In the absence of in-form riders Richard Fourie and Keagan de Melo, it could pay bettors to follow former champion jockeys S’manga Khumalo and Anton Marcus when they head to Cape Town for an eight-race card at Kenilworth on Wednesday 6 April.
Khumalo has a strong book of seven rides, all provided by trainer Justin Snaith, while Marcus can count mounts from the stables of Brett Crawford, Eric Sands and Snaith among his half-dozen rides.
Distinction forms part of a Snaith-trained quartet in Race 1 over 1200m. This Gimmethegreenlight filly is one several likely improvers after a pleasing 1000m debut. On the evidence of that introduction, when staying on to be beaten just over three lengths, Distinction should improve over the extra 200m with the benefit of a run under her belt, so should get Khumalo off to a winning start.
That augurs well for the chances of Itsrainingwilliam, who he rides in Race 2. This two-year-old William Longsword colt, who was bred and is owned by Drakenstein Stud, is the most experienced of the 12 runners in the line-up.
He was green on debut when third over 1100m and again showed signs of his inexperience when hanging in badly at Durbanville over 1250m, his first start around a turn. The return to Kenilworth and racing up the straight will be to his liking and punters can have a confident Win bet on Snaith’s charge to deliver the goods at the third attempt with Khumalo in the irons.
The same trainer-jockey combination looks likely to strike again in Race 4 with well-bred Navy Strength. This Dynasty gelding, who is a half-brother to the stable’s former champion filly Snowdance, has been costly to follow but should go close to shedding his maiden tag in the hands of Khumalo over 1600m.
Improving Naushon from the Vaughan Marshall yard is likely to give cheek, so the Swinger and Exacta route with these two runners should prove a popular play.
While Khumalo is strong early on the card, Marcus’ strength lies at the back end of the meeting with two promising lightly raced three-year-olds.
In Race 7, regally bred Stiptelik should double her tally and register a second career win from five starts. Since her winning debut, this daughter of Snitzel has finished close-up in each of her three subsequent starts. Marcus knows the Crawford-trained filly well and will be motivated by the fact that she is owned by his sponsor Ridgemont.
Marcus should round off the day with victory aboard Trivial Matter in Race 8 over 1100m. Eric Sands’ hat-trick seeking charge has improved this term – winning twice from as many starts – after two promising outings as a juvenile, and took his game up another notch when returning from a rest and gelding to win well from the front last time out.
He was given just a two-point penalty and looks well placed to follow up and extend his winning run under Marcus.
Clive Robinson
