Cape trainers who have made the trip up for Champions Season are a little reluctant to make the trip back to their cold and wet home but they also have the issue of AHS travel protocols to contend with.
Dean Kannemeyer has a permanent satellite yard at Summerveld and he can get his season off to a winning start when he saddles Industrialstrength in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. The Gimmethegreenlight colt is a late starter but is an impressive specimen and made a smart debut behind The Specialist who has since franked that form. He should be difficult to beat in this line-up and the best bet on the card. He could face opposition from National Award who made a promising debut behind Henry Harvey but the Kannemeyer stable should have a good line on him. El Captain has been rested but comes with some fair Cape form and is one to watch in the betting.
In the card opener Lizwile Ilali has improved with each outing and looks primed for this. Panthera Uncia made sudden improvement at long odds last time out. She may now have come to hand and will be a threat. There are a number of first timers in the race, best of which could be Querari Rose.
The Andre Nel yard has been in good form of late and they saddle Spring Kiss in the first leg of the Pick 6. She has done most of her recent racing on the poly but has been in good form. She goes well this trip and rates a strong chance. Green Valkyrie has come good since joining the Kom Naidoo stable and was narrowly beaten from a tough draw last time out. She has drawn much better here. Mystique Rouge was two lengths back to Green Valkyrie when last they met. She is now 3kg better off which brings her into the picture. State Secret won well at just her second start and is sure to come on from that effort.
The fourth is a tricky handicap where El Dante could start at attractive odds after showing up well when returning from a lengthy break. He is useful on his day and if anywhere near his best he will go close. Nocturnal Flight has been much improved in blinkers. He made a smart handicap debut from a tough draw and can do much better from gate 2. The Nel-trained Selukwe has drawn a touch wide but was right up there with Nocturnal Flight when last they met so there should not be much between them again. Royal Swan Master is never far back and Keagan de Melo teams up with his old boss.
In the fifth, Escape Artist is overdue another win after finishing close-up in her last two over this course. She was under a length back to Woodland Glade when last they met and Mike de Kock’s runner has since franked that form but received an eight-pound penalty for that win which should see Escape Artist turn the tables. Hot Strike beat Escape Artist narrowly when last they met and is now 1.5kg worse off which should see her finish behind Sean Tarry’s mare.
The sixth is another open handicap race where Kyomai looks held by the visiting Command Pilot on their last meeting but this will be the first run for Tienie Prinsloo and the grey has shown some fair form in strong company. Serino Moodley jumps ship from Plaza Accord where Tristan Godden puts up a half-kilo overweight on Peter Muscutt’s runner. However, Command Pilot improved with a tongue-tie and could follow up. The Shepherd has the widest draw to contend with. He had no luck in running from a wide draw in a feature last time out but was three lengths off Dave The King at his penultimate start although it must be pointed out that he was in receipt of 10kg.
Kannemeyer and De Melo team up again with Rosh Kedesh in the seventh. He has been in the money in all three of his local starts but also a beaten favourite in all three. He gets a chance to redeem himself here. Beamonesque has been rested after being a little disappointing first run out of the maidens where he scored by seven lengths. If not in need of the outing he should be prominent. Gorgeous Guy loves this course and distance. These three have drawn alongside each other so tactics will be interesting.
Mike Miller could hold the cards in the last with his three runners, Magical View, Grey Fantasy and Ethereal View although all are returning from lay-offs. The stable comment is ‘given time to mature’ but all boast solid form. Stable rider Tristan Godden partners Grey Fantasy who was feature placed last time out. Kannemeyer saddles Lucrative who won well over course and distance on debut. She earned a handicap rating up with the Miller trio and given that she has had a recent start she could strip the fitter. Rugger Lover has not been out of the first three in her last five starts and must have a strong winning chance.
