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Excitement is building for next week’s
G1 Cape Guineas at Kenilworth for which 16 top three-year-olds have been accepted and Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock has two classy runners in Union Square and Shoemaker, rated 116 and 114 respectively.
The pair arrived at the Milnerton Training Centre on Thursday, where they will be going through their final paces his week under the eye of assistant trainer Trevor Brown. Mike will be joining them in due course. Brown reported: “Both arrived here in very good nick having travelled well. We’re looking forward to the race.”
Mike is excited too. He feels Union Square and Shoemaker should not be discounted in a race already being dubbed as a two-cornered contest between Cousin Casey (115) and the unbeaten Charles Dickens (121).
For now, however, it’s Saturday racing at the Vaal, for which a maximum 28 runners will spread across the track for the Grand Heritage over the straight 1475m and arguably the best field in the history of the novel race has been assembled.
Lucky Houdalakis has two in-form runners in useful campaigners Dyce and Duke Of Sussex, who may have what some will consider an advantage being drawn near the standside rail. But, as we’ve seen from past results of this race, it can be won from both sides as well as the middle of the pack and the unusual distance plays a role. With stakes winners Paisley Park and Prophet among their rivals, the Houdalakis pair has to be at their best. Add to this, formidable others in the likes of Ndlamu and Whafeef and the scene is set for a nail-biter.
Mike’s only runner for the day, and indeed the weekend, is Forever Mine, who will shoulder top weight in the Grand Heritage Consolation over 1475m. He commented: “Forever Mine raced several times this season and we’ve spoken a lot about his preference for 1400m and 1450m. The extra 25m will be fine, the unknown factor is that this is a straight 1475 which is not the same as a race around the bend, because it’s harder for jockeys to assess the pace.
“Forever Mine is as fit and well as ever. He’s enjoyed his racing this term and, if you look at the handicap, there are 10 horses who are out at the weights with him. We know Forever Mine is a horse that doesn’t like to hang around. He gets on with the job, has very good pace and the ability to put his rivals under pressure. That’s the way he’s won this season. He gets to the front and keeps up his strong pace. Whether he’ll get it right on the straight course over the unusual trip we’ll have to see, but he’s a big runner, no doubt.”
The topliner at Sunday’s Kenilworth meeting is the G2 Cape Merchants over 1200m, an invariably thrilling sprint which has drawn a full field of 20 for the first time in years. While there is plenty of quality in the race, it seems to lack an obvious older sprinting star like Kasimir or Rio Querari, though Justin Snaith’s We’re Jamming is well on the up and may be the heir apparent.
Last season’s classic contender Zapatillas comes into the race off a rest, but it is to be noted that he’s won both his starts at the course and distance. Gimme A Prince and Resonate are two others who’ll come into the reckoning on recent showings, with Gem King possibly the joker in the pack.
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