Carry On Alice is hard to oppose in the CTS Southern Cross Stakes at Kenilworth tomorrow even though this is the star mare’s first race for six months.
S’Manga Khumalo’s mount was race fit when she won 12 months ago – admittedly she only got home by a short head – but she is 3kg (more than two lengths) better than the next best on ratings and she has three lengths-plus in hand over all the others.
Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)
“There is quite a bit to work with so she will need it,” cautions Sean Tarry who has his eyes on the Cape Flying Championship on Sun Met day. “But we are hoping that we can get away with it.”
Real Princess is the obvious danger as she is nearest on ratings and ran a cracker on her reappearance in a Pinnacle over this trip four weeks ago. She finished a length and a half second to Search Party who franked the form in no uncertain manner when so heavily backed in last Saturday’s Merchants.
Dean Kannemeyer’s charge missed that race because of an urticaria that now looks a blessing in disguise. “It was like a rash and she picked it up on the Friday evening,” explains the trainer. “She couldn’t run because I had to give her a shot of cortisone but she worked on Sunday. Ideally I would love to have another 100m or 200m for her here.”
Real Princess was beaten less than a length when third 12 months ago but she will be 2kg worse with the favourite this time.
Victoria Lavelle would be a major threat – she receives 2kg from the top two – but for the fact that this is her first race of the season. “She can still run a good race – she is a high class sprinter – but she might just need it,” says Justin Snaith whose Jo’s Bond is only rated a kilo below Aldo Domeyer’s mount. “We are just hoping for a place with her because at this level it could be a bit hard.”
Real Princess (Nkosi Hlophe)
Beach Goddess was a convincing winner of a competitive Laisserfaire over 100m further but still has something to find. “This is a bit on the short side for Beach Goddess but she is doing well,” reports Brett Crawford who feels that Carry On Alice is going to be very hard to beat and that her lack of a run may not make a significant difference over the minimum trip.
Scandal is on a hat-trick and has been raised 5.5kg for her last two Fairview wins. Theoretically that puts her into the shake-up but there is always a suspicion that Port Elizabeth ratings are suspect in Cape Town.
Rock On Baby beat only one home 12 months ago and, if Dennis Drier is going to cause an upset, it is more likely to be with Anime who won an FM 76 handicap over this trip in a manner that suggested she is capable of better.
BLOB Marinaresco has been installed favourite for the Sun Met ahead of his Green Point conqueror Legal Eagle. Betting World has him at 17-10 and Legal Eagle at 22-10 while World Sports Betting goes 2-1 and 22-10.
By Michael Clower
