The latest series of KZN Summer Chapter Challenge finals will be run this weekend, with the two around the turn being at Greyville tonight and the one down the straight being at Scottsville on Sunday.
The 1600m final on turf is wide open. Nineteen Fourteen would be a deserved winner as one who always gives of his best. He has finished a close third in the winter version of this race before at Clairwood. That was his only ever start beyond 1400m and he showed a good turn of foot, which took him to the front, but he was caught late. However, the five-year-old is now a year-and-a-half older and should see out the trip on the sharper Greyville track. Lastly, the draw has proved important on the Greyville turf track recently and he is drawn in pole. Red Rover is drawn nicely in five and on his last turf run over this trip, which was in this race at Scottsville a year ago, he has a chance as he finished third in that race just two lengths behind Way Of Light, who has gone on to win another three races.
Nineteen Fourteen (Nkosi Hlophe)
Diamond King’s best run was over course and distance when winning the Listed KZN Guineas Trial back in 2013 and he looked set for big things, but issues, mainly to do with muscles, have hindered him. However, these issues are largely behind him and he is due a win but the wide draw is against him. Baltic Amber is a talented sort who is distance suited and well drawn. Caribbean Day is known as a Scottsville 1600m specialist, but has in fact never run over the Greyville turf 1600m. The two courses are similar and from a good draw this never to be underestimated sort should be a contender. Those five make the most appeal and are selected in the order mentioned.
In the 1800m final Nicklaus is drawn in pole and looks sure to be primed for this suitable race. Night Shadow has relished being stepped up to this trip and beyond and has won his last two starts. Delpech now gets the ride from a plum draw of three. Qatar Springs has some class about him and will enjoy this trip, but has to handle a four point raise for his last win and is drawn very wide. Pure Valor makes some appeal despite being 1kg under sufferance. He enjoyed the step up to this trip on the poly last time and has always struck as one who has more ability than his current 71 merit rating suggests. Trainer Lowan Dennyschen also knows how to have them primed and the Dynasty gelding has a manageable draw of eight. The King’s Hand should be running on from a draw of eleven over a suitable trip and Crime Victim has the class to carry top weight but the trip is a touch sharp and he has a very wide draw. They are selected in the order mentioned.
In the other races on the night, all on the poly, Calabash caught the eye on debut over 1400m on the Greyville turf and could beat Bank The Cash and Samovar in the first over 1600m.
Red Rover (Nkosi Hlophe)
The second over 1600m is a weak event and Bare All could lead from start to finish under Delpech having run some fair races in Cape Town. The first-timer She’s The One is a half-sister to the fair sort Leeuloop Jet and being by Miesque’s Approval should love the poly.
In the third over 2000m, Oblivion has stayed on well over 1800m on the Vaal sand before and could be the one to side with in a weak race and Zilla has a shout if she stays, but is not a certainty to. Juds Express can also be considered.
In the fourth over 2000m, Silver Inspiration is the form choice and could beat home Timeforatiger and Yell.
The fifth is a Novice Plate over 1400m and Do Be Snappy is officially 5kg under sufferance with Translunar but has the action and breeding which should make him ideally suited to the poly and he also comes from the stronger Cape Town centre so his merit rating might be a tad suppressed. The hard-knocking Translunar and the only filly in the race, Mayfair, are first and second best in at the weights respectively and are both distance suited.
The sixth over 1400m is the Non-Black Type Fairway Couriers River Indigo Handicap over 1400m and Alice Springs faces weaker than she has been and could carry topweight to victory. Chennai Babe has been a revelation on the poly and is likely to make a bold bid for a hat-trick from draw three despite having been given a six point raise for her last win. Red Label is course and distance suited and well drawn.
In the 1200m Chapter Challenge final on Sunday at Scottsville, Thunderwood has some good form and comes in with a nice galloping weight over a suitable trip. Surefire is the only female in the race and is interesting dropped back to the distance of her only ever handicap win off a one point lower mark. Highway Explorer has some class and is course and distance suited. Apollo’s Gift looks to be a promising sort and will appreciate the step up in trip. The classy Split The Breeze is course and distance suited and is capable of carrying top weight into the money.
By David Thiselton
