Captain Fontane started off his racing career like a house on fire in spite of his feisty nature. Owned by then Hong Kong-based trainer David Ferraris and his Hong Kong owner, the gelding was earmarked for a stint in at Sha Tin or Happy Valley, but an outbreak of the dreaded export killer African Horse Sickness saw Captain Fontane out of quarantine and back with trainer Garth Puller.
Outside of his other tribulations, Captain Fontane had also fallen foul of the handicappers forcing Puller to take the hard route via the Cape features.
Captain Fontane was far from disgraced in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship when four lengths off the winner, but was then put away until making his reappearance in the Drill Hall Stakes where he was never in the hunt behind Silver Operator.
He is way better than that showing and Puller will no doubt have been plotting his next move which is a Handicap sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
The field has cut up into only nine runners, but Captain Fontane will be tested.
Mount Pleasant garnered a lofty rating of 125 early in his career but he is a horse that does not seem to have any distance, flattering to deceive on many an occasion, his rating down to 103.
He probably needed gelding a long time back but Duncan Howells has him back over what looks to be his optimum trip and could prove the biggest threat to Captain Fontane.
Coin Spinner is well rated by his stable and raced in feature company last start and was not far back in the Gr2 Post Merchants. He is useful and cannot be taken lightly. Hawker Typhoon, also owned by Ferraris, could be the pacemaker for Captain Fontane although this will be her second start after a lengthy break. Fabian Habib saddles the seasoned Highveld campaigner Mardi Gras with in form apprentice Keratile Katjedi claiming 4kg so is also not out of it but if either Captain Fontane or Mount Pleasant hit their straps they will be hard to beat.
In the card opener, barring a springer among the first timers, Stanley Park is the one to beat after having shown up well in competitive company where the form has been franked. With that experience he could be hard to peg back. Of the opposition, Arbitrator is lightly raced and not been too far back at his last two. Also, the stable has hit top form.
In the second, Fine Design made a cracking debut at long odds for Gary Rich and the form has panned out well. Slow out and green, she was a touch unlucky and can go one better for a stable that is in cracking form. Cinnamon Blush has only once finished out of the money and that on the poly track and could be a threat as she has not been far back at her last two. Royal Oasis is a battling maiden but has been close-up at recent starts and goes well this course while Triptoroyalty is lightly raced but has shown some ability. She could come on enough to be competitive.
The third is a desperately weak maiden but Bella Bandier has been improving with each outing and looks to be the best of the raced runners although Two Minds found market support on debut when starting out on the poly. She made no show but the switch to turf could see her improve along with Camika who caught the eye when making good improvement last time out and must have a chance in this weak line-up.
The fourth looks to be a three-way contest. Over And Ice made promising improvement at long odds at his second start over course and distance and from a draw very much in his favour he can make the required improvement. Two of the more likely threats have both drawn wide. Money Heist in gate 13 found strong market support on debut over course and distance and was finishing strongly. The experience should count although Johnny’s Hope, next door in gate 12, comes from a very much inform stable and improved nicely at second time of asking also over course and distance. There should not be much between these two.
It’s punt and pray for the balance of the card. Shape Of You was given a lengthy break after disappointing a few times when favourite. She made a smart return to the track when going down narrowly after a five-month lay-off and looks set for her second success in the fifth. Mel’s Princess is way better than her last effort which is best ignored and although she may prefer it a touch further, she has an inform 4kg claimer up and should at least be competitive. Mysterious Girl faced Gr2 company at just her third outing after winning her maiden over this course and distance and has scope to improve while Acasia’s Blossom was comfortable maiden winner at just her third outing and appeared to enjoy the extra furlong.
With no conviction, Master To Be could follow up on Mark Dixon’s Sunday success as the gelding won well when back on the turf at his penultimate start. He had consistent form on the poly but can go in again with his regular pilot back on board. Of the others, Senor Garcia has shown steady form since shedding his maiden and was touched off last run when trying a mile. Quiz Master shed his maiden over a sprint but appeared out-paced over 1200m on this course last start. He has dropped in the handicap and the extra could see him show his best.
The last is another nightmare handicap but Rulership is quick and probably over-raced early when run out of it on the poly last time out. Under a more judicious ride he should have a decent chance. Kom Naidoo saddles two lively chances in Blue Eyes and Sir Pom. Blue Eyes took on much stronger last run, his first for his new stable. He had some fair Highveld form before that while stable companion Sir Pom was not far back when taking on stronger last time out but got a two-point raise in the handicap for his effort. Slim Jannie was a recent maiden winner but looks the pick of the Michael Roberts stable trio and does appear to have some scope.
