The Abdicator, an Irish import bred and co-owned by Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift in conjunction with daughter Jessica Slack-Jell’s Mauritzfontein Stud, was a highly regarded youngster whose connections had to go to R1.1 million at a 2022 Ready To Run Sale to purchase this No Nay Never colt out of a Rock Of Gibraltar mare. He made his debut as a two-year-old in January last year with a big reputation and duly justified market support with a start-to-finish romp over 1000m, but the remainder of his five-start juvenile campaign was underwhelming, which led to the colt with a stallion’s pedigree being gelded ahead of his sophomore year.
This Brett Crawford-trained three-year-old has, seemingly, benefitted from that “unkindest cut of all” to win two of his last four starts – in fact, such has been his progression that The Abdicator has been deemed worthy of a Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint entry on Champions Day at Turffontein on 6 April.
With that in mind, it should pay to follow The Abdicator when he puts his big-race participation on the line in Race 2 over 1000m on the nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, as Crawford’s charge will probably have to win to cement his place in the lineup a fortnight later.
Richard Fourie steered The Abdicator to victory over the same course and distance two starts back and is back aboard the maturing three-year-old gelding after a fast-finishing second over track and trip under Craig Zackey last time out.
The Abdicator was ridden differently on that occasion and restrained towards the rear of the field before being delivered with a powerful late burst. He was beaten just 0.30 lengths by Tough Terrain to whom he conceded 3kg.
Another ‘plum’ betting proposition on the card is Andre Nel-trained Silvano filly Plum Pudding in Race 4 over 1600m – the same track and trip over which she finished second in her most recent outing 20 days ago.
This improving three-year-old filly has finished second in both starts around the bend after two pleasing introductory outings up the straight over 1200m. She hit the front entering the final 400m last time but was outrun in the closing stages under Corne Orffer.
He retains the ride aboard Plum Pudding and is unlikely to make the same mistake he did on that occasion. A Win bet is advised!
The opening event is a competitive two-year-old maiden plate over 1200m and TAB’s Swinger and Exacta bets could pave the way to a profitable start to the day for bettors. In The Green Zone, Tuscan Romance and Babelicious are likely to fight out the finish given their form and experience, so Boxed Trifecta bets wouldn’t be a terrible idea either.
Clive Robinson
