RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: KENILWORTH@2024.12.18
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: FLYING FINLEY caught the eye with a fast-finishing second on debut and needn’t improve much to go one better. MANEKI NEKO blew his chances at the start in the same race but has the form and experience to make his presence felt, which also applies to stablemate SUMMER SNOW. Well-bred newcomer KLEIN KAROO is worth a market check on debut.
Selections:
#4 Flying Finley, #5 Klein Karoo, #1 Maneki Neko, #8 Summer Snow
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R85.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: GOLDEN GREY and ENGLISH MISTRESS are overdue and neither would be winning out of turn. DOUBLE DASH acquitted herself well against winners last time and will be more competitive back in maiden company. ASINANTANGA didn’t go unnoticed when staying on from a long way back over a shorter distance in first-time blinkers. He could have more to offer over this extended trip with headgear refitted. EXPRESS YOURSELF, PRINCESS BEAUTIFUL and AHEAD OF THE FACTS are also open to improvement going this distance for the first time.
Selections:
#5 Asinantanga, #3 English Mistress, #4 Double Dash, #1 Golden Grey
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R105.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive GROOVEJET won a similar contest over 1950m last month and a 3-point penalty shouldn’t prevent him from making another bold bid. KWITE A KING, MOHANDAS, ALADDIN’S LAMP and CONTINENTALEXPRESS are better off at the weights, so they should pose more of a threat on these terms. Last-start scorer TOTHEMOONANDBACK and unexposed PINOT GRIGIO, in his first start over this extended distance, aren’t taken lightly either.
Selections:
#4 Groovejet, #11 Kwite A King, #1 Tothemoonandback, #9 Continentalexpress
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: ZEITZ wasn’t winning out of turn when opening his account last time with blinkers fitted. He remains open to improvement, especially with the headgear retained. MENTE ET MANU, INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH and HOODIA are also lightly raced with scope for progress. AIR RAID returned to form with a close-up second over 1400m in his second start as a gelding and this extended distance in his peak outing should unlock further improvement. RULE OF THUMB and TOUCHDOWN have claims too.
Selections:
#6 Air Raid, #7 Industrialstrength, #5 Rule Of Thumb, #8 Hoodia
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive EMPIRE STATE finished ahead of hard-knockers PRIME VENTURE and UNICORN ALERT in a similar race over 1400m last month and could improve sufficiently over this extended trip to confirm his superiority, despite a 1,5kg weight turnaround. GENTLEMAN JOE improved in first-time cheekpieces to win at this level recently and a 2-point penalty isn’t likely to prevent another forward showing. MAJOR MASTER was unlucky that day and renews rivalry on similar weight terms but he has more room for improvement so should acquit himself competitively.
Selections:
#4 Empire State, #3 Unicorn Alert, #6 Major Master, #5 Gentleman Joe
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Improving KAMCHATKA finished ahead of JET TO THE SUN in a similar event over the same distance last time and there shouldn’t be much separating the pair on these revised weight terms. KAMAKAZI didn’t finish a long way adrift of that pair and is weighted to get closer. Last-start maiden winner RUSSIAN ROYAL and unexposed GARDEN OF EDEN, who had excuses for a disappointing effort in a 1400m Grade 2 last time, are lightly raced and open to improvement. Hard-knocker GLEE CLUB appeals most of the remainder.
Selections:
#6 Kamchatka, #8 Jet To The Sun, #4 Russian Royal, #7 Garden Of Eden
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R85.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: XPLICIT CONTENT and TAMBOURINE MAN are honest hard-knockers with the form and experience to play leading roles. They’re closely matched on the form of a recent 1100m meeting and there won’t be much between them on these revised weight terms. PRINCE OF TIBET was inconvenienced at a higher level last time and should fare better at this level off an unchanged mark. CHAMPAGNE MAC, GOLD INDEX and the filly TRUE HORIZON have also shown enough to get involved at the finish.
Selections:
#2 Xplicit Content, #8 Tambourine Man, #6 Prince Of Tibet, #7 Gold Index
Kenilworth, 18.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R135.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: THE CHARLESTON has filled the runner-up berth in both starts this season over 1000m and needn’t improve much off an unchanged mark to get her head in front over the extra 100m. ARTISTE, PRITTI VICTORY and SAHARA CAT return from a break but are above-average fillies with scope to improve, so they shouldn’t be underestimated on their appearances. Consistent PORQUE TE VAS, versatile FUN ZONE, and stablemates TRIP TO MAPUTO and KYALAMI GIRL should make their presence felt if building on the improvement of their most recent performances.
Selections:
#1 The Charleston, #7 Artiste, #5 Pritti Victory, #13 Sahara Cat
Best Win: #4 FLYING FINLEY
Best Value Bet: #5 ASINANTANGA
Best Longshot: #5 ASINANTANGA
