Andrew Harrison
Cats Pajamas has always been up there with the country’s top sprinters and he gets a chance to show his mettle when he lines up in the African Holly Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and could prove to be one of the better bets on a bumper 10-race programme in spite of facing some speedy opposition under a big weight.
The Rafeef gelding has his first run for Nathan Kotzen and is the second-best weighted behind regular visitor William Robertson who is something of a course specialist.
Cats Pajamas has not been out since late November where he contested a Pinnacle Stakes race at Turffontein when under the care of Frank Robertson and running a commendable two-lengths off the smart Minogue who was in receipt of 8 kg.
Prior to that he had solid form behind the likes of I Am Giant and Gladatorian but his best recent effort was a two-length fourth in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint at WFA behind Buffalo Storm Cody.
Given that Kotzen has him close to his best, he could take some beating. But as mentioned he is up against a course specialist in William Robertson.
The gelding has been a soldier for Corne Spies, winning 15 races and getting his just rewards when winning the Gr1 Computaform Sprint last season.
His form since then has been a little patchy since but he has been forced to shoulder big weights. He finished second to surprise winner Captain Bombshell in this race last year and given that he is the best weighted, he should make a spirited bid.
Tony Rivalland saddles the speedy King Of The Gauls who finally showed his true ability last time out when sprinting home unchallenged on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly. If he can carry that form back onto the turf he should also be in the firing line as he is super quick.
Of the balance, Convocation is seldom far back but jumps in class and in spite of her light weight she should be out-gunned.
Wild Justice will be looking to follow up on his recent victory when he lines up in the B Stakes, next on the card.
Gareth van Zyl’s colt has won three of his four starts and still looks to be under the handicapper’s radar. However, he is 3kg worse off with Garth Puller’s runner Major Tommie on their last meeting and will need to up his game if he is going to confirm the placings although the trip also seems to be in his favour. Circumbendibus was a winner all the way to the line at his last start before being snaffled on the line. He has come good of late and should be a contender. Dark horse could be Cowboy Country. He is lightly raced and has shown some promise. With his handy weight he should at least feature prominently.
Mark Dixon sends out Master Du Rouvray in the C Stakes over 1950m and the gelding has not been out of the money in his last five starts including two wins. He has a fair weight but looks capable of going in again. Biggest danger could come from High Queue who has been in good form for his new stable since arriving in KZN and finished runner-up at his last two. The blinkers are back on and this trip suits. Spectacular is seldom far back and with a 4kg claimer aboard should be competitive in this line-up.
An interesting runner on the day comes in the first, the KZN Futurity Plate where two-year-old ace trainer Mike Miller saddles Master Magician. The Summerveld dogs were backing long before he made his debut with touts not slow to clock the gallops in spite of Miller and he assistants back in bed before most start work in the mornings. Master Magician was super impressive on debut and was well supported in the market. He could prove hard to beat unless there is a springer in the form of a couple of unraced runners.
Andrew Fortune makes the trip from Cape Town and Blue Steel can pay for his air fare. The Candice Bass-trained gelding arrives with some promising Cape form and could prove too strong for this field although it is a competitive line-up where Dubai Dude and Eastern Highlands are among the main contenders.
The opening leg of the Pick 6 is an open maiden over 2400m. Day Two has only had three starts and steps up in trip. He was not far back in a useful maiden field last run and if he stays he should at least be in the placings. Doug Campbell saddles Peeping Tom who has shown signs of coming to hand at his last two and the step up in trip may suit. Window To My Soul has been consistent over shorter of late and if he stays the extra he will be a big runner.
In the fifth, Gareth van Zyl sends out La Maddalena in a tricky handicap but his filly has improved since being tried over ground and comes from an in form stable with a handy galloping weight. Curious Girl disappointed when favourite first run out of the maidens but that was on the poly. She can make amends back on turf and is one to watch in the market. Fine Wine caused a major boil-over when winning first up out of the maidens but she has made recent improvement. She gets a 4kg claimer aboard and could go in again.
The final leg of the Pick 6 is an open handicap but Fascination was caught late at her last two and only has 51kg to shoulder. Light Of Gabriel landed the odds narrowly when coming from a long way back to snaffle Fascination on the line. She is now 2kg worse off but given her style of racing, she can deny the handicap as she is lightly raced and still improving. Tomyris goes back to sprinting but is smart on her day. This may be on the short side but she is definitely not out of it. Winter Rainfall has not been out of the money since arriving in KZN. She too is better off at the weights with Light Of Gabriel and can send Fortune back to Cape Town in high spirits.
