Ciao Bela could say hello to a ‘favolosa’ career

Trainer Justin Snaith and jockey Richard Fourie are in full harness once again, after a “semi” cooling off period about a year ago – and it’s paying off as they have been in cracking form of late. Indeed, the duo dominate meeting after meeting – at Kenilworth in particular.

This season, Fourie has won on 30.4% of his mounts at Cape Town’s premier racecourse, with a 45.7% first three finish-to-rides ratio. If you’d backed him for aR1 win every time he slung a leg over a horse at Kenilworth, you’d be R22.60 to the good.

Over the past 28 days, the stats are even better: a 37.5% win rate, a 60.4% first-three rate and R33.40 in pocket for all those R1 win wagers.

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Trainers’ figures are never comparable with jockeys, but Snaith’s 17.2% win rate and R15.40 win-bet profit are impressive, nonetheless.

All this brings us to Saturday’s fixture at Kenilworth, when the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas tops the card, with the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes and two other features making for a quality-packed programme.

Scratching of Jet Dark

The Snaith-Fourie team were heavily favoured to land both principal races but have been rocked back by the scratching of superstar Jet Dark from the Green Point. By all accounts, it’s not a serious training setback for the dual Queen’s Plate victor. Indeed, the disappointment might make the Snaith operation all the more determined to make a mark at the second instalment of the Cape Festival of Racing.

The mantle of best Snaith runner on the day descends on Ciao Bella in the Guineas. The grey daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, out of charismatic race mare Bela-Bela, is a top horse in the making, with three wins from five starts including a Grade 2 success.

It’s no surprise she’s a firm 16-10 favourite and will be considered as a Pick 6 banker by brave punters. More cautious ones will remember that young, maturing horses are never fully predictable and any one of Ciao Bela’s 13 opponents could show sudden improvement and upset the odds.

A more obvious banker for the day presents itself in the Green Point. With Jet Dark missing, his doughty rival Kommetdieding has been precipitously shortened in the betting market and carries hopes of Pick 6 refuge on a challenging card.

Snaith and Fourie have decent chances in Races 4 and 5, with Act Naturally and Salvator Mundi respectively, while Turn The Page offers a bit of value in Race 9.