Graeme Hawkins

Grant Van Niekerk enjoys a 31,4% winning strike rate when riding for trainer Adam Marcus and the combination could build on that statistic when My Only Weakness lines up in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. My Only Weakness took a while to find her feet but since being stepped up in trip, the 3yo daughter of One World has been a model of consistency and was touched off by Summer Night City over 1800m a month ago.

In her penultimate start My Only Weakness was narrowly beaten over 1800m by Lady Springfield, who reopposes here on 1kg worse terms, and My Only Weakness will have every chance of gaining revenge. It may not be in either My Only Weakness or Lady Springfield’s favour that the pair come back slightly in distance and that could play into the hands of Jet To The Sun who was an impressive winner in similar company over the track and trip in her last start. Jet To The Sun, a 4yo daughter of What A Winter, enjoys a weight-for-age advantage with both My Only Weakness and Lady Springfield and she is likely to give plenty of cheek.

Senhora Victoria is usually somewhere in the mix and could again earn a minor stakes cheque while recent maiden winner Englefield Green could have more to offer. Pentolina was not at her best in her last two starts in November but may have freshened up nicely in the interim and could be the source of a surprise result. Give My Everything won a modest maiden from a poor draw three weeks ago but the 3yo daughter of Gimmethegreenlight is still relatively unexposed and can show further progress. Pilot Flame has been sidelined since October and will need to step up on her form prior to the break.

It’s a competitive handicap but My Only Weakness is knocking loudly at the door and gets a narrow vote to score a well-deserved second career victory.

The ninth race is an intriguing Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1000m in which winning chances can be afforded to most of the field. I harbour a slight preference for the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Tanneron who showed signs of returning to best form three weeks ago when finishing third over 1200m behind the very progressive Sohot Sowhat. The lightly raced daughter of Var may now lack early pace over the minimum trip, but she should be finishing off the race in style. Stable companion The Charleston ran below par last time but rates a threat on her previous two outings in which she came home second best. She does appear to have issues and cannot be relied on to deliver her optimum.

Peace Of Mind has had two starts since relocating to the Western Cape from the Highveld and she was seen to good advantage when third over this track and trip last time out. On the strength of that form, she should have the measure of Furious Queen and In The Green Zone. Peace Of Mind is now trained by the Crawford/Rix combination and the stable were in fine form at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over the past weekend. Priscilla Maisey was not far behind Tanneron last time and on that effort comes into the race with a bright chance if she does not fall foul of the “second-run-after-rest” syndrome.

Love Shack won well at the end of December, but her stable companions are marginally preferred. Palo Queen appears to have lost her form and would be a surprise winner but the joker in the pack could be the very speedy Bonne Bouche. She found 1200m a little beyond her three weeks ago when fading late but she has plummeted down the ratings and could upset the applecart here at a big price.

While the back end of the card looks tricky, punters could have the better of exchanges during the first half of the programme. Malmesbury Missile ticks all the right boxes in the opener, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and in the second race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m, Diamond Bomber may have the edge over Catch A Penny who tackles the distance for the first time.

Tenpenny and Dubbelosix stand out in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, but I have a slight preference for Tenpenny who may have been a little unlucky to go down a short-head last time. Future Frequency looks a worthy favourite in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 2000m, but Umfula may relish stepping up in trip and could be a lively threat. The fifth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1800m, looks wide open but I quite like the 7/1 chance Blossoming Mind who should appreciate the tougher test of stamina here.