The nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday 27 December is likely to be dominated by Grant van Niekerk and Richard Fourie, with the two riders expected to boot home seven winners between them.
The former has a particularly strong book of rides for his ‘boss’ Justin Snaith, while the latter’s decision to freelance should see him ride three winners for three different trainers.
Snaith-trained Handsome Prince is the only runner in Race 1 to have already raced and that experience will stand this Querari colt in good stead against his eight unraced rivals. Handsome Prince finished a creditable fifth on debut over 800m and would have come on with the benefit of that outing, so is good value to land the spoils in the opener.
Sorceress Supreme fits a similar profile and, having fared better than five re-opposing rivals on debut over the course and distance, is likely to get Fourie on the board in Race 2.
Van Niekerk and Snaith are at it again in Race 3 with Gimmethegreenlight gelding Dancingtothelight, who caught the eye last time when resuming after a break with a fast finish over 1200m. He will have tightened up with that run and should have more to offer, so his progress is certainly worth following.
Fourie could settle the score aboard Mike Stewart’s charge Simply Beautiful in Race 4 but Van Niekerk ought to edge ahead again in Race 5 over 1600m on Sun Spectacular who stayed on encouragingly in her last start over the track and trip to finish third under JP v’d Merwe. This Master Of My Fate filly is closely matched with Cicadidae (0.5kg worse off) and this pair is likely to fight out the finish, so going the Swinger and Exacta route could prove the shrewd play in Leg 1 of Jackpot One.
Consistent Liketheclappers has proved his versatility by maintaining a good level of form and consistency from 1200m to 2000m, but this son of former Durban July winner Pomodoro makes his first start over 1600m in Race 7 with Van Niekerk in the irons once more. In three starts under Snaith’s stable jockey, Liketheclappers has won and finished second as well as third – all of which have been in his last three outings. His last two starts over 1400m have been with cheekpieces fitted and that headgear is also retained here, with Van Niekerk likely to have had a say at which distance his mount should be aimed at.
Progressive three-year-old fillies Fatal Gem and Princess Izzy have won back-to-back outings recently and are unbeaten over 1600m. They dead-heated over this distance at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last month and renew rivalry in Race 8 on similar weight terms, though it could pay to side with Princess Izzy on this occasion.
Van Niekerk is unbeaten in two outings aboard the latter but won’t be riding the Master Of My Fate filly on this occasion, as she has left the Snaith outfit and will be making her first start since joining Brett Crawford’s yard, with Fourie the potential beneficiary of that stable switch.
Familiar foes Callmegetrix and stable companion Rainbow Lorikeet renew rivalry on 3kg better terms so should make their presence felt, although Cloud Chaser could pose more of a threat under Van Niekerk after back-to-back seconds.
Clive Robinson
