Race 1
Race Summary: ROSA OSIRIA ran improved races in KZN earlier this term and there is no reason to suggest she shouldn't continue her momentum during the Western Cape summer. MRS SHACKLETON has the form and experience to play a leading role although a bigger threat could come from a well-bred newcomer. ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED, CATCH A PENNY, FRIDA KAHLO and CASA ESTIVA are all attractively bred and worth a market check on debut.
Selections:
#3 Rosa Osiria, #7 Frida Kahlo, #5 Catch A Penny, #8 Mrs Shackleton
Race 2
Race Summary: FENCING CAPTAIN has finished a close-up 2nd in consecutive course-and-distance appearances so he wouldn't be winning out of turn. KRIM was a beaten short-priced favourite when last seen but need only bounce back to the form of his previous outing to make his presence felt after a 15-week layoff. Both CORK BAY and returning SCOTTISH LINKS showed promise on debut and would have come on appreciably with the benefit of that experience. BAGATELLE FLASH also has the form and experience to stake a claim. Respect any market support for newcomers BEAUTIFUL WINTER and NEW YORK CITY.
Selections:
#2 Fencing Captain, #6 Cork Bay, #8 Bagatelle Flash, #10 Scottish Links
Race 3
Race Summary: SPECIAL GLAMOUR was friendless in the market on debut but finished ahead of CHAMPAGNE KISSES and should confirm her superiority with that experience to count on and improvement likely. BITTER SWEET, NOODSBERG and DE VLUGGE also have scope to improve so could get into the picture. BEACH QUEEN and OCOTILLO are well-bred fillies (out of Grade 1 winners) worth watching, especially if the market speaks in their favour. Returning SPIRIT GUIDE and newcomers VIVO PER LEI and PAST IS PROLOGUE, whose dam finished 2nd in back-to-back 2yo Grade 1 races, are others to note.
Selections:
#9 Special Glamour, #3 Beach Queen, #8 Champagne Kisses, #7 Ocotillo
Race 4
Race Summary: CUMBRE VIEJA has been costly to follow but he wouldn't be winning out of turn and this shorter trip with blinkers fitted may be more to his liking. SIR KORSKI, SCOTTISH KISS and ZEITZ ran encouraging first-up races and would've come on appreciably with that experience so they ought to be competitive with natural improvement on the cards. MY ARCHANGEL was the subject of betting support on debut and shouldn't be hastily written off either. CRESCENT and MYSTIC MAJESTY are others with earning potential.
Selections:
#8 Zeitz, #6 Scottish Kiss, #3 Sir Korski, #1 Cumbre Vieja
Race 5
Race Summary: TUSCAN ROMANCE wouldn't be winning out of turn, having finished 2nd in each of her 3 starts, and she should open her account sooner rather than later. However, she's awkwardly drawn in stall No 14 which does her chances no favours. DOUBLE DASH is closely matched with that rival on recent form and is favourably positioned in gate No 2. BERRY'S BOOGIE and WILD APPLAUSE make more appeal after promising introductions and both should improve with that experience to count on. WHITE WATERS, runner-up over track and trip last time, and unexposed ALEX MILLER aren't without chances either. Good race!
Selections:
#8 Wild Applause, #5 Berry's Boogie, #14 Tuscan Romance, #2 Double Dash
Race 6
Race Summary: HANG OUT THE STARS was ridden aggressively from a wide draw when finishing 1.50 lengths behind re-opposing last-start winner FLY TO RIO (1.5kg worse off) and could turn the tables on these revised weight terms from a favourable No 2 gate. DREAM SEARCHER finished further adrift but is weighted to get closer. TRES CHIC is in good form and has dropped to an attractive mark in the ratings but she is poorly drawn in her first attempt at this distance. IM THE BUZZ and QUESTION OF FAITH could also get involved.
Selections:
#2 Hang Out The Stars, #3 Fly To Rio, #12 Tres Chic, #5 Dream Searcher
Race 7
Race Summary: Hard-knocker DAS GUTE is maintaining form and consistency at this level off his current mark and he ought to acquit himself competitively. PLEASE BE TRUE and ONE LINER are promising One World colts with bright futures. They renew rivalry with the former 1kg better off having finished 2.75 lengths behind his paternal half-brother over 1250m last month. Both should improve over this extended trip, though the same could be said of fellow unexposed 3yo BOUNDLESS ENERGY who impressed on his winning 1250m reappearance. SPIRIT'S UNITE and last-start winner AUGUSTA BLUE will keep those rivals honest.
Selections:
#9 One Liner, #4 Please Be True, #7 Boundless Energy, #2 Das Gute
Race 8
Race Summary: SHE'S MY CAPTAIN is reunited with Richard Fourie after scoring over 1000m under Gareth Wright. She races off a career-high mark and is vulnerable over this trip with 60.5kg on her back. OMIKAMI could hardly have been more impressive when winning on debut and is open to any amount of improvement, so it could pay to follow her progress. Consistent GREAT CAT, lightly raced LA DIVINA and DARK WINTER, a stakes-placed 2yo last season, have the form and experience to expose any chinks in the selection's armour. FIRST MASTERPIECE and JOU LEKKER DING also have the means to make their presence felt.
Selections:
#4 Omikami, #8 Great Cat, #5 Jou Lekker Ding, #7 Dark Winter
Race 9
Race Summary: JET TO THE SUN and PENTOLINA improved for the step up to this trip to register course-and-distance maiden victories. The latter benefitted from the fitting of first-time blinkers that day and should have more to offer returning from a nine-week absence during which she would have strengthened and made further progress. GLEE CLUB, COULDITBE and KINKY BOOTS are consistent hardknockers with the form and experience to acquit themselves competitively. MISS NEW YORK and CATTALEYA have dropped to a dangerous mark and also have the means to stake a claim under these conditions.
Selections:
#5 Pentolina, #1 Glee Club, #9 Coulditbe, #7 Miss New York
Race 10
Race Summary: DUBBELOSIX improved to finish on the heels of game frontrunner JOUEUR DE FLUTE over 1400m last month. Both are open to improvement over this extended trip with the former good value to reverse the form of that meeting on 0.5kg better terms. LATE DECEMBER has another wide draw to negotiate but his experience will stand him in good stead. Well-related MARINE MERCHANT fared worst of all in the barrier draw but showed enough promise when finishing 3rd on debut over 1250m to warrant respect, with improvement likely over this distance. Blinkered again, HAPPY DAYS and BLACK CHERRY have claims too.
Selections:
#1 Dubbelosix, #7 Joueur De Flute, #13 Marine Merchant, #3 Happy Days
Best Win: #2 HANG OUT THE STARS
Best Value Bet: #9 ONE LINER
Best Longshot: #9 ONE LINER
