Snowdance has hardened from 14-10 to 12-10 as confidence in the horse grows prior to her first Grade 1 test in Saturday’s World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas.
Justin Snaith, bidding for his fifth win in the Kenilworth classic, reported on Saturday that Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount is in good shape, saying: “She is doing very well and her gallop was impressive. We still have a week to go but so far I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Liesl King)
Magical Wonderland, who has over four lengths to make up on last month’s Western Cape Fillies Championship form, is second favourite at 11-2 and the sponsor’s other prices are 10-1 Rose In Bloom, 12-1 Lady In Black, Love Supreme, 14-1 Via Seattle, Silver Thursday, 16-1 Too Phat To Fly, 25-1 and upwards others.
Snaith also has the favourite in the WSB Cape Merchants with Sergeant Hardy on 9-2 while last year’s winner Search Party is 5-1 to emulate Tevez by winning the ultra-competitive handicap in successive seasons. Tevez, fifth 12 months ago, is a 28-1 chance this time
In the WSB Green Point last year’s winner Legal Eagle (Anton Marcus) heads the market at 13-10 with the main threat expected to come from Piere Strydom’s mount Edict Of Nantes (28-10).
A notable absentee from the Green Point is Last Winter, unbeaten in four starts and at this stage likely to be a leading contender for both the Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.
Dean Kannemeyer said: “I wasn’t going to run him against those horses in the Green Point. He is rated 106 and all he has won is three minor races in Durban plus a handicap at Durbanville. Edict Of Nantes was rated only half a kilo higher before that recent progress plate and he won both the Cape Derby and the Daily News!
“But I know I’ve got to put Last Winter to the test one of these days so I will nominate him for the Premier Trophy on 16 December and have a look. He has never been to Kenilworth but I will ask permission to gallop him there on Saturday. He is doing well and I know Anthony Delpech thinks a lot of him.”
Also missing from the Green Point line-up is Horizon, third in the Daily News and beaten little more than half a length when sixth in the July. He will run in the Premier and has the Met as his big objective.
In the meantime last year’s winner Jo’s Bond and the 2016 Cape Fillies Guineas heroine Just Sensual head the 22 nominations for the SW Security Solutions Southern Cross Stakes on Saturday week.
By Michael Clower
