The old firm is reunited at Kenilworth today when Richard Fourie has six rides for Justin Snaith. But apparently this does not signify an official resumption of the partnership that produced nine Grade 1 wins – indeed Bernard Fay’d Herbe would have ridden some of the Snaith runners had not Durban called.
However the Snaith sextet includes some plum mounts and Cock-A-Hoop can start the ball rolling in the first. This colt was second to last Saturday’s Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge when he ran over this course and distance in April.
True, it’s not who you were second to but who you beat that counts but the Snaith horse had the third two lengths back and the other 13 strung out with the washing. What is more, they included subsequent dual winner Table Bay.
Captain Marmalade will be a leading fancy to follow up 40 minutes later but Kenny Trix’s two runs have been in hot company and Vaughan Marshall’s runner gets marginal preference. Also worth bearing in mind is Dark Force who finished third to Always In Charge and Cock-A-Hoop in April.
Fourie rides Amazingly for Adam Marcus in race three and, although she has a bit to find on her debut run, the third (Reine Tonnerre) has won since. However the vote goes to Silver Captain to add to Joey Ramsden’s Cape Town two-year-old tally – 11 wins as against 12 for Snaith and nine for Mike Bass.
Jonathan Snaith reckons that Overshadow (race seven), Pride Rock (race eight) and Cock-A-Hoop have the best chance of their Fourie-ridden sextet but cautions against diving in regardless on Twinkle Toes in the My Fair Lady Maiden as she has not raced since her first time second last August.
“She had a chip removed from a joint after that race and she could very well need the run,” he explains. The form of Juba’s second to Baqueira is looking a bit suspect but there is a line that suggests she is slightly better than Sharp Peg so Brett Crawford’s filly could be the one.
Entrechat is forecast favourite for the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap but she has top weight and this is a prep for the Winter Oaks in a fortnight’s time so it could be prudent to look elsewhere.
Interestingly Snaith Racing two days ago entered Cock-A-Hoop, Captain Marmalade, Pride Rock and Turbulent Air for the Langerman. The latter two go in the last where they meet the three-year-olds on 4.5kg worse terms than weight-for-age. That is about four lengths but, even so, Pride Rock is taken to beat forecast favourite Imperial Dancer.
Michael Clower
*Michael Clower had four winners and a third from five selections last Saturday. In the past four weeks 12 of his 18 selections have won, showing a profit of R77.30 to a R10 level stake.
