Alistair Cohen

There was little wrong with the way Gimmie Rules ran in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in mid-December. He took a huge leap in class from impressing in good handicaps to the highest level in quick time, not necessarily the way trainer Dean Kannemeyer generally prepares his top horses. He takes on a good field in race 7 over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

Gimmie Rules hold an entry for the L’Ormarins Kings Plate and for the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, both Grade 1 showpiece events. This entry suggests that Kannemeyer is going to play the long game with him and either seek out the Lucky Fish Cape Derby or KwaZulu-Natal’s Champions Season. 

His last effort was also against the Kannemeyer blueprint. Untested at feature race level, he went straight from a good level against older horses to Grade 1 level. There is no disgrace beating quality like Handsome Prince in the manner he did in his penultimate run. Behind them was now 120-rated Jet Force. He finished a 3,35-length fourth behind runaway winner, Jan Van Goyen. Craig Zackey reported that he feels “a bit thick in the wind” in the feedback video filed on Race Coast’s YouTube page. Perhaps everything came a little too soon for him. There is no doubting his class. He should have a bright future. Even this result will not define him but it will give a short-term plan some clarity.

Captain West is such a frustrating horse. There is limitless ability but he has failed to deliver. From excellent runs at a high level to similar finishes against weaker. His last run was a good effort when he was forced to make the running after an initial slow pace. He stuck around to finish less than a length behind Ardabil over this course and distance. He is 2kg better off for 0,4 lengths. That should turn the form around.

Kinda Wonderful is also worth considering even though winning comes at a premium. Her last effort was a good run behind an underdone superstar in the form of Double Grand Slam in the Summer Bowl. She finished ahead of fine rivals like Rainbow Lorikeet. With 55,5kg on her back, Kinda Wonderful should be in the mix.

Treetops put up a neat debut last month and with likely improvement, he could win race 1 over 1200m. From an in-form yard of Lucinda Woodruff, he finished 6,55 lengths behind Loving Prague over this course and distance. Woodruff is not known to get stuck into them for their debuts. Chad Little is carded to take the ride. Protector Of Peace is hinting that a win is around the corner and he must be the main danger although he seems to be exposed as a maiden.

Whirlwind has a lot of improvement to follow, and with her third career start, she could be ahead of rivals struck at their low levels. She returned from a three-month break in her last run and she never looked out of first gear when beating her stable companion, Panjandrum over 1000m at this course. James Crawford has resisted the temptation of taking on a higher grade and kept her in calm waters. She looks the horse to beat in race 2 over the same track and trip.

Sugar Daddy and Mercenary look set to fight out race 3 over 1600m. Sugar Daddy ran close-up to Give It Laldy who runs later in the card last time out and his progress from his debut to his second start is exactly what a winner would look like at their third runs. While Mercenary has slightly less impressive numbers from three runs but he did run into traffic in his last run over this course and distance behind Chance Encounter. He still finished fifth, 3,9 lengths behind. That form will be under the spotlight in the next two races.

If the race that Chance Encounter won comes up trumps, Frequent Traveller becomes hugely interesting in race 4 over 2000m. He finished second from a poor draw of No 12. That was his career best, and he made good ground over 1600m, suggesting that this extra trip will suit him ideally. He finished marginally ahead of his stable companion Fort Liam last time. They meet again. It is hard to run away from Eric Lidell who had zero luck last time when left with too much to do and flying home to finish second behind Fast And Free. All three have good winning chances.

Fast And Free has his post-maiden run in race 5 over 2500m. He could become a good prospect if all those pieces of the puzzle fit in the two preceding races. He won like a horse who will appreciate all the distance trainer Glen Kotzen can throw at him. Craig Zackey takes the ride. If he is ready straight out of the maidens, he can double the dose.

Blind Date gets the services of German rider, Rene Piecheluk in race 6 over 1600m. He has taken his time to fill out and mature, hence he might have been slightly underwhelming by not winning races since exiting the maidens. He might have found his opening to hit his groove. His last two runs have come against progressive three-year-olds Viva’s Liberte and Ireland Forever. If he does not win, he should be right in the money. Red Dawn is a useful horse but he seems held by Blind Date while Give It Laldy will be tested out of the maidens but he could be up to the task.

Supreme Fate won with a degree of ease in her last run toppling over some three-year-old fillies held in high regard. She had age and an inside draw of No 1 on her side. She finds herself over the same 1400m course and distance as her last run and she must have a chance of going back-to-back. She takes a minor rise in class and as a result, she carries less weight than she did last time. Andrew Fortune is aboard for Justin Snaith.

Anything can win race 9 over 1200m. A chance is taken on True Horizon who gets Muzi Yeni aboard for Adam Marcus. She has gone down narrowly into third and second respectively in her last two starts over this course and distance.