Runners, weekend and Monday

There is a Pick 6 carryover of R1-million to Saturday’s race meeting at HWB Kenilworth, and a pool of R4-million is expected. The meeting is headlined by the Grade 1 Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the standard-setting classic for South Africa’s three-year-old colts.

Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock has travelled to Cape Town and spent this week at Milnerton preparing his Guineas runner, Heather’s Boy, who is unbeaten after three runs up to 1600m, but is considered more of a Cape Derby prospect.

Mike commented: “We’re under no illusions as to what we can expect. Heather’s Boy will be up against the Cape champion, One Stripe, and a few other hard knockers, and a mile is his minimum distance. But that said, we are not here for the scenery. Heather’s Boy is a powerful and talented galloper and we can’t stay at home with our horse in the stable. The Cape runners need competition, this race is a yardstick for horses with top ability and we don’t want to speculate how good our runner is. He has to be tested against the best.”

Heather’s Boy is rated 102, well below One Stripe’s 118, but Mike said he is potentially better than his rating, and expects to finish in the money.

Mike has one runner at the HWB Greyville on Friday evening. Irish Anthem lines up in Race 3 over 1800m, but he has not lived up to expectations. “He is a battler, we’re hoping for some improvement but there is not much confidence.”

Tyrconnell has been entered for Race 6 over 1400m at Scottsville on Sunday, and it looks like the right race for him. Mike said: “He is overdue, we have been expecting him to win and I think he is at his best over 1400m. He can’t be labelled a ‘good thing’, but has a chance to post his second win, we’re holding thumbs.”

Mike provided comments for the meeting at Turffontein on Monday, where Silver Sanctuary and White Pearl will contest Race 7, the Mike de Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge (Grade 2) over 1600m.

Mike noted: “I can’t explain Silver Sanctuary’s poor run in the Summer Cup. She was badly behaved, which is not characteristic of her, played up at the start and jumped awkwardly. She is likely to put in a better performance here, but 1600m is her minimum distance and there are two very good fillies at the bottom of the handicap.

“This is the maximum distance for White Pearl, she has only won up to 1400m but she is fit and well so we’re hoping she can earn minor money.”