South Africa Horse Racing Previews: KENILWORTH@2023.01.07
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R200.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Ladies Invitational to kickstart a stellar King’s Plate card. The Snaith stable is strongly represented with half a dozen runners and could dominate the outcome. BONIKA was tried over further at Grade 1 level last time and a return to this class and trip could see her bounce back to winning ways. Stablemates PACIFIC GREEN and DISTINCTION are closely matched on these terms after a recent course-and-distance meeting and on that form should also be competitive. BETTY BOOP and SAY YES finished alongside each other over track and trip last time out, and can make their presence felt, so too MISS GREENLIGHT.
Selections:
#9 Bonika, #8 Pacific Green, #1 Distinction, #6 Miss Greenlight
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R135.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive work riders’ race. BLACK EGRET has finished in the money in both Cape outings over 1200m but the fitting of blinkers and a return to this trip should eke out improvement and could see his consistency rewarded. Well-bred stablemate SAGAN is one to note, especially if the market speaks in his favour. Like the selection, AUSSENKEHR finished 2nd in his only start over this trip and wouldn’t be winning out of turn either after 4 seconds in his last 6 starts. Both GREEN FALCON and NIGHT TIGER have improved with blinkers fitted and should make their presence felt. TRIPPI T has claims too.
Selections:
#2 Black Egret, #4 Aussenkehr, #6 Sagan, #8 Trippi T
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R350.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Leg 1 of the Summer Juvenile Series. GIMMELIGHTNING impressed when winning on debut after a slow start, beating stablemate and next-start winner SPEEDING BULLET, and should confirm that form. The latter is 3kg worse off with WILLIAM WEST, GOLDEN TATJANA and CAPTAIN ARROW who were all on debut and should improve with the experience. POMPEI WARNING was disqualified last time but is closely matched with those and could be worth another chance with the blinkers retained. MISS HANNIGAN and WITBLITS are weighted to reverse recent form with first-up winner RASCOVA who will be wiser to the task. Open!
Selections:
#6 Gimmelightning, #4 William West, #2 Golden Tatjana, #1 Speeding Bullet
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R225.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Smart field of speedsters assembled for Leg 1 of the carryover Pick 6. Unbeaten over this distance and 2kg better off with WE’RE JAMMING on their 1200m meeting, it could pay to follow the progress of TROMPIE in his peak outing. Riding arrangements suggest the former is preferred to stablemate RIO QUERARI who is capable of bouncing back under these favourable conditions and with improved fitness on his side. Fillies BELLA CHICA and IPHIKO are closely matched and weighted to be competitive. SURJAY, RESONATE and returning ISIVUNGUVUNGU are also capable of playing a role. Get a Pick 6 on!
Selections:
#6 Trompie, #8 We’Re Jamming, #11 Rio Querari, #13 Iphiko
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R350.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Fascinating renewal. PRINCESS CALLA made a winning start for a her new yard when returning from a break to get the better of re-opposing rivals STIPTELIK, SANTA MARIA and GOING UP over 1000m. She will be better suited to this trip and should, with improved fitness on her side, confirm her superiority over those rivals on identical terms. CIAO BELLA and Highveld raider DESERT MIRACLE, both Cape Fillies Guineas runners-up in their respective years, are versatile and capable of posing a threat. GOLDEN HOSTESS, MISS MARGUERITE and TIME FO ORCHIDS could also have a say. KWINTA’S LIGHT and WHOA WHOA WHOA have claims too.
Selections:
#13 Princess Calla, #8 Stiptelik, #17 Santa Maria, #2 Ciao Bella
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R400.000, 15:00GMT+2
Race Summary: High-class edition of this Grade 2 Met prep. Last season’s Cape Derby runner-up UNIVERSAL bounced back to his best when 2nd in the Green Point Stakes and further progress in his peak outing will see a return to winning ways. WINCHESTER MANSION and SILVANO’S TIMER finished behind NEXUS over track and trip last time but were drawn very wide and could turn the tables from better starting berths. FUTURE PRINCE and AIRWAYS LAW are also capable of better and could get into the picture, though a bigger threat is likely to come from WARRIOR. Stablemate DO IT AGAIN sets a good standard and ought to run well too.
Selections:
#3 Universal, #4 Winchester Mansion, #11 Do It Again, #13 Warrior
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R1.000.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Small but quality line-up. Champion CAPTAIN’S RANSOM won this race last year and is hard to oppose back against her own sex after a dominant comeback win over male rivals. MARINA was a close-up and fast-finishing 3rd in this race 12 months ago and is likely to pose a threat once more on similar terms. She is 4.5kg better off with last-start Fillies Guineas winner MAKE IT SNAPPY for 3 lengths. The latter is relatively unexposed and could have more to offer going this trip for the first time, so must be respected. HOLD MY HAND fits a similar profile and can make her presence felt. A special race!
Selections:
#3 Captain’s Ransom, #6 Marina, #8 Make It Snappy, #4 Hold My Hand
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R2.000.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Vintage renewal. CHARLES DICKENS proved he is the real deal when making light work of his rivals in the Guineas over course and distance. He faces a sterner test pitted against older rivals at Grade 1 level but is open to further improvement, and that ought to see him retain his unbeaten status. Defending champion JET DARK has been there and done it, and would become just the 3rd horse in history to win this race 3 years running. He sets the standard and will pose a threat. Old adversary KOMMETDIEDING and Green Point Stakes winner TRIP OF FORTUNE are likely to make their presence felt too. Must watch!
Selections:
#9 Charles Dickens, #10 Jet Dark, #8 Kommetdieding, #2 Trip Of Fortune
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R100.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Another contest the Snaith runners could dominate. FUTURE SWING boasts solid post-maiden form in stronger races including over this course and distance, so rates the one to beat dropped 2pts in the ratings. Stablemate NEVADA KING finished 3 lengths ahead of BLACKBERRY MALT over track and trip last time and is better off at the weights so should confirm that form. Versatile FUTURE TURN won a 1000m maiden after gelding and is open to further improvement stepping back up in trip. Highveld raiders BILLY SPELLBOUND and RUN FOR COVER are capable of making their presence felt too.
Selections:
#11 Future Swing, #10 Nevada King, #12 Billy Spellbound, #9 Future Turn
Kenilworth, 07.01.2023, Race 10, Gallops, 2500m, Turf, R250.000, 17:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Cracking staying contest. NAVY STRENGTH relished this sterner test of stamina when beating several of these rivals over track and trip last time, and is taken to defy a number of weight turnarounds by following up under just 52kg. MASTER REDOUTE (1kg), THEFUTUREISBRIGHT (2kg) and CROME YELLOW (1.5kg) are all better off on these revised terms so ought to pose a threat. ARCTIC DRIFT renews rivalry on similar terms but caught the eye behind the selection and on that evidence should make his presence felt too. ONE WAY TRAFFIC stays well and must be respected, while HAN SOLO is also best kept safe.
Selections:
#13 Navy Strength, #10 Arctic Drift, #9 Thefutureisbright, #5 Master Redoute
Best Win: #3 CAPTAIN’S RANSOM
Best Value Bet: #6 TROMPIE
Best Longshot: #6 TROMPIE
