3 minute read

Weichong Marwing flies in for five rides at Kenilworth on Saturday in a bid to add to his Cape Town tally this term after landing the valuable Lanzerac Ready to Run on Safe Harbour from 16 summer season mounts.

Punters should note that tomorrow’s rides are the result of calls from his agent rather than local trainers’ booking him (and paying his airfare) for fancied mounts. Indeed two of the three for Justin Snaith look more like stable second strings.

But the former champion has a big chance on Mike Robinson’s pair – Second Nature (race six) and Sun At Midnight two races later – as both are in sparkling form.

“Second Nature is working like a bomb and has come on since her last run,” reports the Philippi trainer. “Sun At Midnight is also working very well and I think both fillies will just about win.”

Sun At Midnight is on a hat-trick and has gone up 3kg for her last win. She could have most to fear from Trip The Willow and once-raced winner Ahoy Me Matey. It’s first time out of the maidens for Second Nature and she is drawn badly but her trainer’s confidence is infectious. Riverboat Queen looks the danger.

Punters have been waiting six weeks to get their money back on Blow In The Box after Bernard Fayd’Herbe famously reported “he blew it in the box.” The slow starting colt should get off on terms in the first but Captain Ram’s form reads better – Brett Crawford thought enough of him to put him in the Somerset – and he gets the vote.

Marwing rides the Snaith newcomer Floating On Water in the next but preference is for stable companion Varside who has repeatedly gone close. Big Mistake is the form horse here although he has been off since Met day when he finished over a length in front of Varside in the Kuda Sprint.

Grant van Niekerk, who rides Varside, may also win the next on Queen Of Alamo even though the two-year-olds are finding it tough to beat the older horses so far this season. What A Winner has superior form but didn’t seem to be able to handle the firm ground last time so Shadow Warrior could be the one for the forecast.

Things start to look difficult from race four onwards but Hero Quest keeps running well and the Crawford runner gets a tentative vote.

Preview and form for the meeting at Kenilworth on Saturday. Selections by Warren Lenferna.

Race 1

Preview: BLOW IN THE BOX is improving and rates the one to beat. CAPTAIN RAM is better than his last run and should be competitive. THE BARRY BURN should show much more now over this distance. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-8)

Race 2

Preview: VARSIDE is threatening to win and should be involved in the finish. BIG MISTAKE returns from a rest but has faced much stronger – if not in too much need of this run, should be right there. FLOATING ON WATER could do well first time at the races. (Warren Lenferna 8-1-3)

Race 3

Preview: WHAT A WINNER had valid excuses last time and based on his good penultimate effort can win this race. QUARLLO will be having his peak run and comes into this race with a bright each way chance. SHADOW WARRIOR takes a drop in distance and this could help – include in the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 8-2-4)

Race 4

Preview: HERO QUEST comes from an in form stable and looks very hard to beat. STRIKEITLIKEAMATCH has a place chance and LIQUID DYNAMITE seems best over this trip and cannot be excluded from the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 5-6-1)

Race 5

Preview: SABINA’S DYNASTY has been costly to follow but if she cannot beat this field then she will battle in the future. She ran on well last time and I am giving her another chance and make her tough to beat. MISS D ARAY tries hard but just can’t seem to get her nose in front, so at this stage her chances of placing look brighter than winning. DARK SIENNA again has a money chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3)

Race 6

Preview: MAKE THE MAGNET has certainly come along since racing with blinkers and she now looks ready to win and be rewarded for her consistency. RIVERBOAT QUEEN won well last time showing she is no slouch and if she had to follow up, it would be no shock at all. SECOND NATURE is still improving and will be worth including in your bets. (Warren Lenferna 9-3-5)

Race 7

Preview: NEWLANDS is a classy three year old that has run against some top sorts – he gets a neat draw and looks to be the one they all have to beat. STAR CHESTNUT ran well when returning from a rest and he should have come on from that run and should be right there at the finish. SHALL BE FREE seldom runs a bad race and it would be foolish ignoring his chances in a race like this. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-5)

Race 8

Preview: TRIP THE WILLOW seems to be on the up and flew up late last time – she is a big, big runner. SPENDING SPREE has tons of scope and has done little wrong thus far – another in with a huge winning chance. CALIFORNIA GIRL is way better than her last run suggests and is capable over this 1200m trip – she should be a contender here. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2)

Race 9

Preview: MOUNT KEITH ran a good second over the course and distance last time and has every chance of going one better. GADGET MAN is a recent course and distance winner and might have a little more to come. NASTY HARRY must be included. (Warren Lenferna 1-5-3)