Eleven runners have been tempted to Kenilworth on Saturday for the R100 000 grade 3 Peninsula Handicap, the traditional consolation race for those who look unlikely to pass muster for the highlight of the Cape summer season, the J&B Met, a fortnight later.
Gauteng trainer Charles Laird has engaged in-form Jeff Lloyd to partner promising three-year-old Dance All Day in the 1 800m event and the son of Rambo Dancer must have a chance of adding what would be the biggest success of his career to the four wins and five places he has posted from 10 starts.
The colt’s last run was just 11 days ago when he was a very useful 2,75-length third to smart Set Afire at Newmarket. With his well-being confirmed and a win over the distance already under his belt, Dance All Day seems to have every chance of adding to the success his trainer has enjoyed at the Cape this season.
There is no shortage of opposition, though. Five-year-old Frisco Bay tries this distance for the first time but runs as if he will relish the extra ground. The Freedom Land gelding is quite consistent.
The all-conquering stable of Mike Bass sends out Sports Warrior and Diplomat. The latter appears to be the choice of stable jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who must have been watching anxiously in recent weeks as Piere Strydom all but obliterated his lead in the jockeys’ championship race. At last count the two had each partnered 92 winners and Fayd’Herbe desperately needs a couple of big-scoring days if he is to maintain his surprise challenge. Sports Warrior has another title-chaser, Mark Khan, in the saddle, though and boasts some form of his own.
Dean Kannemeyer sends out Avant-Guard, who appears held here, the classy Redcarpet Style and an interesting American import, Windrush. This one carries top weight but he is well-bred and has won a grade 3 event in the US, on sand. It’s anyone’s guess how he’ll run here and he is probably better watched for now.
Gosforth Park best bets: On The Threshold (race 2); Lite Spark (race 5); Emerald Edition (race 7) Clairwood best bets: Sunset Forest (race 1); Ambiguous (race 7)