Graeme Hawkins

Elusive Winter, sporting blinkers for the first time, blazed a trail in yesterday’s headliner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the Cape B Stakes over 1000m, and then showed great tenacity to hold off the attentions of the strongly supported favourite Tenango. Ridden by Gareth Wright for the training partnership of Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford, Elusive Winter (20/1)took the bull by the horns from the jump and was never headed. The leading pair finished well clear of All About Al, who ran his usual game race, with the 5yo mare Porque Te Vas rounding out the Quartet.

Louis Burke won Leg 1 of the Hollywoodbets Work Riders’ Series on Rafa Bay a few weeks ago and he maintained a firm grip at the top of the Log when taking out Leg 2 yesterday, a Maiden Plate over 1000m. Oozing confidence, Burke allowed the favourite Elsinore (13/10) to find his feet in the early stages and the Justin Snaith-trained favourite finished off the race well to beat the shrewdly supported Peanut Pops by a neck.

The second race, a Cape D Stakes over 1100m, produced a thrilling finish with Rougarouin (5/1) just getting the better of the ultra-consistent Electric Feels  (33/10). The early leader, Explicit Content stayed on to finish third ahead of the tote favourite, Tambourine Man, who rounded out a popular quartet.

Only eight runners lined up for the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m, but it turned out to be a rough affair. Alex Miller and Meursault were the chief sufferers inside the final 100m as Tap Shoes (8/1), an own sister to Zapatillas, rallied strongly under Grant Van Niekerk to narrowly deny White Waters by a head, with Supreme Fate running on strongly to fill the Trifecta position.

Snaith struck for a third time in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, saddling the first two past the post. Native Ruler looked one of the better bets on the card but drifted alarmingly in the face of support for his stable companion Gran Canaria, who was eventually sent out as the tote favourite. Native Ruler and Gran Canaria joined issue with 200m to race but the former was always travelling the better and forged ahead to score readily.

Tothemoonandback (11/10) was all the rage to win the fifth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1800m, and the Des McLachlan-trained 5yo son of Twice Over was the subject of a terrific ride by Grant Van Niekerk to gun down Summer Night City inside the final 50m. Summer Night City made an early dash for home but had no more to offer when challenged late by Tothemoonandback who got up to score by a neck.

Craig Bantam and Adam Marcus teamed up to win the sixth race, a Cape D Stakes over 1400m, with the well-fancied Dream Searcher. Bantam had Dream Searcher (7/2) in fifth spot as the field turned for home but the 4yo daughter of Erupt quickened up smartly and drew clear to score comfortably. Ischyro (12/1) plugged on for second with Black Path(12/1) and Gold Index (40/1) making up the frame.

Van Niekerk, sporting the famous black and white silks of Gary Player, posted his third victory of the afternoon when steering the Greg Ennion-trained Family Power to a comfortable win over Swiatek (9/4) in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m. Family Power was trading at 7/1 in the ante-post market but solid race day support saw the 4yo daughter of Louis The King’s odds trimmed to 9/2 and the confidence proved spot on. Miraculous (9/4) was never comfortable in the early running and trailed in a distant fourth.

David Thiselton

The outside rail is at zero at the Vaal meeting today which by trends means the high draws will be favourable in the races down the straight (1600m and shorter).

The draw has an effect on selections and a good example is in race 5, where Peace Treaty was most eye-catching over 1160m last time and should enjoy the step up in trip. However, he is drawn one which might make it tricky for him to find cover and run on. 

Therefore, the selection is the filly Sonic Jet, who had some fine maiden form with close up finishes behind the like of Fatal Flaw, World Of Alice and Parisian Walkway before dominating from the front over this course and distance to win her maiden. She had a favourable draw that day and is drawn on the right side again. 

Peace Treaty could overcome the draw in a field that is not too big and will be a big runner if able to find cover and get over towards the outside. Those two should be enough to get through the exotics. For wider Guerilla Warfare was well beaten over 1400m last time against the promising sort Confederate but should appreciate the step up in trip and is drawn on the right side. Mutarazi ran an improved race last time and could earn again over the course and distance of his maiden win. Key News has not been disgraced against some fair sorts and is drawn towards the right side over a step up in trip which should suit.

The first leg of the Pick 6 could be won by Gloria Mundi. She is an improving sort and went close over 2000m last time and now has a fair draw over 1800m. City Lights has been placed often in her long maiden career and has an opportunity to win here over a suitable trip. However, she has a tricky draw. Quello Che has become disappointing but could do better here from a plum draw. Rising Russian has shown glimpses of ability and could earn. After Shock might enjoy the step up in trip. Empress Wu could earn in the line up too.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 Futurewolff is off a mark one point lower than his last win and gets a good opportunity here over a suitable 1700m course and distance from pole position with 1,5kg claimer Trent Mayhew up. Vava Vegas beat Futurewolff by 4,30 lengths when they met over course and distance in October but if apprentice claims are included, he is 8kg worse off. He has a fair draw and could be involved. Callaburn is always thereabouts and should be again, but he does have a tough draw. Crepuscolo is drawn well and can earn if bouncing back. American Biscuit could bounce back to form with Lerena aboard and can’t be ignored.

