A high quality discipline of 15 has been accepted for Saturday’s R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas to be run over the lush summer season course mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Headed by unbeaten native star Charles Dickens, the classic renewal contains hometown Gr1 winner Cousin Casey, in addition to the visiting trio of Dingaans winner Union Square, his stablemate Shoemaker and Grant Maroun’s Graham Beck Stakes winner Anfields Rocket.
There are various opinions in the build-up banter.
Is it actually a match race? On paper, Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey look set for a head-to-head battle and will begin from large gates 11 and 14, respectively in the 1600m Grade 1 showpiece, run on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth summer season course with its type 600m straight.
Despite the gate inconvenience, Charles Dickens is 5/10 to remain unbeaten, while his severely elegant market rival is revered at 7/2.
Host operator, Cape Racing, means that score racehorses is a component artwork, half science, and it’s uncommon for figure-makers to be in full settlement.
A son of Trippi, Charles Dickens, has an official score of 121 forward of Vercingetorix star Cousin Casey (115) and the two Highveld raiders, Union Square (116) and Shoemaker (114).
Karel Miedema’s Raceform takes a extra conservative view on the rankings, utilizing a barely totally different scale, however successfully additionally ranks Charles Dickens on prime of the present basic era with an RFR of 110 vs 107 for Cousin Casey, and forward of the visiting brigade, together with Anfields Rocket (RFR 103, draw 13/15).
Respected classical weight handicapper Charles Faull reckons that Charles Dickens ‘could be the next Sea Cottage, Horse Chestnut or Politician in SAF’s racing worth hierarchy’. A giant assertion – however the man has extra information and expertise than most!
Faull has chosen to order judgement till season finish, however his preliminary rankings primarily based on Charles Dickens’ concession of weight at a outstanding final begin drubbing of older previous Cape Guineas victor Russian Rock sends him into the determine makers’ stratosphere – 131 + versus Cousin Casey on 128.
He additionally sees this yr’s discipline as ‘particularly strong’ with the potential to yield 5 plus particular person Grade 1 winner over time.
One of these, At My Command (MR 109) fared properly at the barrier draw and will have the inside gate. He has twice run with distinction towards the observe bias and could also be upset if getting the run of the race.
The most up-to-date ‘away’ winner was Soqrat in 2018.
His jockey (Randall Simons) and coach (Mike de Kock) mix once more on Saturday with latest Dingaans winner Union Square. De Kock has an ideal document in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, having received it in 2018 with Soqrat, 2015 (Noah From Goa), 2003 (Domino Man), 2002 (Flight Alert) and 1999 (Horse Chestnut).
So, to miss his runners is clearly folly. But Union Square (draw 4) and Shoemaker (draw 7) should up their recreation – not inconceivable given the surges of enchancment correctly conditioned three-year-old thoroughbreds could make.
Jockeys who’ve received the Cape Guineas and are driving in the ‘classic of kings’ on Saturday embrace Corne Orffer, Randall Simons, Bernard Fayd’herbe and Piere Strydom.
Trainers who’ve received the prestigious race beforehand are Justin Snaith, Brett Crawford, Mike de Kock and Vaughan Marshall.
Charles Dickens is presently buying and selling at 5-10 with the large race sponsors. Find one thing to beat and you’re set for 2023. But don’t bond the home to do it.
The Pick 6 commences in the fourth race at 13h20. A R1 million carryover means a probable pool of R6 million.
The quartet carryover of R250 000 on the eighth race, the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, ought to imply a tidy R1 million to chase. Imagine discovering the prime 4, with out Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey! Dream on.
Aside from the distinctive racing on provide we’ve leisure from the Kaapse Klopse and a number of different festivities for the entire household.
ALSO READ: Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas: ‘Charles Dickens the best horse I’ve educated’ – Candice Bass-Robinson
