Richard Fourie is expecting significant improvement from champion sprinter Kasimir when he bids to repeat last year’s victory in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday.

The Justin Snaith gelding was only third when attempting to win a second Cape Flying Championship on Sun Met day but, according to the form book at least, he didn’t get a clear run and had to be switched off the heels of fourth-placed Run Fox Run approaching the furlong marker.

“Kasimir wasn’t checked,” says Fourie, putting the record straight.

“I was two lengths off Run Fox Run at the time, I saw it coming so I moved my horse across.

“In effect I just changed lanes.

“But the difference on Saturday is that Kasimir went into the Cape Flying having had only one run – whereas last year he’d had three – and as a result he wasn’t tight. But he is now.”

Bold Respect, second in last year’s Cape Flying and beaten a short head this time, looks a big price at 10-1.

Was he in any way unlucky?

And was there anything that could have been done differently to perhaps reverse that wafer-thin verdict?

Greg Cheyne, who again has the mount, shakes his head and grins when the question is put to him, “No, there were no excuses in the Cape Flying – I was beaten on the bob.

“If it was me who’d got the nod [and not Aldo Domeyer on Russet Air] then I would have won.”

 On Met day and, after winning the two-year-old Listed race with Erik The Red, Justin Snaith spoke of his reluctance to let a horse of his size race so fast so early in his career.

Yet the colt turns out again for the Capetown Noir Cape Of Good Hope Nursery and is odds-on favourite.

“No, I have no reservations about running him again here,” said the trainer. “If you remember, I hadn’t galloped him before the race on Met day and he has been doing very well. He should take some beating.”

Similarly Dean Kannemeyer doesn’t appear to have hesitated about bringing back R2 million purchase Delta Queen for the Kepu Kenilworth Fillies Nursery only a fortnight after her debut.

Kannemeyer said: “It’s not as if she tore her guts out to win – she did it quite comfortably – and she came through the race very well.

If she also comes through this one with flying colours I will put her on the list for Durban.”

Delta Queen is 16-10 favourite with Snaith’s Stuck On You (third in the Met day Listed race) next in the market on 22-10. Stable companion Favorita (6-1) is the only other in the 11-strong field in single figures. Erik The Red has only six against him and is quoted at 5-10 with Anton Marcus’s mount Joseph Barry second favourite at 5-1.

This is the eighth successive year that the Cape Town Prawn Festival is being held at Kenilworth and the organisers are offering a R99 special of 25 prawns, chips or rice and sauces plus free admission.

Compare that for value with what Navan racecourse in Ireland were offering to attract racegoers for last Sunday’s return of dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll: 35 euros (R565) to cover admission, a beef roll, a race card and a bottle of beer. Admittedly they threw in a free 5 Euros (R80) bet but Navan’s facilities and general comfort level make Kenilworth look like Royal Ascot.

Those going to the course on Saturday will also be given a complimentary entry for draws for R50 000 worth of household goods including a R20 000 star prize.

You have to complete a form on arrival at the racecourse to take part.

By Michael Clower