Kenilworth (New Course) Sat Dec 10 Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: Majority first timers – watch the betting and keep an eye on the first timer comments. (Warren Lenferna)

Race 2
Preview: All runners are making their debut – watch the betting and keep a close eye on the first timer comments from the trainers. (Warren Lenferna)

Race 3
Preview: GEOGRAPHE BAY made a smart debut a month ago finishing third – she was green but certainly caught the eye and with natural improvement can win. There are many unraced horses in the race – keep an eye on the betting and the first timer comments. (Warren Lenferna 5-14-1)

Race 4
Preview: PILLAR OF HERCULES has solid form and rates the one to beat. The Andre Nel pair should give plenty of cheek all the way home. LA FAVOURARI and OVAR have good form and ability. (Warren Lenferna 3-1-4)

Race 5
Preview: RED GRANITE has improved with each run and should take a power of beating – she improved over the 1400m last time and gets the same trip again today. STUNNING SEED returns from a rest but has the improving form to be concerned in the finish if not in too much need of the outing. AMAZINGLY tries blinkers which could make all the difference and it would be foolish to leave her out the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 2-3-4)

Race 6
Preview: PARTY CRASHER ran way below best last time – felt amiss by the jockey and was checked by the vets and nothing wrong was found. It will be best to draw a line through that run and she can bounce right back to best. Her stable is in mustard form at the moment and she has a winning chance. PRIMROSE LANE and KRYPTONITE have to be included – their form is good. (Warren Lenferna 6-3-2)

Race 7
Preview: SOMMERLIED took over and drew off in the closing stages of the race last time to win in the manner of a very good horse! She impressed me and I will be rather shocked if she does not go on and reel off the hat trick. TRIPPI’S GIRL ran well enough last time behind Sail but takes a drop in distance which could be the right move for now – massive runner. AL DANZA is lightly raced, ran a cracker to She’s A Giver last time and deserves respect. (Warren Lenferna 3-7-5)

Race 8
Preview: The defending champion CARRY ON ALICE lines up here and she looks to be very hard to beat. She is the best weighted in the race by many points and to call a spade a spade – should win. REAL PRINCESS is a top mare as well and was a touch unlucky last time. She became cramped for galloping room and when finding a split took off like an e-type rocket. She has a big chance and this looks to be the exacta of the year! ANIME has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-10)

Race 9
Preview: GYRE is knocking very hard at the door and looks ready to go one better now. KENNY TRIX is so consistent that she always has to be given a chance – strong each way chance. THE SLADE is progressive and should be involved. (Warren Lenferna 2-4-3)

Race 10
Preview: Trainer Brett Crawford holds a strong hand here. ARABIAN DYNASTY has the form to be very competitive. He was a bit disappointing last time when beaten odds on favourite but he can make amends today. Stable mate GOLD COAST CAPTAIN should once again run well but one gets the impression that Arabian Dynasty has more scope. BARAK LAVAN has a strong place chance. (Warren Lenferna 8-1-2)

The Vaal has a ten race meeting on Saturday on the Inside Track, where low draws tend to be favourable and there are some interesting runners turning out.

Joan Ranger (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the sixth, an Allowance Plate over 1800m, two horses with similar records, Samurai Blade and Deputy Jud, clash. Deputy Jud finished third in the Gr 1 SA Classic last year and followed up by finishing second in the Gr 1 SA Derby. This year Samurai Blade finished third in both of those respective races. Samurai Blade disappointed in the Sansui Summer Cup, but was out a few days later and cruised to victory in a 1600m race at the Vaal. He will be the most race fit of all of the runners here and will relish this trip. He has Piere Strydom up and the only concern is the wide draw in the small eight horse field.

Deputy Jud is a horse who needs to have things go his way and he has landed the pole position draw, which gives him every chance of producing his best. He has had one run this season so will be more forward than the rest of the leading contenders. At the weights Samurai Blade is only 0,5kg under sufferance with Deputy Jud and Cool Chardonnay, who are the joint best-in. Cool Chardonnay prefers further but running fresh here could be interesting.

