Trainer Brett Crawford sends out 13 runners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 10 December but three of his runners on the nine-race card, which includes the Grade 2 Cape Merchants over 1200m (Race 7), are standout betting propositions likely to bring early festive cheer to their followers.
Surjay began his career with promise in the care of Mike Robinson but has taken his form to lofty heights since joining Crawford in February last year.
He has registered three of his four career victories under the tutelage of his current conditioner and mixed it with the best sprinters around, which has seen his rating shoot up a whopping 32 points in that time.
This son of Vercingetorix has improved as a gelding and maintained a very high level of form – albeit without success – over 1200m. In the five outings since he was ‘cut’, this five-year-old gelding has run three times over 1200m and performed with distinction on each occasion.
He finished third in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in June and was third again from a wide draw in the Grade 2 Post Merchants at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day, before finishing second at level weights in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint to Equus Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu.
Crawford’s charge earned a well-deserved break given those exploits but resumed in good form following a four-month absence with an encouraging second (under 62kg) to Grade 1 winner Thunderstruck, who would have had a fitness edge after a Highveld comeback outing, in the Bantry Bay Stakes over 1100m on his reappearance a fortnight ago.
Surjay ought to have tightened up appreciably with the benefit of that run and will relish the return to his favourite track and trip, over which he has achieved all four of his career wins and finished second in six starts over the course and distance.
In a typically competitive renewal of this Grade 2 handicap sprint, Surjay is good value to gain reward for his consistency with stable jockey Louis Mxothwa again in the irons.
Given the size of the field and its depth in quality, the Quartet pool ought to reach an attractive sum so catching that bet should yield a handsome profit.
Proven frontrunners After The Rain and Wecangoallnight, both of whom carry light weights, could make the Quartet pay so including them in larger permutations would be wise. However, a bigger threat to Surjay is likely to come from progressive last-start winners Montien, who is versatile, and King Regent, who is unbeaten (two from two) over the course and distance.
The latter’s stable companion Countdown and Dean Kannemeyer-trained Cosmic Highway are also potential threats to Surjay’s bid for Grade 2 glory.
Craig Zackey, who rides Cosmic Highway in Race 7, steered Pomodoro’s Jet to victory over 1600m recently in his first start aboard the Crawford-trained gelding and, as retained rider for owner Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, resumes his partnership with this five-year-old son of Pomodoro in Race 4.
In just his second start back from a lengthy 16-month layoff, Pomodoro’s Jet confirmed the encouragement of his comeback run over 1400m by wearing down re-opposing Promettere (1.5kg better off) to win a similar contest at Hollywoodbets Durbanville three weeks ago by 0.30 lengths – a performance which earned Crawford’s charge a three-point penalty.
Despite these revised weight terms, however, Pomodoro’s Jet remains relatively unexposed and should improve in his peak outing (third run after a rest), so is worth siding with to follow up under his preserve his 100% record under Zackey.
Kabelo Matsunyane rode Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion for Crawford and has enjoyed particular success when riding for the stable’s Highveld satellite yard – which is run by Brett’s assistant, son James – and rarely does the likable lightweight rider leave Cape Town emptyhanded. So, if assessing his book of five rides (four for Crawford and one for Glen Kotzen), it could pay to follow the chances of Masked Vigilante in Race 8 over 1200m.
This Vercingetorix gelding has rediscovered his form over 1250m at Durbanville’s country course recently, finishing second in his last two outings over that distance. He returns to the scene of his latest victory – which was achieved back in June – off a mark five points higher and carries 2.5kg more on this occasion but gets weights from all 11 of his rivals, and that could prove the difference in a tight finish to what is a competitive Class 4 sprint.
Clive Robinson
