saturday when Fourie notched up a four-timer – and the way the gelding ran over a furlong less here three weeks ago suggests he is the one they all have to beat.
“He doesn’t show us too much at home and so we expected him to finish about four lengths off the winner,” recalls Robinson of last time’s head second in a field of 16. “What got me excited was the turn of foot that he showed. Richard is very confident.”
Richard Fourie (Liesl King)
The three-year-old was a 13-1 chance that day but he opened 18-10 favourite with World Sports Betting on Monday. The dangers, on both form and betting, are Gadget Man and R5 000 bargain basement buy Icon King. Both opened at 7-2.
Secret Idea may get favourite backers off to a good start in the first although there have to be concerns over Greg Cheyne’s mount dropping in trip because he finished well over 1 200m last time in a manner that suggested he should be going over further, not less.
“It was an added-in race and I see those as easy pickings,” Justin Snaith explains. Apparently the National Racing Bureau sometimes finds that an extra race is needed when they finalise the declarations. They then quickly ring round the trainers, some of whom may not be available, and the result is a relatively weak field of after-thoughts.
Secret Idea was 12-10 favourite yesterday with stable companion The Right Road next at 28-10 but Snaith says that this newcomer has not yet been on grass – or at least he hadn’t been by last Saturday. The biggest danger may come from 11-2 chance Trojan Quest,
There is almost nothing to choose between Silver Laurel (5-2), Keep The Faith (22-10) who is taking a significant step up in trip, and Sandy Bay (28-10) in the Racing Association Maiden. The last-named will run out a convincing winner according to the sahorseracing computer.
Joey Ramsden has a big chance of following up with Colorado Rose in the next but fellow 28-10 shot Possibly Me is preferred. Fourie’s mount is going over extra ground and significantly Glen Kotzen says: “It was a little bit short for her last time.”
Lyle Hewitson flies down for six rides for Paul Reeves plus one for Darryl Hodgson. “He hasn’t ridden for me before,” says Reeves. “I was struggling to get jockeys to commit so I thought I would try somebody new.”
He gives several of the six place chances but points out that some are drawn too wide. Maybe Rebel’s Idol in race seven will prove best.
By Michael Clower
