Cot Campbell seemingly remains the real deal despite managing only sixth of nine when odds-on for his debut at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)

Chris Snaith warned this paper that the R3.3 million colt would need the run and he ambled out of the pens with about as much urgency as a pensioner going to the post office. In no time he was six lengths last and, although he made up the leeway, he was a spent force by the time he met with interference almost on the line. Even so he was less than three lengths off Pen-Chan, trained by Eric Sands for one-time Sporting Post columnist Rose Leheup.

“You can put a line through that,” said Jonathan Snaith. “This is a horse to follow and you can expect major improvement next time.”

Kingston Passage, on whom Greg Cheyne completed a double, was already in many punters’ notebooks even before making all in the Kieswetter brothers’ Whisky Baron colours in the 1 000m handicap.

“He is a sprinter with a hell of a lot of gate speed and he has his races won at halfway,” said Brett Crawford. “He will stay in Cape Town as the Durban programme doesn’t really suit sprinting three-year-olds.”

The recent Ramsden two-year-old dominance continues with Lily Theresa benefitting from Donovan Dillon’s subtle change of tactics (“I decided to put her behind something and it made all the difference”) to take the stable’s tally to 50% of the last 14 Cape Town juvenile races.

The stipes have instructed Riaan van Reenen to ensure that he continues to race Mistico’s Secret with blinkers after the almost formless filly served up a 16-1 shock under Grant van Niekerk in the Racing Association Maiden.

Van Reenan explained: “She developed a low-grade airwave disease and couldn’t finish her races. I managed to fix this problem but it was still in her mind so I put blinkers on her here and that worked.”

The Warm White Night filly is a half-sister to Gold Medallion winner Seventh Plain but, related the trainer, she is so small that he was able to buy her for Mike Wall for only R100 000.

Craig Bantam and his 4kg claim (worth four lengths over a mile) are becoming an increasingly valuable commodity and his all-the-way success on Benjan for Candice Bass-Robinson in the finale means that he has now had a winner at six of the last seven Kenilworth meetings.

There were some unusual starting prices returned on Saturday, notably on the Aldo Domeyer double – 72-10 for Call Me Darling and 61-10 for Step Out. Nobody seemed to know why.

‘Now wait for the rain’ was the message from Vaughan Marshall after MJ Byleveld led over 100m out for a convincing win on the Truters’ Tiger Warrior in the mile handicap. “He will be much better when there is a cut in the ground – and I’m sure he will win again,” said the Milnerton trainer.

By Michael Clower

Kenilworth Saturday Apr 8 tips and race previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: PEN – CHAN has placed in both his races to date and has obvious winning claims but the field is packed with unknown quantities. COT CAMPBELL is by Trippi out of Ebony Flyer – WOW! What a pedigree and she cost a massive R3,300,000 at the Cape Yearling Sales 2016 – she could be absolutely anything – watch the first timer comments and the betting market to see which unraced are fancied and which aren’t. ROYAL MARINE can earn his first quartet cheque. (Warren Lenferna 4-1-7)

Race 2
Preview: LILY THERESA showed good improvement in her second run and of the raced runners here, looks very hard to beat. In saying that, there are some well bred juveniles making their debut and it would be wise to keep an eye on the betting and the first timer comments from the respective trainers. SAVAGE GARDEN (By Choisir) and ABOVE ELEVEN (By Captain Al) could be worth including. (Warren Lenferna 6-8-1)

Race 3
Preview: It will not be easy for KINGSTON PASSAGE to take on older harder knockers but I do believe that this son of Western Winter is something very special and can record the hat trick. He is only rated fourth on the speed ratings but I think he is way better than that and have therefore made him my confident first selection. OVAR has solid form and ran well behind his stable mate last time – big runner. STARFLASH gets some valuable weight off his back from a claiming apprentice and that will bring him right into the equation but they might all have to go some to beat Kingston Passage from the Brett Crawford yard. (Warren Lenferna 5-3-1)

Race 4
Preview: RUNAWAY REBEL is well tried but again meets a weak field – she has the ideal opportunity at winning her maiden this afternoon and looks to be the right one. WATERBABY is lightly raced and probably has a lot more scope for improvement so it would be advisable to include her in everything – she could actually just about win, if Runaway Rebel fluffs her lines. ETERNAL NIGHT was slow out last time by two lengths and got beat a quarter of a length- unlucky. She will need to confirm her recent improvement but cannot be ignored. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-1)

Race 5
Preview: MISS D’ ARAY drops from a mile to 1400m again and this could be what she needs to win as last time, she found no extra late. She will get some valuable weight off her back from apprentice Akshay Balloo. MEANINGFUL LOOK tries the 1400m trip for the first time and should have no issues seeing it out – her two runs over sprints thus far have been good. She is learning how to race and a big effort looks on the cards. DARING MISS is much better than her last run suggests and she is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 1-8-2)

