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Cape Racing’s G1 Splashout Cape Derby is the highlight of a busy
weekend’s racing action this Saturday. The question that begs answering is if star colt Charles Dickens be as effective over 2000m as he has proven to be over 1400m and a mile, in a race that will be an automatic pointer to his prospects for the 2023 Durban July.
While Cape Racing’s assessment that Charles Dickens towers head and shoulders above his rivals on exposed form and that he might well be in a ‘different time zone’, is arguably spot on, they also point to a maxim that urges punters not to bet on a short-priced favourite trying something for the first time – in this case, the distance.
But history is invariably on the side of true champions, even if they appear to face something potentially daunting. The single close second in Charles Dickens’ seven-run form chart was against older horses in a field of such calibre that it cannot bring his supreme leadership of the classic generation into doubt. Freshened and reportedly in good nick, he should win this!
There are seven other features on a wonderful undercard, including the G2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m in which rising star Gimme A Prince gets a good opportunity to prove media sentiments that he is the new champion on the sprinters’ block.
4Racing hosts another 10-race programme at Turffontein on Sunday and Mike de Kock has filed pre-race comments for his seven runners at the city track. He’ll be hoping for a good start to the day as the stable’s newcomer shows promise at home.
Race 1: “Gimmeanotherchance is a well-bred colt by Gimmethegreenlight. He’s pedigree suggests he’ll enjoy further than sprint distances, but he’s been showing us enough speed in his work to be very competitive. If not too green first up, I expect him to go close.”
Race 3: “I was impressed with Unyielding’s run over 1400m last time, he came from several lengths off them, ran on nicely into fourth and over the extra 200m I reckon he’s a runner worth considering. Turnthebeataround was scheduled to race last week and missed his run due to rain. The same comment as last week goes for him – he needs further than a mile to show his best, has place prospects.”
Race 4: “A small, quality line-up here in the Bauhinia Handicap, a tough race to win, I think both our fillies Queen Of Gaul and Good Queen Bess are better over a touch further than 1000m. Good Queen Bess is in form, she’s run some good honest races recently and has a place chance. If they go hard and she finishes it off, she’ll run well. Queen Of Gaul has her first run for us, she’s quite a hot filly that shows good work on our home track. You can see by her rating that she has got ability. Hard to predict how she will go after a long rest and with her temperament the way it is. But she is a filly with ability so include her in your play.”
Race 6: “Zinovi runs for us in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes. He was a bit shin shore after his 800m debut last November. He’s had a bit of a rest but he is well, a speedy sort and I give him a place chance in another competitive race.”
Race 7: “Clafoutis is our Acacia Handicap contender. She ran a very good race last time, plugged on well from the back and had a good 400 to finish. If she’s ridden in a similar fashion, I think she’s in with a shout off 52kg, she looks to be competitive here.”
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