Rodney and Grant van Niekerk look hard to oppose in the Racing.It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow when race conditions are much in the four-year-old’s favour.
He has to give weight all round but on ratings he has a kilo in hand over the next best – his three-month absent stable companion Sail For Gold – and a minimum of 2kg over the rest. He has also won over the course and distance.
“A good winning chance,” is how Candice Bass-Robinson assesses him, adding: “Sail For Gold could also finish in the money. He didn’t really thrive this winter but he is doing a bit better now although his best trip is 1 400m.”
Rodney is sure to start favourite but there are one or two others capable of upsetting the applecart, notably the Justin Snaith pair Fire Master and Fifty Cents who Richard Fourie rides – despite a five-month absence – as this one is considered to have the more scope for improvement.
“He is a progressive horse, his sprint-up today was good and so I expect him to be in the money,” said Snaith yesterday. “Fire Master has done well and at the weights I think he has quite a good chance.”
But the really intriguing one is Albarakah, despite being the oldest horse in the field by some three years. He is a kilo better with Fire Master for last time’s length when he was unlucky. “The jockey (Devin Habib) said he had to sit on the horse for a couple of strides because he was going to take a gap when the others closed it,” explains Glen Kotzen. “He told me that cost him the race.”
Albarakah finished faster than anything although, to be fair, the rerun suggests he had trouble going the early pace. Kotzen stresses that the horse needs give in the ground but the rain forecast for today and tomorrow should be enough. The old-timer could be a good price even though it’s unlikely to be anywhere near as generous as the 10-1 in the TAB sheet forecast.
For what it’s worth, the sahorseracing computer has Rodney winning from Fifty Cents and Northern Corner with Fire Master and Albarakah both running below their best.
Moulina may beat Snaith’s Var newcomer Skye Girl and Gold Force in the first while Harakiri, who ran wide in the only race at Durbanville’s washed out meeting, has a clear chance 35 minutes later.
Sandy Bay is close with Under Milkwood in race three on country course form but the Joey Ramsden filly looks better at Kenilworth. Captainblackbeard and Omaha Tribe come out best on ratings in the 2 400m maiden but Andre Nel’s Jingle Belle is preferred.
Michael Clower