Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Day – Crawford Racing Runners

RACE 6 – Stitch Class 3 ((Open Benchmark at 60kg) = 96)) – 1200M

SPEED RACER

Age:     4 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          91 (at last run)

Owner:               Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Breeder:            Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          Querari (GER) – Word Perfect by National Assembly (CAN)

Speed Racer ran last in his last run. This was a disappointing run for a horse that has raced very consistently throughout its career having run nine times and never having ran out of the top three before the last run. This run was at Durbanville, where after being TCO2 tested pre-race, the starter reported he was restless in the stalls and the Vet reported that the Khaya Stables owned gelding was cut into and had an abrasion on his left hind leg.

Both of his wins have come down the straight at Kenilworth, and on Saturday he returns to his happy hunting ground. After a plethora of placed runs in the Maiden races, Speed Racer eventually broke his maiden in February of this year, and then two runs later followed that up with another good win, beating Bluff on Bluff in a Class Four handicap.

Showing good pace from an outside draw, Louis Mxothwa tracked the pacemaker Major Appollo all the way down the lane, ranging up to take up the running 400 metres from home. Runner up Bluff on Bluff then made his run to the inside of the Crawford Racing inmate, drawing to within a half a length of Speed Racer at the 200M who then reasserted, pulling away to put two lengths between himself and Piet Steyn runner up at the line.

Speed Racer beats Bluff on Bluff down the Kenilworth straight

Speed Racer runs on Saturday in a very competitive handicap. However, he had reasons for his last poor run, and if you combine his consistency with his penchant for the for the straight at Kenilworth, the break to freshen him up, a good draw and in form Craig Zackey in the saddle, the son of Querari should be in the firing line in the run down to the winning post.

RACE 8 – Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap (Grade 3) – 1800M

THE FUTURIST

Age:     6 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          104 (at last run)

Owner:               Pete & Janet Carolin, Mrs G MacGregor, Mr A G & Mrs D Turk

Breeder:            Mr P F Carolin

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          Futura – Black Mischief by Black Minnaloushe (USA)

The definition of Enigma is a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand. The Futurist is the very definition of an enigma, a horse who runs one way, fast. He will jump and just run, and if he is in the mood, will beat Pacaya by almost ten lengths in the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950M at Kenilworth, setting a course record in the process.

The Futurist wins the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes in spectacular fashion

However, when not in the mood, he will set the pace and then fade, finishing midfield in most of his other races. He has run 25 times, winning five races, finishing second or third five times and unplaced in the other 15 races.

Since that win in the Grade 3, he has travelled to Natal and Gauteng to contest races in those centres, finishing midfield in all three races. He now has come back to the centre of his last win, is drawn seven and Anthony Andrews reunites with the Pete & Janet Carolin, Mrs G MacGregor, Mr A G & Mrs D Turk gelding. On Saturday, it will all depend on which The Futurist arrives at Kenilworth Racecourse. If the enigma is in a galloping mood, watch out.

RACE 9 – Light and Wonder Class 4 (open benchmark at 60kg = 80)

TWENTYTWENTYVISION

Age:     4 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          74 (at last run)

Owner:               Messrs G S Knowles, B Nunhuck & Wehann Smith, Mrs G MacGregor & Mr & Mrs D Naik

Breeder:            Klawervlei Stud

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          Royal Mo (USA) – Winning Eyes by Qui Danzig (USA)

Colours:             Black, white stars, black sleeves, black cap, white star

It is commonplace for a horse that has run eleven times and run into the top five almost 50% of the time, to break his maiden. What is not common, is for that same horse, at his next start, to win again. That is exactly what happened to Crawford Racing’s Twentytwentyvision at the last Saturday meeting for September at Durbanville racecourse.

Twentytwentyvision had started his racing career in nondescript fashion, placing fourth in his second start either side of two below par runs in soft going at Kenilworth Racecourse. He then had a break, coming back refreshed and running a second and a third at Durbanville over the 1250M, his best two consecutive runs of his career to that point.

When dropped back to 1250M and back at Durbanville, he then reeled off two wins in succession, the first one breaking his Maiden, and then his second one against some highly rated youngsters in the form of O’Tenikwa, Air Raid and Dawn Till Dusk, all with a merit rating around the 90 mark.

Twentytwentyvision follows up his Maiden win at his next start

Louis Mxothwa bounced him and his exceptional gate speed saw him up with the pace, one off the rail and racing just off the two pacemakers, O’Tenikwa and Wissa’s on Fire as they rounded the bend. As they swung into the stretch, Louis switched to the centre of the track to make his run and the son of Royal Mo accelerated well to hit the line full of running.

He switches back to Kenilworth on Saturday for the high profile meeting and for his equally set of high profile set of owners. His running style does seem to favour the tight turning Durbanville track, but in the most open race of the day, if he takes to the Kenilworth straight as well as he enjoyed his wins at the country course, there is no reason to think he can finish in the top four in the final race on Cape Guineas Day.