David Thiselton

There was a big days racing at Kenilworth winter course on Saturday and the main race was won by the lethal Brett Crawford and Luyolo “Louis” Mxothwa combination.

There were respective feature doubles for Andre Nel and Grant van Niekerk, and feature success too for  Justin Snaith, Glen Kotzen, Candice Bass-Robinson, Greg Cheyne, Corne Orffer and Keagan de Melo, while Drakenstein Stud extended their record number of individual stakes winners for the season to 17.

In the Grade 3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes over 2400m the Piet Steyn-trained Gem King was attempting to become the fourth horse to land the winter series triple crown. He runs in the colours of Marsh Shirtliff, who part-owned two previous winter series triple crown winners, the Mike Bass-trained Pocket Power and the Piet Steyn-trained Katak.

Only seven runners lined up and the pace set by Baratheon was sedate from the off. Gem King was caught wide early and Richard Fourie had no option but to rein him back to his normal position in last place.

In the straight Gem King was switched to the outside. However, it was soon clear he had little left, because the exceptional turn of foot he had displayed in the first two legs was absent. Has sire Master Of My Fate would likely have stayed this trip, but his dam Gem Queen’s (Damascus Gate) two wins were over 1200m, and the best of his siblings, Hammie’s Hooker, was a sprinter miler type. 

It is likely he simply did not stay because the sedate pace coupled with the short run in of the winter course did not stop the big and rangy Brett Crawford-trained Trippi colt Winchester Mansion coming from joint-last under Mxothwa to win by half-a-length down the inside.

The horse who had sat in the box seat, Thefutureisbright (Futura), stayed on for second.

Third-placed Top Quality (Dynasty) was a touch unlucky as he was hampered slightly by the hanging pacemaker Baratheon when making his run and this big, powerful horse looks one to follow.

Winchester Mansion, who had finished second to Gem King in the Grade 3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m, is a progressive Drakenstein homebred. He provided the high-flying stud farm with their 23^rd stakes win of the season achieved by 17 individuals. 

Earlier, the Andre Nel-trained Sabine Plattner homebred Twice Over filly Young Love won the Listed WSB River Jetez Stakes over 2400m under Grant van Niekerk. In the straight she came from midfield and drifted to the outside to join the pacemaker Maria Querol, whom she beat by half-a-length, with the rest of the field in a different race 6,75 lengths further back.

It was a pity Young Love missed the second leg of the series over 1800m, won by Maria Querol, because she won the first leg, beating Going Up by 0,40 lengths.

The latter is a Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Ridgemont Highlands-bred daughter of Gimmethegreenlight owned by the Hollywood Syndicate and at Saturday’s meeting she won the Listed WSB Bet With The Best Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m under Keagan de Melo.

Earlier, Nel had scored the first leg of a feature double when the Legislate filly So Flawless upset the applecart by winning the Listed WSB Sign Up Now Ladies Mile, running on strongly from midfield under Corne Offer at 16/1 odds. Her stable companion Fusillade (Black Minnaloushe) had started favourite, but despite being on the rail from pole position she had little cover throughout, as the pacemaker Do Angels Cry stayed slightly wide, and she could only manage fourth place.

So Flawless is owned by Plattner and was bred by GJ Armitage.

The most impressive winner of the day was the Justin Snaith-trained Light Speed, a big, rangy son of Gimmethegreenlight, who won the Grade 3 WSB Langerman over 1500m from start to finish under Grant van Niekerk.

The Langerman for two-year-olds is the first pointer to the crop’s classics.  

Light Speed bounced out very well from pole position and Van Niekerk was soon dictating in front.

The Brett Crawford-trained Port Louis, also by Gimmethegreenlight, moved up threateningly in the straight, but Light Speed had plenty in the tank and drew away again to win by a comfortable 1,75 lengths.

Light Speed is owned by Thomas Lines and was bred by Maine Chance Farms.

The Listed Irridescence Stakes over 1500m was won by the Glen Kotzen-owned-and-trained Jackson filly, Bonika, who was ridden by Greg Cheyne. She was bred by AN Foster.

It was Kotzen’s seventh stakes success this season.

Devonne Govender 

The Paul Peter trained Peteca looks set to deliver in the opening leg of the Pick 6 on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. He has a plum draw and if adopting the front running tactics he employed last run,  they will have to play fetch. He’s now stepping up in trip and a bold showing can be expected.

Although there are dangers in the race the card looks tricky overall and you have to go light in the Pick 6 in one of the legs and this could be the race.

Clean Slate in race two is holding solid form and will be running on strongly at the finish from a tricky draw. The Garth Puller trained three-year-old son of Time Thief is holding form and gets the services of Serino Moodley.

Wulfton is a massive runner here from the Frank Robinson yard and the 1600m step up could be ideal. Muzi Yeni has ridden him before so he will be looking to go one better this time around. Include in everything. Death Blow is never far back and has a plum draw of one and is likely to be there abouts.

