Cape to dry out for Doris Duke
Heading into the final weekend of August, just two race meetings had been held in the Western Cape during the month, but good news for punters is that the weather’s “future outlook” is for sunny skies from Sunday, so today’s meeting at Kenilworth looks safe.
Topliner at the meeting is a FM 94 Handicap over 1400m and Doris Duke could be the right one. Justin Snaith’s charge has a handy galloping weight of 55.5kg and is holding form. She won her third-last start, beating Chancane by a length over the Durbanville 1200m and was only narrowly beaten in her next two outings.
In the first, she finished fast and failed by just a neck to tag The Magic Kingdom over 1400m at Fairview and then last time out, again ran on strongly late for third, a long head behind Gentle Brook over 1200m at Kenilworth.
Doris Duke is not well drawn but jockey Muzi Yeni, who has a 23.91% strike rate so far this season, will hold her up and know just when to pounce.
Intimate Connection, from the Mike Bass yard, is much better drawn and will have plenty of supporters if she participates – she was also scheduled to run over the weekend.
She has done well in a few feature races so far, including finishing only 3.70 lengths behind Fairyinthewoods in the Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m on a heavy track.
She was sent to Durbanville for her last outing and was slightly disappointing in third, 2.90 lengths behind Dumani over 1400m. She should dispute the finish.
Justin Snaith-trained Augusta National has been a trifle erratic recently but had trouble breathing when staying on for fourth, two lengths behind Bluroute over 1600m at Scottsville in her last start. She, too, is well drawn and could feature
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