Classy Vernichey could make winning start for new stable

A small but high-quality field beckons punters in the topliner at Kenilworth on Wednesday, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m of freshly treated spring turf. With the scratching of Fateful, only six horses remain on the starter’s rollcall – and every one of them has a merit rating in three figures.

Vernichey, who memorably won the 2020 Allan Robertson Championship for KwaZulu-Natal trainer Gareth van Zyl, has recently transferred from Summerveld to new digs with Adam Marcus at Milnerton and the key to this race will be how well the filly has handled the move and a 123-day break.

With her well-earned MR of 120, she is weighted to win. After the juvenile exploits at Scottsville, Vernichey was campaigned around the country in elite sprints and acquitted herself with aplomb. She got back on the winning track last time out, in a 1000m Pinnacle dash at her old stamping ground in Pietermaritzburg.

Craig Zackey rides the now-four-year-old and a typical whole-hearted effort seems assured.

Carrying top weight of 60kg is Candice Bass-Robinson’s Russet Air, who has a 117 MR and was once bracketed with the very best speedsters in the land.

The six-year-old has been rested since 1 May – and hasn’t won in 627 days – so is not a likely victor. But sprinting horses retain speed into advanced age and Russet Air did prove that as recently as mid-January this year when he was a 0.75-length second to good sort Kasimir over 1200m at Kenilworth.

Real Gone Kid has been off the racecourse for 240 days, ever since he registered his third win in seven starts for Brett Crawford – in emphatic style over this course and distance. Ridgemont rider Adam Marcus is making the trip down from Durban to partner the four-year-old colt by Australian champion sire Snitzel, so he must be a serious consideration despite the long rest.

Rockin’ Ringo from the Piet Botha stable is an interesting runner. The feisty nine-time winner has been coining it over distances around the 1600m mark in recent times, but he does have a course-and-distance win from a solitary attempt back in the day.

Regular rider Luyolo Mxothwa might conjure a surprise from a battle-hardened character who likes being near the sharp end of races.

SELECTIONS

Race 1:

12 Stiptelik, 1 Tamil Tiger, 5 Fallo Ancora, 4 Apollo Moon

Race 2:

2 Exceed Expectation, 1 Take To War, 12 Steinbeck, 13 Thunder Master

Race 3:

2 Fighter, 4 Baltimore Jack, 1 Intrepid, 3 Wordsworth

Race 4:

2 Vernichey, 3 Real Gone Kid, 5 Rockin’ Ringo, 1 Russet Air

Race 5:

9 Que Shiraz, 3 Waiting For Summer, 6 Mr Master Starter, 1 Destin

Race 6:

10 Silver Darling, 8 Greengrowthelilacs, 2 Golden Dah, 9 Mel’s Princess

Race 7:

4 Daughter Of Zeus, 7 Rewrite The Stars, 6 Grey Princess, 2 Ballroom Bliss

Race 8:

4 Sunday Island, 10 Bite My Lip, Exceeder, 8 Baratheon

Pick 6:

1,2,3,4 x 1,2,3,5 x 1,3,6,9 x 8,10 x 2,4,6,7 x 1,4,10 (R1536)

PA:

1,2,12 x 2,4 x 2,7 x 3,9 x 10 x 4 x 4 (R24)