Le Harve can benefit from a step up in distance to make his class tell in the Lakey Financial Services Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow.
Richard Fourie’s mount is a full brother to the Scottsville 1 200m Grade 1 winner Normanz and all his three runs so far have been over 200m less. Indeed the doubts with this one are that the trip may not be far enough.
“Le Harve is not a sprinter and really he needs further. I would have preferred to run him in a 1 400m but there isn’t one,” says Justin Snaith. “However he will run a big race.”
Justin Snaith (Nkosi Hlophe)
He seems almost certain to start favourite – the stable had three favourites (and two winners) here on Wednesday – and the main danger could come from fellow three-year-old Caballo Blanco who is held in high regard by Bass Racing but has not raced since winning his maiden five months ago – “he is a nice horse but he will probably need it,” says Candice.
The same two stables dominate race two, the MCNS Group Maiden, and One Direction makes most appeal despite his poor draw after going so close against odds-on shot Rock Of Africa over a furlong less on debut.
The Bass-Robinson hope Logan was a little disappointing when favourite over a mile last time – he appeared to have every chance – but he represents a major threat on his previous short head second over this trip.
Contessa Fantasia has drawn even worse in the Test Kitchen Maiden 35 minutes later and, while it might appear to be tempting providence to tip her, she had the speed to dispute the early lead last time so Richard Fourie may be able to get her across. The Glen Kotzen pair Main Ambition and Insinya look dangerous while Amazingly would not have to find much more.
Captains Companion would be the bet of the day in the St Dalfour Handicap if you could get the 8-1 of the TAB sheet forecast but the bookies are unlikely to be anywhere near as generous. However Corne Orffer’s mount would still look attractive at half those odds.
After two uncharacteristically poor runs, different tactics were employed and she led until 30m out, going under by only half a length to Miss Marker. “She pulled up sore when she disappointed previously,” Brett Crawford recalls. “But she is a big-actioned filly and so she likes to be able to use herself properly and I think the improvement was a combination of the two factors.”
Harold Crawford also fancies his chances here with Can Cope who put up the most extraordinary performance when beaten little more than two lengths over this trip three weeks ago. “She put her head down in the pens and lost about eight lengths,” says her trainer. “She had never done that before so I am hoping she jumps OK this time.”
Michael Clower
