The term ‘mucho dinero’ loosely translated from Spanish to English means lots of money and it is that which followers of the Justin Snaith-trained horse of the same are likely to win in the Listed Woolavington Stakes (Race 7), a Listed race over 2400m, at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday 4 November.
This son of Twice Over is unbeaten in three outings at the country course and has won consecutive starts recently over 1800m and 2000m since he was gelded. His merit rating went up a total of nine points (4.5kg) for those back-to-back victories but he is still probably better than rated.
Snaith’s charge, who has only raced up to 2000m, will be going the extra 400m for the first time but on pedigree should have no issue seeing out the trip. His dam, Cash Register, won a Listed race over 1600m as well as a Grade 3 event over 1800m and is a full-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Big City Life, who won the Daily News 2000 and Cape Derby over 2000m before winning the Durban July over 2200m.
Cash Register, the dam of 1400m Listed winner Point Of Sale (Var) and 1600m Listed winner Chat Ching (Duke Of Marmalade), has also produced an Oratorio filly Snapscan, who won both an 1800m Grade 3 as well as a Grade 2 over 2800m.
Mucho Dinero’s sire, Twice Over, was a Group 1 winner and high-class performer whose sons and daughters have already excelled locally, with Do It Again the undoubted flagbearer of the stallion’s progeny.
Yuzae Ramzan is a noteworthy jockey booking aboard the Snaith-trained four-year-old who, with just 50kg on his back, is good value to claim maiden Stakes success for owner Nic Jonsson, who had to fork out R1.4 million to acquire Mucho Dinero at the 2021 National Yearling Sales.
Snaith and Jonsson are doubly represented in the race and have another lively winning chance in the form of One Way Traffic, the mount of stable jockey Grant van Niekerk – who rides at 53kg or more.
This well-related Dynasty gelding made an eye-catching comeback in a Class 2 event, won by re-opposing Senso Unico (1.5kg worse off), over 1800m three weeks ago. One Way Traffic ought to have tightened up since and is weighted to turn the tables on his last-start conqueror, although conceding 8kg to his less-exposed stablemate could prove a bridge too far.
Another lightly raced improver whose progress it could pay to follow on the day is Piet Botha-trained Global View filly Woman’s World who has thrived racing with blinkers fitted beyond 1400m. She improved to finish second going 1600m for the first time and went one better to open her account over 1800m last time out.
Botha’s charge ought to have strengthened in the 12 weeks since that maiden victory and the step up to 2000m in Race 6 is also likely to eke out further improvement from this three-year-old filly who will be ridden by Gareth Wright.
Snaith-trained last-start winner Liketheclappers (in Race 2) and Lickety Split, after consecutive seconds, in Race 3 are worth including in a TAB Double, while trainer Brett Crawford could also saddle a double at the meeting with progressive Luce Verde and hard-knocking Masked Vigilante capable of winning Races 2 and 8 respectively.
Clive Robinson
