Charles Dickens back in action

It has been a torrid time for Capetonians with the regards to the weather over the last few weeks and the impact on horseracing has been considerable.

A number of race meetings have been lost due to a waterlogged course and that, no doubt, has affected trainers who have been trying to get their horses ready for the upcoming season.

Last Saturday’s cancellation resulted in the two Grade 3 features having to be postponed until Saturday, so hopefully the sun will shine on Hollywoodbets Durbanville for the running of the Hollywoodbets Matchem Stakes and Diana Stakes for fillies and mares, both over 1400m.

The good news for bettors is there is no change to the field and the Matchem match-up between Charles Dickens and Gimme A Prince will go ahead as planned. Charles Dickens has engendered tears of joy from the likes of owner Gaynor Rupert and jockey Aldo Domeyer, both of whom have maintained that this son of Trippi has enhanced their lives.

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We last saw him in action at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge over 1600m on 10 June which he won without too much fuss, rubberstamping his reputation as the best miler in the land and he is firmly expected to improve his record to nine wins and two seconds from 11 starts.

Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson said last week that her charge had had a gallop at Durbanville and was doing well at home.

“He’s a much stronger horse this season and I think he takes his work a lot better than he used to. As a young three-year-old they can lighten up a little bit after their races but he’s matured into a really good-looking horse and I expect a really good season from him,” she added.

The only runner seriously expected to mount a challenge is Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimme A Prince. This five-year-old gelding is no slouch and he picked up two Grade 1 wins last season – the Cape Flying Championship and the Golden Horse Sprint.

He is quite capable over 1400m but although making up ground hand-over-fist in the Drill Hall Stakes, he was beaten by Trip Of Fortune who has twice proved no match for younger stable companion Charles Dickens.

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Bass-Robinson, Domeyer and Drakenstein could make it a feature double one race earlier when Golden Hostess lines up in the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Diana Stakes for fillies and mares, also over 1400m. This Gold Standard filly performed well against some of the best of her sex in the country throughout her three-year-old campaign, including at Grade 1 and Grade 2 level.

In KwaZulu-Natal she held her own during the winter in three starts, all from wide draws. The stable should also be on the mark in Race 6 where Jerusalema Rain makes his debut for the stable in a Progress Plate for three-year-olds over 1400m. The Captain Of All gelding has excellent form and from No 1 draw looks hard to oppose.