Mckenna Skye in the sixth is holding solid form and comes from an inform yard. Warren Kennedy knows her well and a big run is expected. Sean Tarry saddles Imbewu whose form speaks for itself. Richard Fourie has been engaged to ride and he is riding with loads of confidence and it wouldn’t surprise to see imbewu fighting out the finish.

Corner Crusade in the seventh can be difficult but gets a good draw of three with Cole Dicken up once again and he will be looking to go one better this time around after running two seconds on her. Hatta is never far back and warrants respect with Rachel Venniker up.

Overall, it’s a very open looking card and healthy dividends could be on offer if structuring your bets correctly.

Race 1

8 GUEST GETORIXX  2  LADY CHOCOLAT  5  ADDIENA  9  AUTUMN SPIRIT

Difficult to assess the depth of form here and if there is any support for unraced runners they must be taken into account. (8) GUEST GETORIXX is overdue and looks the right one on paper. (2) LADY CHOCOLAT is making steady progress and should be respected. (5) ADDIENA has never been far back but does come of a slight break so cannot be discounted.(9) AUTUMN SPIRIT could get involved with a strong rider aboard. (11) GET IN THE Q is not out this despite the wide draw and went off at 28-10 in her last start. (Devonne Govender 8-2-5-9-11)

Race 2

11 CLEAN SLATE 4 WULFSTON 1 DEATH BLOW 10 GALAXION

11 CLEAN SLATE is holding solid form and will be running on strongly at the finish. (4) WULFSTON is a massive runner here and the 1600m step up could be ideal. Include in everything. (1) DEATH BLOW is never far back and has a plum draw of one. (10) GALAXION takes on older rivals but has scope. (Devonne Govender 11-4-1-10)

Race 3

1 PETECA  5 LIKETHECLAPPERS  7 FILL YOUR BOOTS  9 MONSIEUR CHEVELLE

(1) PETECA has been expensive to follow. He has a plum draw and if adopting the same tactics as before when almost leading start to finish he could win this. (5) LIKE THE CLAPPERS deserves respect and although finishing behind PETECA has scope to improve on that.(7) FILL YOUR BOOTS comes of the same form line and shouldn’t be too far back.(9) MONSIEUR CHEVELLE could get involved. (4) NATIONAL DREAM lightly raced and is one to watch closely (Devonne Govender 1-5-7-9-4)

Race 4

8 RUNNING RIFLES 1 SEA MASTER 2 JUNGLE JUNCTION 9 MR PIGALLE 7 WAQAAS

(8) RUNNING RIFLES is knocking on the door for that 2^nd career win. (1) SEA MASTER is holding solid form and has a plum draw in his favour. He warrants healthy respect here and it wouldn’t surprise to see him win. (2) JUNGLE JUNCTION will be suited to the step up in trip. (9) MR PIGALLE is a very honest type and another good effort can be expected. WAQAAS is holding form with a good rider aboard.(Devonne Govender 8-1-2-9-7)

Race 5 

5 PATRONAGE 2 RUNAWAY SONG 1 SWING UPON A STAR 3 BLOOMINGTON  4 DOUBLE MARTINI 9 RALPH THE RASCAL

(5) PATRONAGE is ultra-consistent and a bold showing can be expected. (2) RUNAWAY SONG is holding form well and will be right there.1 SWING UPON A STAR  has a plum draw and handy weight.(3) BLOOMINGTON represents highveld form and must be respected. (4) DOUBLE MARTINI is another consistent sort and cannot be discounted. (9) RALPH THE RASCAL gets the 4kg claimer up and is another who will give a good account of himself in this very competitive handicap. (Devonne Govender 5-2-1-3-4-9)

Race 6

(5) MCKENNA SKYE  (3) LEE EXPRESS 6 IMBEWU (1) PETRA  (2) LADY YUSRA (12) ANOTHER LOVE

(5) MCKENNA SKYE comes from an inform yard with solid form to her name. (3) LEE EPXPRESS is another who represents highveld form and is a must include. (6) IMBEWU is holding solid form and deserves respect.(1) PETRA gets the best of the draws with a strong rider up. (2) LADY YUSRA is capable of a big finish and cannot be ignored. (12) ANOTHER LOVE gets an eye-catching jockey booking and should be thrown into the equation. (Devonne Govender 5-3-6-1-2-12.

Race 7

3 CORNER CRUSADE 2 HATTA 9 CAPRIANA 4 QUEEN MERCURY

(3) CORNER CRUSADE is holding good form and can go one better. (2) HATTA is never far back and should be right there. (9) CAPRIANA ran a cracker in her last, a repeat performance will see her in the frame. (4) QUEEN MERCURY has been consistent lengths wise and can be included in quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-2-9-4)

Race 8

1. ILEIGH’S FATE 1 GIMME A LULLABY 12 PERFECT APPEAL 10 NEW ORLEANS

(11) KILEIGH’S FATE is holding form well and will give another good account of herself. (1) GIMME A LULLABY is never far back & must be included. (12) PERFECT APPEAL has good form lengths wise and must be respected with a top rider aboard. (10) NEW ORLEANS is capable of winning again. (Devonne Govender  11-1-12-10)

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