Alistair Cohen
Without beating about the bush, today’s card is not packed with anything that would stick up their credentials for any graded races. Seven maidens make up the card and this presents a golden opportunity for some battlers to exit the maidens. The pick on the card is race 9 over 1600m where Blind Date looks like he has some upside. He looks likely to take advantage and claim his second career win.
Blind Date returned from a five-month break in his last run over 1200m, a distance that should be too short for him. He stayed on nicely to finish a pleasing 1,75-length second behind Cork Bay at this course. He will only be a fitter horse for the outing and being by Futura, he must have plenty stacked in his favour.
He has been competitive at this level for a while without getting the job done. Maturity and confidence seem to be the factors that have stopped him from pulling it all off. The former will come into place soon enough. The former will hopefully happen with fitness on his side.
Craig Zackey is carded to take the ride. His easy, sympathetic hands could be the tool that he needs to go all the way. Justin Snaith trains Blind Date.
Stable companion, Cedar Point has good consistent, solid form and he must be respected. He takes a slight rise in class after an admirable second place finish behind Noon Day Gun last time. He has less weight to shoulder which is exaggerated by Mickaelle Michel’s 1,5kg claim. This is his first run over a mile. He is not bred to relish this trip but he runs like he will. It is always worth the experiment to work out if there are avenues to unlock.
Captains Alliance has probably underdelivered through his career but his last run shows he could be ready to take a step forward. He finished second behind Marcus Aureallius which was his best run in a while. That was over 1500m at this course. Vaughan Marshall has his string in good heart across the country.
Odds And Evens must have a top chance in race 1 over 1200m simply because he has the best form on offer in a field with very dubious offerings and first timers. Her last start was a satisfactory build from her debut more than halving the deficit of defeat to four lengths. If she improves again at her third career run, she should give a good account of herself. It would not take a world beating first timer to win though.
The same applies to El Cohete in race 2 over 1000m. Her three runs to date are simply a standard above the opposition who have seen a racecourse. So she would be the natural starting point. Her debut was especially pleasing when she ran second to Margate, beaten 2,5 lengths. She might not have been at the same level since but she has not been wayward. Again, a first timer would come into the picture with any ability.
Ruby Rex has not run since October but she takes on a field that will not get the blood flowing. She was defeated by a short head last time over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville by a filly who has come up short in Gqeberha and Durban in the form of Call Of The Karoo. Ruby Rex is not a confident choice for a number of reasons but there are serious queries about her competition. She can win race 3 over 1000m.
Witch Hazel makes her local debut in race 4 over 1200m on the back of three eyecatching runs in Johannesburg behind some serious horses like Splittheeights and Grand Empire. She has relocated from Mark Khan who sadly shut down his operation and now with Lucinda Woodruff. It is not her style to ready them up after a break of six months but Witch Hazel showed enough to suggest there are some wins in the locker. There is nothing near the class of Grade 1 winner Grand Empire or Grade 2 winner Splittheeights evident in this lineup.
Navasnine needs to show that he can reach 1400m in race 5 and if he does, he surely has the event at his mercy. After two near misses filling the runner-up spot, he looks set to exit the maidens under Zackey for Snaith. His last run came behind the highly talented Reef Runner over 1000m at this course. His dam was at her best over a mile. There should be no reason to look for other spooks.
Chinwag is going about her business in a good, promising manner and with two runs under her belt which have produced a nice fourth followed by a pleasing third, she could kick on and win race 6 over 1400m. Both of her runs have come down the straight and she runs like this extra trip will be what she needs. Callan Murray takes the ride for Michelle Rix. Her main danger is comfortably Peace Garland who should also come into her own over this trip.
Master Coiner was given no real chance in his last run when he plotted a wide berth around horses after being done at the start and he did not throw in the towel when he finished fourth. He is back just over a week later in race 7 over 1950m. He looks set to represent some value into the play. Gareth Wright is up for Des McLachlan.
Heavenly Prince has gone from what looked like an average maiden to having a fair future ahead completing another win in his most recent appearance. He lines up in a very uninspiring race 8 over 1950m. He has to shoulder 62,5kg which should not stop his chances. He is stepping up with every start and he is certain to see out this trip. Aldo Domeyer takes the ride for Candice Bass. He is likely the best bet on the card.