However, a horse who is under sufferance by 4,5kg, The Centenary, is preferred for a top three finish. She has a fine turn of foot and as one who stays further she should give a good account of herself over this trip despite having not run since the eLan Gold Cup on July 31. She has good form over middle distances too so is the dark horse, despite being the only female and having to carry top weight. Top Shot is 12kg under sufferance but is course and distance suited and can’t be ignored for the quartet.

Deputy Jud (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the ninth, a Progress Plate over 1200m, Joan Ranger looks to be the best bet on the card, although she is likely to go off at cramped odds. She was slow away in her penultimate start when carrying topweight over 1000m in the Listed Gardenia Stakes, and that cost her a top three finish. Last time out she finished just 3,3 lengths back in fourth against some of the best sprinters in the country, a fine effort. She has plenty of pace and should pack too many guns in this field where she is the joint best weighted horse together with Heaps Of Fun. The latter would prefer further, but is effective over this trip and she is in fact 1kg better off with Joan Ranger for a 1,65 length beating over 1160m in April in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes. However, Joan Ranger will be more forward than Heaps Of Fun, who is having her second run after a layoff.

The eighth race is an interesting MR 89 Handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1400m. French Legend looks to have a lot of class and is the one to side with despite a tough draw. Her last run in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile was a decent performance considering she was caught wide from a wide draw. Favour’s Pride was well beaten by French Legend in the Fillies Mile and is now worse off at the weights, but will appreciate the step down to 1400m and could be the main danger alongside the unbeaten All Over The World.

The seventh over 1800m is a tricky leg of the Pick 6, but Military Award does look to be a horse who can go places. He is drawn in pole and if he settles again, like he did last time, he can follow up on his maiden win over 1700m.

Punters should get off to a good start with Princess Aurora in the first, a Maiden over 1200m. She was clear of the rest when chasing a runaway winner last time over 1160m and looks to be improving. Piere Strydom is up from a good draw.

By David Thiselton

Carry On Alice is hard to oppose in the CTS Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow even though this is the star mare’s first race for six months.

S’Manga Khumalo’s mount was race fit when she won 12 months ago – admittedly she only got home by a short head – but she is 3kg (more than two lengths) better than the next best on ratings and she has three lengths-plus in hand over all the others.

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

“There is quite a bit to work with so she will need it,” cautions Sean Tarry who has his eyes on the Cape Flying Championship on Sun Met day. “But we are hoping that we can get away with it.”

Real Princess is the obvious danger as she is nearest on ratings and ran a cracker on her reappearance in a Pinnacle over this trip four weeks ago. She finished a length and a half second to Search Party who franked the form in no uncertain manner when so heavily backed in last Saturday’s Merchants.

Dean Kannemeyer’s charge missed that race because of an urticaria that now looks a blessing in disguise. “It was like a rash and she picked it up on the Friday evening,” explains the trainer. “She couldn’t run because I had to give her a shot of cortisone but she worked on Sunday. Ideally I would love to have another 100m or 200m for her here.”

Real Princess was beaten less than a length when third 12 months ago but she will be 2kg worse with the favourite this time.

Victoria Lavelle would be a major threat – she receives 2kg from the top two – but for the fact that this is her first race of the season. “She can still run a good race – she is a high class sprinter – but she might just need it,” says Justin Snaith whose Jo’s Bond is only rated a kilo below Aldo Domeyer’s mount. “We are just hoping for a place with her because at this level it could be a bit hard.”

Real Princess (Nkosi Hlophe)

Beach Goddess was a convincing winner of a competitive Laisserfaire over 100m further but still has something to find. “This is a bit on the short side for Beach Goddess but she is doing well,” reports Brett Crawford who feels that Carry On Alice is going to be very hard to beat and that her lack of a run may not make a significant difference over the minimum trip.

Scandal is on a hat-trick and has been raised 5.5kg for her last two Fairview wins. Theoretically that puts her into the shake-up but there is always a suspicion that Port Elizabeth ratings are suspect in Cape Town.

Rock On Baby beat only one home 12 months ago and, if Dennis Drier is going to cause an upset, it is more likely to be with Anime who won an FM 76 handicap over this trip in a manner that suggested she is capable of better.