Race 6
Preview: ZANZIBARIAN showed encouraging improvement from run one to run two – he really tried hard all the way to the line but just couldn’t peg back Platinum Prince and came out second best. His winning chances look bright today. KAPTEINSPANDIESIELE has disappointed a few times but is never far off and should win soon. TIGER WARRIOR ran on really well last time suggesting that he won’t be a maiden for too much longer. (Warren Lenferna 11-1-2)

Race 7
Preview: SISTER SOOZIE won her maiden well last time, is lightly raced and can follow up. KEEP THE FAITH put her bad penultimate run behind her last time when finishing third – she led for most of the way but was very game in defeat. Trainer Glen Kotzen has a strong hand here with four runners – ALL MINE could be the best of the bunch but in saying that ANGEL OF ATHENS, STEP OUT and TENDER TRIP all have some sort of chance – include them all in the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-1)

Race 8
Preview: DORSET NOBLE made a smart debut over a mile and followed that up with an impressive maiden win when tried over 2500m – he is well bred and it is interesting to see him running back first time out the maidens over a shorter distance. Nevertheless, he won well and looks very progressive and could prove a hard horse to beat. ARABIAN DYNASTY also won his maiden well when tried over 1800m – one gets the feeling that he still has a bit more to offer and has to be given a big chance here. IN THE JUNGLE comes into the race with a low weight and he brings some fair form with him. He seldom runs a bad race and is always just off the winner – do not ignore his chances for the minor money. (Warren Lenferna 2-5-11)

Turffontein Saturday Apr 8 tips and race previews by David Thiselton

Race 1
Preview: RUMBAVAR is drawn better than he was last time when run out of it by a good sort and he should also have benefitted from the run as it was his first since returning from Cape Town. DESERT RHYTHM is drawn in pole and should stay the trip but he does have to give the other runners weight as the only winner in the field. SPRING POETRY made a fair debut and can earn over a step up in trip which should suit. (David Thiselton 4-1-6)

Race 2
Preview: SEVENTH OF JUNE has run two moderate sprints but looked outpaced and should relish the step up in trip, so as an unexposed horse in a weak field is taken to win from a good draw. SOLDAT has shown enough to win this weak race. ISLAND VIEW made a fair debut and should improve. (David Thiselton 10-1-8)

Race 3
Preview: FRIKKIE has a good chance here if settling with the blinkers back on. FORTUNE FELLA is better than his last run and loves this course and distance. KING OF BLUES has been knocking on the door over staying trip and can get it right here. (David Thiselton 3-2-4-7-6)

Race 4
Preview: ALI BON DUBAI ran a fair race last time over 1450m and being by Lateral should love the step up in trip. AL HAMD has been disappointing but has enough form to earn here. KING’S KING moved up well over 2000m last time but couldn’t match the winner and should enjoy  this slightly shorter trip. (David Thiselton 2-1-4-3-6)

Race 5
Preview: ROYAL VARIETY improved with blinkers and can follow up on his easy maiden win from a good draw.  APPROVAL MODE is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. MISSION CONTROL is always thereabouts and has now dropped to a competitive merit rating. (David Thiselton 5-2-4-3-1)

Race 6
Preview: DI MAZZIO won well on debut and looks likely to enjoy this trip. RIBOVAR was gaining late against a good sort over 1200m on Sun Met day so should enjoy this trip. AUSSIE AUSTIN should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree and has a plum draw with Strydom up. FLEMINGTON was slow away last time over 1160m and won going away so should stay the trip. LIFE IS GOOD is a fair type who might have needed his last two runs. (David Thiselton 6-2-5-3-1)

Race 7
Preview: STATE STAR impressed on debut over 1160m and being by High Chaparral should enjoy the step up in trip. AL DANZA is the best weighted horse and her full-brother The Captain’s Tune won twice over this trip for this same stable. VISUALITY didn’t enjoy Cape Town but bounced back to form upon her return and wasn’t disgraced in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-7-4)

Race 8
Preview: OH MY DARLING is a classy sort who can rise above her current merit rating. SHATOOSH has always had a touch of class and now has her third run after a rest over a trip she should enjoy and she is drawn well. SAMARRA won going away over 1450m last time and this gives hope she will stay this trip. SNOWDONIA is three points higher for her last win over course and distance and wasn’t disgraced last time in a strong Pinnacle event so she can do well from a good draw. TEENAGE DREAM is drawn in pole and distance suited. (David Thiselton 7-4-2-5-8)

Race 9
Preview: RUSSIAN STAR won well last time and being by Silvano will be coming into her own so could handle a seven point merit rated raise. INGA has a wide draw but drops back to the course and distance of her good win in February and is only two points higher in the merit ratings. ANGELIC APPEAL seldom disappoints when drawn well as she is here and she is only two points higher than her last winning mark and is affective over the distance. MISS WALES is coming into her own and could earn again. MOVIE AWARD wasn’t disgraced against stronger horses in a Pinnacle Stakes race over course and distance last time. LUCKY LULU could earn off a lowered ,erit rating. (David Thiselton 4-2-1-11-3-9)

There is a low key meeting on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow and Rumbavar should give punters a good start.

