Dennis Drier can get off the mark for the Cape season with Ante Omnia in the opening maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow.
This R3 million purchase made a promising debut at Scottsville last month, starting second favourite and beating all except the more experienced Apollo’s Gift. “He has done nicely since but he is looking for further,” cautions Drier.
Sean Cormack’s (pictured) mount opened 16-10 favourite with Betting World yesterday and he was also favourite, but at 22-10, with World Sports Betting which is to sponsor the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Flying Ryan (7-1 with BW but only 5-1 with WSB) has similar credentials to Ante Omnia in that he was second on his only start in a good Kenilworth maiden, albeit he went off at 50-1 and cost only R80 000. “He has come on since then but he had ten days off after his innoculations and deworming so he could be fitter,” says Glen Puller.
Whisky Baron (best priced 4-1) was only inches behind him that day so he should also not be left out of consideration while Psycho Syd (also 4-1) has gone close in his last two.
The Best Of Me, who ran way below his best at Durbanville last time, drops in trip and that looks significant. “He didn’t like the course and he didn’t see out the distance,” says Mike Robinson of the 12-1 shot.
Drier sends out Supreme Dynasty for the All To Come Handicap and Cormack’s mount has won the last three of her four starts. They were on the Greyville polytrack and the most recent was seven months ago. “She wintered badly,” says Drier, explaining the reason for her absence and adding that she is likely to need the run. Her 15-10 price doesn’t really take that into account
Hot Affair (8-1) has a lot of ability but she was most disappointing last time. “She was very sick afterwards – she had a virus,” says Robinson. “She is well now but I haven’t given her a grass gallop so she just might need it.”
In the circumstances Sunset Tripp at 6-1 is taken to beat her shorter-priced stable companion Acaciawood (4-1) while Justin Snaith has a lot of confidence in the once-raced Black Arthur in the Soccer 6 Maiden. “We think he is a very good horse and we are expecting big things from him,” says the season’s leading trainer. “Of course he has got to prove it in a race but he has come on since his first run.”
Black Arthur, who finished with only two behind him first time out, opened at 16-10 with Betting World and 33-10 with World Sports Betting.
Snaith’s Secret Seven had Arabian Winter four lengths behind at Durbanville when both were hampered. Taking into account their respective draws Arabian Winter may be able to reverse the placings in the Rugby 5 Maiden.
There is precious little to choose between Arctic Blast and Shenyang in the Soccer 10 Maiden and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount gets only marginal preference. But he is a better price – 5-2 against the 14-10 available about Arctic Blast.
– Michael Clower
