It’s the final leg of the World Sports Betting, Becoming Champions Winter Series this Saturday at Kenilworth.
Will Somerset Maugham write out a winning ticket?
The final Leg of the World Sports Betting, Becoming Champions Winter Series, takes place on Saturday at Kenilworth. It’s a nicely varied program with two Grade 3 contests and four Listed races, headlined by the G3 Pocket Power Stakes over 2400m for three year-olds carded as race 7, off time 16h10.
Gavin Smith’s strong front-running Eastern Cape raider, Jaeger Moon will attempt to build on his fine record of seven wins from 11 starts. This has been achieved using forcing tactics which have served him well from 1600m to 2400m on both polytrack and turf. He’s clearly a difficult horse to get past and has the attribute of proven stamina but the calibre of rivals he faces here are stronger than those he’s been running off their feet in Port Elizabeth.
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Crimson King, narrowly beat in the second Leg of the series when setting the pace on soft going, is also worthy of respect given that he showed plenty of determination when challenged from all sides. He only just failed to stave off Hoedspruit on that occasion, who reopposes again, and it should be another rousing duel over the longer journey. Crimson King is tactically adaptable – Glen Kotzen’s entry ran a sterling race behind Sentbydestiny as a juvenile when coming from way off the early tempo at Greyville.
Hoedspruit has twice run notable speed figures of 103 – a neat effort in the Cape Derby, then again in that winning tussle with Crimson King in the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m. This son of Legislate is not entirely reliable – throwing in a few tame efforts due to breathing issues but has the same merit rating as Jaeger Moon and is an obvious contender.
Somerset Maugham looks a tempting betting proposition even if unproven over the longer trip. He is a full brother to Charles who was beaten a lip by Atyaab in the 2019 G1 Cape Derby which encourages hope based on his pedigree, and he was finishing with lots of energy close to Hoedpsruit and Crimson King in the Legal Eagle Stakes.
He was only a length off Linebacker at level weights when they contested a Maiden a year ago in slushy ground – given that Linebacker has gone on to win multiple Grade 1’s and is one of the current July favourites that further supports Somerset Maugham’s claims. He then is the pick to win – having world class jock Grant van Niekerk as his rider is another big positive factor - successful 24% of the time in combination with trainer, Justin Snaith.
One Way Traffic has been finishing races off strongly and has a progressive profile. This son of Dynasty should relish a test of endurance and represents the powerful Justin Snaith/Richard Fourie combo who are in the money at 49% of starts together.
Dubai Lights is a longer shot worthy of adding to bigger perms plays due to his stamina laden pedigree. He ran well a week ago when second to Royal Watch in his prep gallop. Earlier in his career at level weights in soft ground he ran three lengths off G1 placed, Rascallion which gives him a shake of getting into the fray on Saturday.
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