Reigning Horse-Of-The-Year Rainbow Bridge has amassed more than R8 million in stakes, recording 11 wins and 12 places from 25 starts – with five of those successes having been registered at the highest level.
The Eric Sands-trained son of Ideal World has won Cape Town’s biggest race, the Grade 1 Cape Met twice, but in three attempts has yet to add the prestigious Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate to his already illustrious résumé.
In 2019 Sands’ stable star finished third behind Do It Again and filled the same finishing berth a year later in the 2020 renewal won by Vardy, before returning to fill the runner-up spot by Jet Dark 12 months ago.
Now a battle-hardened seven-year-old gelding, Rainbow Bridge returns for another crack at the elusive Grade 1 gong in Race 7 at Kenilworth on Saturday 8 January.
His fast-finishing second behind re-opposing Seeking The Stars in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes on his seasonal reappearance would have brought him on and a 2kg weight turnaround for that 0.40-lengths beating should see the tables being turned.
The Green Point winner and stablemate Linebacker, who has 0.75 lengths to find on Rainbow Bridge, oppose once more as does last year’s winner Jet Dark.
The presence of Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding adds further intrigue to a blockbuster 2022 Queen’s Plate which could prove a key pointer to this year’s Cape Town Met at the end of the month.
Justin Snaith-trained multiple Grade 1 winners Do It Again (Race 5) and Captain’s Ransom (Race 6) are other star attractions on the 10-race card and should deliver the goods for their followers in the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy and Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, respectively.
Preview by Clive Robinson
