Race 1
Race Summary: BEAUTIFUL WINTER outran market expectations on debut and would've come on appreciably with the benefit of that outing. He finished behind FENCING CAPTAIN that day but, with natural improvement expected, could turn the tables. CLIFF SWALLOW, SICILY and SEEKING THE LIFE have shown enough to make their presence felt, while newcomers ELIZABEDI GOLD and CROWNED HORNBILL shouldn't be underestimated. Watch the betting!
Selections:
#7 Beautiful Winter, #2 Fencing Captain, #14 Cliff Swallow, #6 Elizabedi Gold
Race 2
Race Summary: LION RAMPART hasn't been seen since beating MISS WORLD (3.5kg better off) over 1200m on 2 June but is open to any amount of improvement on his reappearance. HANDSOME PRINCE has the benefit of recent race fitness on his side and should be competitive. BILLY COOL and gelded ROMAN AGENT (gelded) are not taken lightly returning from respective absences. KZN raider LUHAMBA PHAMBILI isn't in Cape Town for the scenery and shouldn't be ignored.
Selections:
#1 Lion Rampart, #2 Handsome Prince, #3 Miss World, #6 Roman Agent
Race 3
Race Summary: TUSCAN ROMANCE has finished 2nd in all 4 starts so wouldn't be winning out of turn. OCOTILLO ran on well to finish 2nd on debut over 1250m and on that evidence, should improve over this extended trip with that experience to count on. SPECIAL GLAMOUR and GOODNESSGRACIOUSME will appreciate stepping up to this distance and should acquit themselves competitively. DIAMOND BOMBER is drawn widest but has shown enough to play a leading role. Well-bred newcomer CONSCIENTIOUS is worth a market check on debut.
Selections:
#11 Tuscan Romance, #5 Ocotillo, #14 Diamond Bomber, #3 Special Glamour
Race 4
Race Summary: AMONG THE CLOUDS has finished 2nd in each of her 3 starts over 1800m, including her latest behind PRINCESS OF BAYEUX (1kg worse off). She is good value to avenge that defeat on these revised terms. PLUM PUDDING and LICKETY SPLIT are closely matched on recent form and can also fight for victory. Maturing PENTOLINA has improved with blinkers fitted and is open to further progress over this trip. GREEN ISLE made a pleasing reappearance over an inadequate trip and shouldn't be underestimated either.
Selections:
#3 Among The Clouds, #5 Pentolina, #6 Lickety Split, #7 Plum Pudding
Race 5
Race Summary: Tricky. THE GREY KING has been off for 4 months but has run well fresh. SOLAR POWER and TYRION LANNISTER are better than their last starts suggest so shouldn't be hastily condemned. WILLIE JOHN caught the eye in his first start with ear-muffs fitted when running on from a long way back to finish ahead of ASPECT over 1400m. On that evidence, the extra 200m with the headgear retained should be to his liking. Hard-knockers CARRIACOU and FUTURE TURN have the form and experience to acquit themselves competitively.
Selections:
#5 Willie John, #6 Aspect, #7 Carriacou, #8 Future Turn
Race 6
Race Summary: Cases can be made for most. DANCE VARIETY, ICY BLAST and ZIYASHA are consistent hard-knockers with solid form credentials. Thriving DEAN STREET is at the top of his game and should give another competitive account of himself. THE ABDICATOR is course-and-distance suited, while lightly raced MEU CAPITANO is open to further progress on his reappearance. NORDIC CHIEF would've tightened up with the benefit of an encouraging comeback run so is dangerous to discount with just 52kg on his back.
Selections:
#9 Dance Variety, #6 Dean Street, #8 Meu Capitano, #2 Nordic Chief
Race 7
Race Summary: A traditional stepping stone to the Cape Guineas. GREAT PLAINS ran on from a hopeless position to finish 4th in a 2yo Grade 1 during KZN's winter season and needn't be fully tuned to make a winning reappearance. ALL OUT FOR SIX finished ahead of stablemate TALK TO THE MASTER in a 2yo Grade 3 over 1500m in late June and is also open to improvement on his return. Hat-trick seeking BOUNDLESS ENERGY is out at the weights but on a steep upward trajectory with superior race fitness on his side. Last-start Listed winner MAKAZOLE shouldn't be underestimated either.
Selections:
#5 Great Plains, #6 Boundless Energy, #4 All Out For Six, #7 Makazole
Race 8
Race Summary: Last-start 1250m maiden winners EMPIRE STATE and ARISTOTLE should have more to offer over this extended trip. BIG UNIT, DAS GUTE and UNICORN ALERT are closely matched on recent form and have the experience to challenge the aforementioned 3yo pair. Stable companions WORLD OF PLEASURE and MARVEL WILLIAM complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#7 Aristotle, #2 Empire State, #12 Das Gute, #9 Big Unit
Race 9
Race Summary: ICY LANCASTER made amends for an unlucky close-up 6th at Scottsville by winning from a wide draw at Greyville in late September. She wouldn't have made the trip to Cape Town without good reason so it could pay to follow her progress. STRATA, stablemate THE CHARLESTON, consistent LOVE SHACK and improving DAFNES DAUGHTER are best equipped to challenge the KZN raider. Returning fillies ALL IS GREEN, FURIOUS QUEEN and LA DIVINA have scope to improve so must be watched on their reappearances. Hard-knocker LADY LOOK ALIKE and last-start winner CHAMPAGNE KISSES appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#3 Icy Lancaster, #5 The Charleston, #7 Dafnes Daughter, #13 Love Shack
Best Win: #7 BEAUTIFUL WINTER
Best Value Bet: #5 WILLIE JOHN
Best Longshot: #5 WILLIE JOHN
