Alistair Cohen
There is a fine mix of competitive, tricky races where punters should cast their nets wide and some races that look more straightforward prompting a little less budget to navigate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. After the action at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Saturday, the two-year-old department has taken prime discussion. The Listed Somerset 1200 has attracted a field of promising youngsters. Shezaripper is well treated at the weights and she could score an important win.
She was a candidate for the RCS Slipper last month but trainer James Crawford opted to keep her at home and target races on her doorstep. She hopefully has a long career ahead of her.
Her debut was stellar when she kept Sparkling Star at bay over 1000m at this course in February. They pulled far clear of third. Crawford handed her a gallop a few weeks before her potential trip to Durban for the Slipper but he clearly thought better of the riches and she was given a three-month layoff as a result of their decision to aim elsewhere. Her return was a good 0,75-length second behind Tag And Release over 1100m at this course. She is now 3kg better off with Tag And Release so that should give him the advantage over a horse with plenty of potential.
Mickaelle Michel is carded to take the ride. She visited Cape Town for the first time last week and went home with a winner. With an appetite and education for the course, she will have some confidence to navigate her way around.
Reef Runner was rumoured to be top drawer when he made his debut and he led with a dominant performance for a start to finish triumph. He weighs 530kg so he looked out of place with his two-year-old rivals. This is a big step forward from a shallow maiden to feature race level, but he could not have been more impressive for his three-length success. This race will not define him or his career, but a win would make him noteworthy for bigger features in a few months.
Tag And Release has to be respected by virtue of being the only feature race winner in the field. He won the Winter Nursery when he toppled Shezaripper. He is now hunted and his disadvantage at the weights is documented but it is hard to knock a confident horse with ability.
Grapes Of Wrath has been off since February but she was emphatic when she won on debut. She has more to beat. She is a half-sister to the brilliant Charles Dickens. A lot will be learned about her. A forward run would be a huge foundation for her career.
World Of Secrets showed enough improvement from her debut to her second start and she could claim race 1 over 1000m, the trip of her two runs to date. It was just natural progression halving her eight-length deficit to four lengths. Michel takes the ride for Paul Reeves. Nadia Nerina sticks out as the main threat after a fair debut when beaten by six lengths into third. Keep an eye on betting moves about the first timers.
Whirlwind is evidently climbing the divisions and she could stamp her progress in race 2 over 1200m. This will be her toughest task to date taking on class droppers like Call Me Secret, Pink Pigeon and Wild Applause but Whirlwind is lightly raced and she is establishing herself. She has a few appealing attributes like a high cruising speed and she can kick off that. This is her seventh career start and Richard Fourie (although obliged) is sweating to 54kg to take the ride.
Swift Serenity has finished runner-up in her last three starts. She is well overdue and she could finally exit the maidens in race 3 over 1200m. She has surely found the right field to beat. Her only danger is this trip. One would be more confident over 1000m because of her natural speed.
Race 4 over 1600m is a race that will not take much winning. This is a great opportunity for something battling to do the job. A chance of taken on Giddy Up Grace. She has hinted that she is better than her overall form. She hails from an in-form Candice Bass yard. Aldo Domeyer takes the ride. Her career best was over this course and distance when she was narrowly turned over by Lady Orbit.
My Only Weakness has not won for just over a year but her form has had her running just off winners. Adam Marcus has his string in good heart at the moment. She is 2,5kg better off with Cutie Patootie for a 1,6-length beating when they last met so that form should turn around. Plus, Cutie Patootie has pulled a deep draw of No 9. Calvin Habib takes the ride.
Girl Like Us is not a confident choice in race 6 over 1200m. This is one of the races on the card where just about anything can win. Again, her consistency leads one to believe that a win is just around the corner. Keagan de Melo has been riding superbly well especially over the last three months and his engagement will do no harm.
Blue Lagoon put up a pleasing post-maiden effort when she was a short head behind Easy Money over 1200m at this course. She is back over the same course and distance. She looked limited having taken six runs to win a race. She has some credit in the bank after her last run and she could be the horse to beat in race 8.
When Love Shack is given the verdict to win a race, one must be sure there are plenty of dangers. She is given the verdict in race 9 over 1000m because she drops to the minimum trip where she shows the most life. Nothing in this field is going to reach any great heights and it is the type of event that could have different results if the race was run a few times. De Melo rides for Paul Reeves who is the new trainer having relocated from Candice Bass.