In the sixth race over 1475m Argo Alley will enjoy the step down in trip and is drawn on the right side. The Africa House went close over 1450m last time and is also drawn on the right side. Wyzeact ran a cracker over 1400m last time and if repeating under the same 1,5kg claimer he will go close from a plum high draw. 

In the seventh over 1000m Chocolate Soldier is very quick and is capable of blitzing the field from a nice high draw with a 1,5kg claimer up. Nkandla Gold is a reliable sort and has run crackers over this trip in his last two starts. Jason Gates stays aboard and he is drawn on the right side. Raven Black returns from a layoff but could get away with it over this trip. He comes off a hattrick but has not raced for over a year. 

In the eighth over 1000m Blaze A Way looks to be promising. He has not raced for just over two months but the form of his last start, when narrowly beaten by Karate Kid, looks good now as the latter went on to win a Graduation Plate when way under sufferance at the weights. Duke Of Rock is better than his recent form suggests and if it goes his way he could earn. Johnny Appleseed is quick and if going out a bit more conservatively could be in the shake up. Kinshin Sha is drawn on the right side and for an in form yard could bounce back to form over his optimum trip. Smith And Wesson is capable of being involved from a middle draw with a 2,5kg claimer up.

In the first leg of the Bipot Spumante Dolce is by Vercingetorix and is a half-sister to July winner Sparkling Water. She does not have a lot to beat. Kalikaa makes most appeal of those to have run.

In the first leg of the PA Highveld Storm should have come on from his last start and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. Green Cherry made a good debut and should appreciate the step up in trip. Satyagraha made a good debut and should go close from a high draw.

RACE 1     
15 SPUMANTE DOLCE 1 KALIKAA 17 WARNING SOUND 6 ON A JET PLANE
Preview: 15 SPUMANTE DOLCE is by Vercingetorix and is a half-sister to July winner Sparkling Water. 1 KALIKAA has run well in her last two and could earn again. 17 WARNING SOUND ran a well beaten second on debut and should improve. 6 ON A JET PLANE has run three fair races and can earn here. (15-1-17-6)

RACE 2     
2 HIGHVELD STORM 14 GREEN CHERRY 15 SATYAGRAHA 5 LLOYD WRIGHT
Preview: 2 HIGHVELD STORM should have come on from his last start and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. 14 GREEN CHERRY made a good debut and should appreciate the step up in trip. 15 SATYAGRAHA made a good debut and should go close from a high draw. 5 LLOYD WRIGHT has shown wnough to have a chance here. (2-14-15-5)

RACE 3  
3 GLORIA MUNDI 1 CITY LIGHTS 4 QUELLO CHE 5 RISING RUSSIAN  
Preview: 3 GLORIA MUNDI is knocking on the door and is distance suited. 1 CITY LIGHTS is many-times placed and should be again in this field. 4 QUELLO CHE is capable of doing better than her last two. 5 RISING RUSSIAN has shown glimpses of ability and could earn. (3-1-4-5)

RACE 4     
1 FUTUREWOLFF 5 VAVA VEGAS 7 CALLABURN 2 CREPUSCOLO
Preview: 1 FUTUREWOLFF has a chance off a two point lowered merit from a pole position draw. 5 VAVA VEGAS is usually thereabouts and should be again from a good draw. 7 CALLABURN is never far off them and should earn again. 2 CREPUSCOLO has the ability to earn in  this race. (1-5-7-2)

RACE 5     
7 SONIC JET 6 GUERILLA WARFARE 9 MUTARAZI 1 PEACE TREATY
Preview: 7 SONIC JET won well in the maidens and starts off a reasonable 85 merit rating considering that win. 6 GUERILLA WARFARE is on a competitive merit rating and should enjoy this trip. 9 MUTARAZI has a chance on the form of his last run. PEACE TREATY caught the eye last time running on strongly over 1160m so should enjoy the step up in trip but is drawn one which will be tricky. (7-6-9-8)

RACE 6     
1 ARGO ALLEY 5 THE AFRICA HOUSE 3 WYZEACT
Preview: 1 ARGO ALLEY has come into his own and is distance suited and drawn on the right side. 5 THE AFRICA HOUSE also enjoys this trip and has a form chance. 3 WYZEACT can go close if repeating his last start. (1-5-3)

RACE 7     
2 CHOCOLATE SOLDIER 7 NKANDLA GOLD 4 RAVEN BLACK 6 FOREVERINMYDREAMS
Preview: 2 CHOCOLATE SOLDIER is capable of blitzing a field and he is drawn on the right side with a 2,5kg claimer up. 7 NKANDLA GOLD is knocking on he door and should make another bold bid. 4 RAVEN BLACK scored a hattrick last year but has not run for eleven months. 6 FOREVERINMYDREAMS also had good form but returns from a long layoff. (2-7-4-6)

RACE 8     
4 BLAZE A WAY 9 DUKE OF ROCK 7 JOHNNY APPLESEED 2 KINSHIN SHA 
Preview: 4 BLAZE A WAY is in good form and is only 2kg worse off with Johnny Appleseed after beating him by 1,45 lengths.  9 DUKE OF ROCK is off a competitive merit rating and if things go his way will be dangerous. 7 JOHNNY APPLESEED has a lot of pace and is drawn on the right side according to the track report and is two points lower than last time when overhauled. 2 KINSHIN SHA has a chance if bouncing back to his best from a high draw. (4-9-7-2)

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