Matchem Stakes

Matchem Stakes R200 000 Grade 3 Kenilworth October 3 Race 7 15.40

SELECTIONS:

2 ROYAL CHALON
1 POLISHED STEEL
3 TEST ACT
8 NOCTURNAL AFFAIR

THE Cape feature season starts off with the annual clash of the generations. In the past, three-year-olds have generally done very well,
but this time we are siding with the four-year-olds.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained and Byleveld-ridden no 2 ROYAL CHALON is expected to go close.




ROYAL CHALON won two of the the Cape's Winter Series races and more than likely did not get the trip in the soft conditions in his last start
and as has been rested since. He comes back down to a distance that he is well suited to and is clearly the one they all have to beat.

His main danger, no 1 POLISHED STEEL, has the plum inside draw and Richard Fourie gets the mount on the Basil Marcus-trained four-year-old.
A bit of a disappointment in his last three runs, Australian-bred POLISHED STEEL has a win over BIG CITY LIFE over this trip and is course and distance suited.

No 3 TEST ACT, trained by Mike Bass and ridden by Karl Neisius, is another that needs to be considered as he is usually never too far behind and has run very well over a similar distance.

The three-year-old no 8 NOCTURNAL AFFAIR looks promising, but in my eyes he will need to improve to trouble our selections.

No 4 VOLPISTA was impressive in his latest win after returning from a lengthy layoff and if repeating that is definitely not out of it.

No 7 RUSHING WIND and no 10 FIGHTING CHANCE are both capable of running a place.


- Ryan Roberts

3yos have a great record in this race. Nocturnal Affair is by far the in of the younger horses but I make Fighting Chance a huge runner despite his inferior MR. Of the 4yos I only really like Polished Steel as a potential winner.

Volpista for me...

Looking forward to seeing Villandry run..

Did Rushing Wind win this race.....???

Jehan Malherbe is probably the most accurate commentator, one could hope to call a race, and listen to, if you were not watching the race.

I watched the race on TV, and heard him call the race, so not sure if my hearing failed me, or my eyesight did....Rushing Wind did not look like the winner to me, and with all due respect to the owner of the horse, this ain't good for tranparency.

Or, perhaps the Cape Doctor blew a bit too hard and shifted the angle of the camera.

Anyone have the replay available ??

Oop's almost forget, saw the camera focus on Rushing Wind, saw the colours of the horse,

and backed it, as well as the trifecta and quartet with 7 as the banker,...nice quartet payout R1.5k.....

yes I made money from this observation, but a lot of "financial contributors" aka "stupid punters" did not see this.

This sport of kings reeks...Amazing ride by Domeyer..trust both horse and jockey have been tested....let's our trustworthy stipes decide.

Oh!, and a very quick decision about the winner

Observer,

I'm glad you made some money!
I have no doubt that Rushing wind won the race. The camera angle definately favours the outside horse.

Enjoy your winnings my friend!

Look at the photo finish.....as close to a dead heat for me, u cannot separate them on the picture....

Clear as daylight to me that Rushing Wind won.A case of sour grapes

Rushing Wind still had some nostril to spare at the line!!!

Nice pics Hibernia, thanks!!!

Harris,why the "sour grapes "comment?Are you the taxi driver?FYI I saw a copy of the original photo finish pic and you couldnt separate them on that pic.....

Very close but no question at all that Rushing Wind won.