BLOB Marinaresco has been installed favourite for the Sun Met ahead of his Green Point conqueror Legal Eagle. Betting World has him at 17-10 and Legal Eagle at 22-10 while World Sports Betting goes 2-1 and 22-10.

By Michael Clower

Greyville Poly Friday Dec 8

Race 7: [2] DANCE ON AIR appears to be a solid eachway (win and place) bet on tonight’s card at an opening price of 6/1 for the win and 12/10 a place. He was finishing strongly in his last start, over a mile on the Greyville poly, but lost momentum when forced to switch from the extreme outside to the inside of the track and only managed fourth position.
However, the formline of that race has worked out well with runners ahead and in-behind performing positively since (one winner, two seconds) and Dance On Air should have fewer traffic problems from a plum draw of three tonight.
Suggested Bets:
[win & pl] 2 Dance On Air [sw] 2 x 8

Gingerbread Man, unbeaten over course and distance, will be looking to keep that record in tact when he runs in the KZN Breeders Club Handicap over 1400m on the Greyville poly this evening.

Dean Kannemeyer (Nkosi Hlophe)

Gingerbread Man has taken to the poly and can go in again for his hat-trick even though he takes a rise in class as confirmed by Duncan Howells. “He’s a nice horse and is very well,” said Howells. “He does step up in class but should be right there.” However, the Ashburton trainer added a word of caution. “He’s no good thing!”

Newyorkstateofmind seems to be continually on the upgrade and is likely to be in the scrum again come the line. Sean Tarry’s runner came from well back to win again last time out and although he too takes on stronger he does have a claiming apprentice up. Charles Laird’s runner Dance On Air was a beaten favourite last start but did take on much stronger. He has also won over course and distance and is in with a definite chance. Bizjet most recent win was over course and distance beating Newyorkstateofmind and was narrowly beaten next time out so is another for the shortlist.

Howells has a second string to his bow and should Gingerbread Man disappoint, Roman Carnival could pick up the pieces. “He is well and very fit,” said Howells. “He has a decent draw and is over his best trip.”

In all the race looks wide open, as does the Synergy Marketing Partners Apprentice Handicap that precedes.

Des Egdes, with a winner on Wednesday in Dynamite Lady, saddles Just Rap under Julius Mphanya. “The draw is a bit of a concern especially in a race like this with all the apprentices. You never know what kamikazes will be out there. But she’s well and I think she has a decent chance,” he concluded.

Just Rap faced a good field last time out and prior to that was a close-up second over course and distance. Given some luck in running she should be right there. Stockade has consistent form over course and distance and from a good draw should also be there as Egdes intimated. A question mark hangs over Laird’s runner African Sunbird. She was given a stiff task first run out of the maidens and meets weaker here. She is back on the poly on which she shed her maiden. She may be worth another chance. Icy Spirit has been in good form since her maiden win and with a smart four-claimer in Denis Schwarz up she can go in again.

Gingerbread Man (Nkosi Hlophe)

Anton Marcus teams up with the Dennis Drier gelding Smart World in the CMH Kempster Ford Handicap that looks to be another tricky race. Smart World has shown his best form on the poly and a drop in class should at least make him competitive. Top weight Selvan’s Jet has taken to the poly and was up against stronger at his last two. He has a fair weight but will have a host of supporters. Tony Nassif arrives in town with Triple Beat who has improved since the blinkers were removed.

Nassif is one of the game’s eternal optimists but when he makes the journey from the Highveld it is worth taking note. Sambora let the side down in his six-week stint on the Highveld and has left Howells frustrated. “He doesn’t put in a lot of effort but has the ability. It’s a case of which Sambora arrives on the day.”

Place Accumulator punters can hopefully get through the opening leg with the Laird-trained Matresse. She was sent out an odds-on favourite on debut for her new stable debut but lacked extra late. The blinkers are back on over a shorter trip and she may be the one to beat although Gusheshe is much improved on the poly and was close-up from a wide draw last time out. The Kannemeyer yard has been on mustard form of late and the Australian import should prove the biggest threat. Arctic Swift has improved with each outing and found good market support last start. Marcus is off and rides Matresse but the blinkers are on.

By Andrew Harrison