David Thiselton
The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday is the focus of SA Racing fans at present and the question is being asked whether the Highveld form or the Cape form will emerge on top.
The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Equus Champion colt Jan Van Goyen is the only representative of the Highveld, but he represents the form of the horse many view as the best three-year-old in the country, Trust, who has a devastating turn of foot and he used it to beat Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans.
Jan Van Goyen arrived in Cape Town on Wednesday and hopefully he travelled well, which is not a given especially with there currently apparently being a lot of roadwork delays. The Dingaans did not pan out well for him as he was kept wide by Trust. It told late in the race as he was unable to match the latter’s late gear change and he also likely needed it as it was his first start since winning the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of July in easy and impressive fashion. Nevertheless, Jan Van Goyen showed a tremendous burst of speed in the Dingaans and this will stand him in good stead in Saturday’s race from a great draw of four. He will have come on from the run and will be out to give the De Kock yard a sixth Cape Guineas victory.
Justin Snaith is going for a fourth Cape Guineas success and Happy Verse could be his best hope. This horse has always oozed class but has not always had the best of luck. He should be cherry ripe to deliver and should be turning it on in the straight.
Gimmie Rules also has a fine turn of foot as he displayed last time when toying with older rivals despite coming around them from last on the Old Course. This full brother to Gimme A Prince and The Real Prince possesses speed and class and should pass his acid test. He will be out to give Dean Kannemeyer a seventh Cape Guineas success and the Kannemeyer yard a tenth as Dean’s father Peter won it three times.
Good For You is a Gr 1 winner over 1200m but showed last time he gets this trip when winning the Gr 2 Race Coast Cape Punters Cup over 1600m. Some say he was lucky to keep the race as he caused interference late, but he was giving the rest of the field 2kg , so should beat them again. Against him is his wide draw, as opposed to draw two in the Punters Cup, and it won’t be easy to get into his front-running or handy position from there.
Vapour Trail will be out to give Vaughan Marshall a seventh Cape Guineas success and he will be out to repeat the feat of his half-brother One Stripe, who won it last year. He is not as good as One Stripe, but is on the up and can prove the mile is no problem for him.
Randolph Hearst was the narrow runner up in the Punters Cup when running on strongly and he could be a contender here as he is improving.
Aristocratic never really saw daylight in the Punters Cup and was beaten 3,35 lengths but he has given the impression that if having the room to unwind he could produce a powerful finish, so he can’t be ignored from draw six with the good tactician Muzi Yeni up.
Roland Garros has beaten Randolph Hearst over 1500m before and is not out of it under Andrew Fortune, although he has a tricky draw of nine.
Beware is well out at the weights but has caught the eye as one capable of making the step up to this class, but he does have a tough draw.
Star Major is held in good regard and was not disgraced in the Punters Cup, beaten 2,45 lengths into fifth, but he has a tricky draw again.
Pay The Palace plugged on into third in the Punters Cup and could earn again.
Absolutely Yes could be dangerous from a good draw as he is effective when things go his way in the front.
Aversator looks held but could help ensure a good pace.
Malmesbury Missile disappointed last time over 1200m and does look well held by Jan Van Goyen, but he is drawn in pole and has the ability to earn a cheque.
Fox On The Run is well regarded and can do better than he did in the Punters Cup, but he does have the widest draw of all.
Jan Van Goyen faces a tough task, considering the Dingaans was just two weeks ago, but he looks to possess a tremendous amount of class and he is taken to beat Happy Verse with Gimmie Rules, Good For You and Vapour Trail next best.
