09/06/2023
CHARLES DICKENS OUT FOR REVENGE
Andrew Harrison
There is some cracking racing at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow with the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge high on the list of the lands race-of-the-season as Charles Dickens seeks revenge on Al Muthana, but also firmly in the picture are Trip To Fortune and Cousin Casey in a high-class renewal of the third leg of the unofficial Gr1 WFA mile triple crown.
Charles Dickens was hot favourite for the Gr1 L’ Ormarins King’s Plate but Bernard Fayd’Herbe spoiled the party, sneaking up on the outside of the odds-on favourite and handing him his first defeat.
There was only a neck separating them at the line with champions Jet Dark and Kommetdieding in close attendance.
Since then, Charles Dickens has finished second to See It Again in the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby where he may have been found out by the 2000m trip and recently turned the tables on his rival in the Gr2 KZN Guineas.
Al Muthana, last year’s winner when trained by Mike de K**k, has been a touch disappointing since his King’s Plate victory but was doing his best work late in the recent Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes behind recent Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. Veteran trainer Ricky Maingard, the man behind the mighty Wolf Power lest we forget, is no stranger to preparing his charges for big races and Al Muthana will strip at his peak.
Candice Bass-Robinson is sure to have faith that Charles Dickens will write his name in the history books but she has a second string to her bow in Trip To Fortune.
It is not every day that Cape-based horses make it to the Highveld and put the locals to bed, but Trip To Fortune, down the field in the King’s Plate, made the journey to Gauteng to win the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and showed no ill effects from his trip to the Highveld beating subsequent Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint winner Gimme A Prince and Al Muthana in the Drill Hall Stakes.
It was a cracking effort by any standards but Maingard is sure to have left a length-or-two’s improvement for Saturday’s contest.
Cousin Casey, supreme last season, has had to bow to Charles Dickens and See It Again in the three-year-old pecking order but from pole position draw he cannot be ignored lightly.
Royal Aussie, had the R7.5 million Gold Rush as his main target for the season where he had Dave The King, second in recent Gr1 Daily News 2000 behind him. On his Gr1 Cape Guineas form, he is some six lengths inferior to Charles Dickens but that is water under the bridge and he comes into the race off victory against older horses over the Kenilworth 1400m. He looks quite capable of finishing in the money.
The supporting features are Gr3 Cup Trial and the Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes.
With 20 days to go to the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, the Cup Trial and the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes at Turffontein are traditionally the last chance saloon for borderline entries into the July.
None of the nine July entries running in the Cup Trial are among the 20 preferred runners on the recently released July log so there is a lot at stake with the weights due out on Monday and declarations for the final field on Monday, June 19.
The Cup Trial is a wide-open contest but Justin Snaith will be attempting to add Rockpool to his list of July entries. Rockpool ran below expectations last start behind stable companion Isitrainingwilliam and initially plans to make his way to KZN were shelved. But the connections had a change of heart and Rock Pool will be out to redeem himself.
Quasiforsure was disappointing in the Greyville 1900 but was left with plenty to do in soft ground. On the evidence of that showing there must be a question mark hanging over his stamina. Mike de K**k has declared first time blinkers for Shoemaker who was not far back behind See It Again in the Gr1 Daily News 2000.
Aldo Domeyer stays with the ride. Andre Nel is two-handed with Wi******er Mansion and Cape Eagle. Wi******er Mansion was doing his best work late in the Greyville 1900 for a narrow second while Sean Tarry’s entry Litigation is better off at the weights and along with Cape Eagle, all three in with chances.
The East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes is another puzzle for punters. Sean Tarry’s filly Marigold Hotel has drawn a touch wide in a tough line-up but she warmed up well with a comfortable recent sprint victory and should strip close to her peak. De K**k sends out Humdinger who took on a strong field from a wide draw last start.
She is over her best trip and is seldom out of the money. Bon Vivant has her third run after a break for Johan Janse van Vuuren and is back over her optimum trip. Stable companion Maharanee is showing signs of coming back to her best form after a spell in the doldrums as she was finishing off nicely last start and from a plum draw must have a good chance on her best effort.
In all it will be a mouth-watering day’s racing on a 10-race card.
Racecard:https://www.goldcircle.co.za/downloads/racecard/greyville_10_jun.pdf
Image: Candiese Lenferna
