South Africa Horse Racing Previews: KENILWORTH@2023.02.25
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R135.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive. PROUD MASTER bounced back to form under a big weight over the track and trip with blinkers fitted last time and ought to be in the firing line again with the headgear retained. USA’S HOPE has won twice over the course and distance after he was gelded and with further improvement could extend his winning sequence. BARZALONA finished behind CAPTAIN BOMBSHELL over track and trip when both were last seen but should get closer on these revised weight terms. RAGNAR LOTHBROK is better off at the weights with HAMMIES HERO who is capable of making his presence felt reverting to this trip.
Selections:
#3 Usa’s Hope, #2 Proud Master, #6 Captain Bombshell, #10 Hammies Hero
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R250.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. SILVERLINKS was given a shrewd ride from the front when beating several of these rivals over 1800m recently and in the absence of a proven frontrunner in the lineup is likely to adopt similar tactics. On the evidence of that race, HOLD MY HAND could have more to offer over the extra 200m and, as such, should pose a threat. BROADWAY GIRL and LOVE IS A ROSE were beaten by the selection in an earlier meeting over this course and distance, and on that form the latter should make her presence felt on 2,5kg better terms. SAARTJIE, LADY SILVANO and GOLD POKER GAME have claims too. Good race!
Selections:
#4 Silverlinks, #8 Hold My Hand, #9 Gold Poker Game, #7 Love Is A Rose
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R200.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: CAPTAIN’S RANSOM had her colours lowered in consecutive Grade 1 contests over further but she is unlikely to be thwarted again, as the ease in grade and drop in distance will play to her strengths. She is unbeaten in 3 starts over this trip and is very well treated by the conditions, so almost impossible to oppose. Younger rivals GIMME’S LASSIE and HAPPY CHANCE could also fare better, having had their sights lowered after contesting a 1600m Grade 1 last time. GOING UP beat LIVE MY LIFE over the track and trip on Met day but stable jockey Aldo Domeyer has opted to stick with SANTA MARIA.
Selections:
#1 Captain’s Ransom, #2 Gimme’s Lassie, #3 Happy Chance, #7 Live My Life
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R400.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: GOLDEN SICKLE confirmed the promise of her debut win with a fast-finishing 2nd in a 2yo feature on Met day and on the evidence of that display will have more to offer over this trip – the one to beat. ROYALS and WOMAN’S WORLD finished on the heels of the selection that day and should also improve over the extra but are 3kg worse off. THE CHARLESTON has improved with every start and is likely to do so again stepping up in trip, but it is probably worth noting stable jockey Domeyer rides KYALAMI GIRL after an eye-catching debut. Debut winner LUNA HALO could be anything so worth including.
Selections:
#9 Golden Sickle, #10 Luna Halo, #4 Kyalami Girl, #12 The Charleston
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R400.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: SPEEDING BULLET holds a number of these on form and should confirm superiority with improvement expected after gelding. Debut winners EXCEPT TEMPTATION, OUTLAW KING and WAR LAUNCH could be anything, and with likely improvement could pose a threat so are best kept safe. ZOOMIE was unlucky not to have finished closer last time and is capable of making his presence felt. Stablemate PRESSONREGARDLESS has the form and experience to also play a role. Newcomers ZIL MORIS, TYRION LANNISTER and STRAWBERRY STINGER must be monitored in the betting exchanges and market support respected.
Selections:
#7 Speeding Bullet, #10 Outlaw King, #3 Except Temptation, #4 Zoomie
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R750.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky 2yo feature. GIMMELIGHTNING ran on well late in the piece when 2nd to GOLDEN TATJANA over 1000m and ought to reverse that form going an extra 200m on 3kg better terms. The latter should be competitive once more but has a bit to find on recent form with RASCOVA who won an 1100m Met-day feature on identical terms. DISTANT WINTER split those rivals last time and will enjoy the extra too, but is 3kg worse off so must improve to turn the tables. Stablemate WINTER CLOUD could pose more of a threat with improvement expected after an impressive last-start win. TEFLON MAN is another to consider.
Selections:
#10 Gimmelightning, #11 Rascova, #1 Winter Cloud, #3 Golden Tatjana
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R225.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Smashing contest. Veterans NEXUS (4th in the Met) and jockey Strydom are reunited but face a tough task from the widest draw. WARRIOR, less than a length off his stable companion in the Met, is 1kg better off and distance suited so could represent the value in the race. UNIVERSAL is closely matched with those rivals on earlier form and could improve in first-time blinkers. Best-weighted AL MUTHANA won the King’s Plate over track and trip, so will enjoy returning to this distance and should be competitive under top weight. PACAYA, GEM KING and SILVANO’S DASHER and QUASIFORSURE have claims too.
Selections:
#7 Warrior, #16 Nexus, #2 Al Muthana, #8 Universal
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R1.500.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: There’s not a great deal of pace in this Grade 1 Cape Derby renewal which should suit those with stamina doubts. ‘Talking horse’ CHARLES DICKENS tasted defeat for the first time in the King’s Plate but lost nothing in defeat. On pedigree he’ll have no trouble getting the trip so will be hard to beat. AT MY COMMAND renews rivalry and could pose the biggest threat. He is 6kg better off with ROCKPOOL and WITHOUT QUESTION having finished behind those rivals last time. Neither of those Snaith runners have stamina doubts and, as such, ought to make their presence felt. SEE IT AGAIN could surprise.
Selections:
#2 Charles Dickens, #4 At My Command, #11 Rockpool, #9 See It Again
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R600.000, 16:50GMT+2
Race Summary: A high-quality Grade 2 sprint. GIMME A PRINCE backed up his track-and-trip Merchants win with a maiden Grade 1 success in the Cape Flying Championship last time out and on that form could complete the hat-trick for the sponsors of this race. Stablemates WE’RE JAMMING and RIO QUERARI chased home the selection in those respective contests when last seen and are better off at the weights this time around, so likely to pose a threat again. BEREAVE and TRIP OF FORTUNE are distance suited and capable of making their presence felt. Last-start winners GLADATORIAN, COUNTDOWN and MR COBBS could complete the minors.
Selections:
#4 Gimme A Prince, #7 We’Re Jamming, #11 Rio Querari, #3 Trip Of Fortune
Kenilworth, 25.02.2023, Race 10, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R200.000, 17:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Jockeys take on work riders. HAWK CIRCLE and MIGHTY MAC are closely matched on the form of a recent course-and-distance meeting. The former had the edge on that occasion and should confirm as he’s likely to strip fitter for that outing. The latter has more scope, however, and with improvement should fight out the finish. CAPTAIN CASANOVA, who improved in his last start when returning from a rest and gelding, ASPECT, who also showed improvement after gelding, SAN PEDRO in first-time blinkers and unexposed KATSU have claims under their work riders who receive 2.5kg from their professional rivals.
Selections:
#5 Hawk Circle, #6 Mighty Mac, #7 Aspect, #10 Katsu
Best Win: #1 CAPTAIN’S RANSOM
Best Value Bet: #7 WARRIOR
Best Longshot: #7 WARRIOR
