Warren Lenferna
Nine races are carded for the Western Cape’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 15 November, with proceedings getting under way at 12:40pm. It’s an opportunity for the South African apprentices to strut their stuff, with the opener being an Apprentice Maiden Plate over 1000m.
There are, in fact, three races catering for the “Appies” on the day, which is brilliant to see — the more chances these young riders get, the better. The South African Jockey Academy continues to churn out talented riders.
There are only six runners in the first, and not too much good form to work with. That’ll B The Day looks ready to make today his winning day! He was beaten narrowly last time and is selected to go one better now. Apprentice Sifisokuhle Bungane gets the opportunity to add one more to his tally.
The second race is over 1000m at B Stakes level. It is a competitive race, as it should be, and four of the seven runners warrant inclusion. Black Cheetah is good but returns from a rest and has had a somewhat stop-start career so far. Still, he’s loaded with ability and can win. Winter Snap returns from a long 38-week layoff and, if fit and well, can go close — his form is encouraging. Little Boy Blue, from an in-form visiting stable, brings franked form from his last run and looks a huge runner who might be the one they all have to beat. Elusive Winter has won his last two, is going for the hat-trick, and might be hard to peg back — he is very, very fast!
The third race is also a B Stakes, but this time over 1400m. This looks to be an absolute “two horse race” between Gimmie Rules and Jet Force. The way Gimmie Rules quickened up from last to win at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time was hugely impressive, and he will end up being much better than his current merit rating of 98. He looks super talented and special. Jet Force, who has won three of his four starts, clearly has ability and looks a quality sort in the making. Big chance.
Race four is an Apprentice D Stakes over 1400m — a competitive and tough event. Include the field if your budget allows, as an upset could easily be on the cards.
Race five is over 1950m, a Class 4 where the benchmark is 82, and it runs at 3:00pm. Only two horses are needed for the exotics here: Coco’s Hero and Gallic Victor, both owned by Khaya Stables but trained by different conditioners. Coco’s Hero is improving and seeking the hat-trick. He found extra and dug down deep to win last time, fending off the challenge from Baton Rouge. Gallic Victor took everyone’s breath away when making a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. He then returned home to the Cape and caught the eye again when finishing second to a nice type. He could have improved so much off that run, that he proves hard to beat — another exciting three-year-old on the day.
Races six and seven both feature competitive fields, and cases can be made for many. Try to load up in the exotics, as these two look particularly tough to assess.
The penultimate race, the eighth, is over 1000m — a Class 4 where the benchmark is set at 82. Here, Churchilliansets the standard. The son of Rafeef out of La Volta is holding his form smartly and can notch up his next career victory. He’s having his second run as a gelding, and the third horse from his last start has since come out and won, giving the form a healthy boost. There are others with chances, but Candice Bass’s runner, partnered by Aldo Domeyer, looks to be the one they’ll all have to fear most.
The finale goes off at 5:20pm, another 1000m Class 4 event. Dame Of Trix, Inside Voice, Love Shack, October Fest, and Easy Money all have outstanding chances, but the first selection is Inside Voice. The Pathfork filly, from the Vaughan Marshall barn and ridden by her Hollywood owners’ retained jockey Sean Veale, impressed when winning her maiden — and even more so when following up straight out of it. She can be followed with huge interest and is another talented three-year-old to watch on the day.
