Kasimir is a confident selection to follow up his Cape Flying Championship win in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting tomorrow.

The Justin Snaith four-year-old won the Cape Merchants over this course and distance in November but his performance on Met day was an eye-opener. Far from being inconvenienced by the 1 000m – as most people thought he would be –  he was able to hit the front over half a furlong out and stride on strongly to beat Bold Respect by almost two lengths.

He has definitely improved this season and should be able to confirm the form with the runner-up. The latter’s stable companion Search Party should not be faraway and don’t ignore the 2017 winner Trip To Heaven. This slow starter with the brilliant finishing speed has an extra furlong to find his feet following his Cape Flying fifth.

According to the handicappers Chimichuri Run should bounce back to winning form after disappointing in the Cape Guineas and the CTS 1600. They make him best by half a kilo, even before adding in anything for having Anton Marcus on his back. Personally I find this hard to swallow.    

The race is run six weeks later this year and so past results may not be quite as relevant but four-year-olds have won half the last ten runnings and only two favourites and one joint favourite have been successful during this period.

Kasimir opened 2-1 favourite with World Sports Betting on Wednesday and was 22-10 by noon yesterday with Bold Respect on 15-4 and Chimichuri Run a 9-2 chance. Search Party had been backed from 17-2 to 11-2 but nobody seemed to want to know Trip To Heaven who had drifted from 17-2 to 10-1.

Joey Ramsden has by far the best record in the Vasco Prix Du Cap, winning five of the last 14 runnings, and he can collect again with Rose In Bloom who has a theoretical 3kg in hand and is favourite at 33-10. She was a four-length sixth in the Majorca and before that had the speed to finish fourth in the Sceptre- and the last two weeks have shown local punters just what an advantage it is to have S’Manga Khumalo in the irons.

The bookmakers have a high opinion of the Dean Kannemeyer Graduation winner Silva’s Bullet and have her favourite for the Selangor Jet Master at 33-10. But Brave Move is the one with the form in the book and, despite a rather disappointing season so far, she makes strong appeal at 9-2.

Cedar Man (5-2), although under sufferance, may be able to turn the tables on 3-1 shot Dynasty’s Blossom in the Aeolus OTR Kenilworth Cup.

By Michael Clower