This Var filly caught the eye in a couple of sprint starts in Cape Town and in her Turffontein debut she led from the off over 1400m and was only cut down late by the smart Aurelia Cotta. The latter has remained unbeaten after two starts. Rumbavar now has a good draw of two and should also have benefitted from her previous outing.

Weiho Marwing

The only winner in the field, Desert Rhythm, jumps from pole position and on pedigree should handle the step up in trip. She won her penultimate start over 1200m and ran an unthreatening fourth in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m last time out. She was beaten a length by Celestina in the latter race, although she was giving away 3kg, and Rumbavar beat Celestina by a length over 1000m down in Cape Town. Rumbavar will also be receiving 3kg from Desert Rhythm tomorrow and that should swing it in her favour.

In the second race Seventh Of June looked outpaced over 1000m last time and should relish the step up to this trip, so can win from a good draw. Soldat doesn’t come out too well on formlines here as he was beaten by Valado the last time they met over course and distance, but a lot of use was made of him that day and from this better draw can go close. Seventh Of June and Soldat are the fancies for the Bipot.

There looks to be a fair opportunity for punters in the third, over 2600m, with Frikkie. He is from the yard of Weiho Marwing, who is known as an outstanding trainer of stayers. The top class veteran Weichong Marwing is aboard, a further plus. Frikkie doesn’t have much luck with draws and jumps from out wide again but his style should make him tailor made for the Turffontein Inside track. He has an instant turn of foot, but has been seen to be out-lasted by other stayers over the long Standside track straight. On recent form he has the measure of his possible main danger here, Fortune Fella. The latter beat the up and coming stayer King Of Blues narrowly over 2400m in February and if weight for age changes are taken into account he is only 0,5kg worse so there is nothing between them.

In race 5 over 1000m Royal Variety kept up with a furious pace in a maiden down the straight over this trip last time out before sprinting into the lead and winning easing up. He has a chance of following up off a reasonable 70 merit rating from a good draw. However, Approval Mode is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance and has dropped to a competitive merit rating, so will be a danger.

The sixth is an interesting Graduation Plate over 1450m. The beautifully bred Di Mazzio, by the three-time Gr 1-winning middle distance horse Bernardini out of a half-sister to the European and Australian champion sprinter Starspangledbanner, drifted alarmingly in the betting on debut over 1160m but still won in courageous style. The drift was probably on the grounds he needed more ground so he can’t be ignored here despite a wide draw.

In the second of the Graduation Plates State Star is selected as she impressed on debut and should relish the step up in trip, while being from the Alec Laird yard she should come on from the run too.

She could be going places and so could Oh My Darling, a robust filly who impressed in her maiden last time out. The Western Winter filly can follow up in her first handicap start in the eighth from draw three over a suitable 1600m.

By David Thiselton

Although a model of consistency since joining the Laird yard, Monte Christo still gives the impression of being something of an under achiever but the poly could see the best in him the Hollywood Bets Handicap that heads the Greyville card tonight.

After a relatively quiet spell with stable runners few and far between in recent months, Charles Laird has returned with a vengeance and his runners dominate the race – in numbers at least.

Charles Laird (Nkosi Hlophe)

Laird saddles three runners, all at the bottom of the handicap, the best of the trio possibly Monte Christo. The Trippi gelding has been a beaten favourite at his last two outings but the switch to poly over his optimum trip could make him the horse to beat.

Further in his favour is a pole position draw and Serino Moodley’s claim sees him jump with only 51kg on his back.

But he does face a competitive field and the likes of Celtic Captain, Sea Fever and Never Settle will be lively threats.

Never Settle showed some promise when in KZN last winter and although winless in two starts during the Cape summer, he was a close-up second in a handicap sprint where he carried 61.5kg. However, the Kannemeyer yard suffered from a low grade virus all through the summer so it may prove prudent to ignore that form.

Kannemeyer runners generally go well on the synthetic surface and Never Settle could be a major threat to the chances on Monte Christo.

So too Celtic Captain and Sea Fever. Celtic Captain’s best recent form has been over ground but he has been effective over Friday’s trip but Sea Fever is in cracking form and has gone well on the poly. He also finished ahead of Monte Christo when last they met but is 3.5kg worse off in the weights which will make his task difficult.

Monte Christo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Just Ask Me, Mr Roy and Rikitikitana are also not without hope but Monte Christo has a lot in his favour.

The World Sports Betting Middle Stakes has attracted a competitive field of sophomore fillies and with the Cape raiders already having made their presence felt one may need to tread cautiously.

However, Duncan Howells saddles Accidental Tourist who made good improvement in blinkers last time out and she has run some cracking races in stronger company. She has the benefit of pole position draw which is always a bonus over this course and distance.

Silver Willow has been in good form for Glen Kotzen and has yet to run a bad race. She was a beaten favourite over the Kenilworth ‘mile’ last time out and can make amends even though this will be her poly debut. She has also drawn alongside Accidental Tourist so Anthony Delpech and Keagan de Melo will be watching each other’s every move.

By Andrew Harrison