Horse Racing Tips: Charles Dickens Seeks Another Grade 1 Win In The Cape Derby

There’s plenty of fascinating horse racing action to look forward to this weekend including the Cape Derby on Saturday.

Kenilworth (Saturday)

Race 1 – USA’s Hope

Keagan De Melo and Dean Kannemeyer could get punters off to a great start with USA’s Hope standing out as one of the leading contenders in the opening race on Cape Derby day. The United States gelding has been in excellent form and goes for a hat-trick of wins after claiming two victories from his last two starts, with both efforts coming over this course and distance.

Race 3 – Captain’s Ransom

The best bet of the day comes in Race 4 as Captain’s Ransom looks like she could return to winning ways. The 5-year-old mare from the Justin Snaith yard is the class of the race and should trounce this field with ease from barrier gate 1. She’s unbeaten over this distance and has a 70% win rate on this course. She’s a certain banker for all exotics.

Race 6 – Gimmelightning

Gimmelightning moved up like a winner in his last start and will relish the extra furlong on offer this time around. Its encouraging that Richard Fourie retains the ride for Justin Snaith. The 2-year-old colt holds the form over Rascova in the race, who won convincingly on Met day. He’s drawn wide at gate 10, and if the outside of the track is going well, he’ll take a power of beating.

Race 8 (Cape Derby) – Charles Dickens

All eyes will be on the well-sought-after Charles Dickens, who returns to the track for the first time since tasting defeat in the King’s Plate. That was the son of Trippi’s first loss and will seek an instant return to winning ways against a fairly decent Cape Derby field. The big question remains over whether he can go the 2000m distance, but jockey Aldo Domeyer will know exactly when to switch him off. His extraordinary turn of foot is second to none in the country and should come out on top here.

Race 9 – Gimme A Prince

Gimme A Prince has plenty of ability and is one to keep an eye on in this race. He’s won four of his last five races and was most impressive in his last start to beat Rio Querari after finding plenty of betting support. Keagan De Melo is in red-hot form and has teamed up with Dean Kannemeyer to bring home many winners for the Khaya Stables. Once again, he looks too tough to oppose here.

Scottsville (Sunday)

Race 1 – Warrior Of Royalty 

Warrior Of Royalty looks to be the best colt of the raced runners in this contest. Robert Khathi retains the ride for the Nathan Kotzen yard and after his impressive second place on debut, he does look the horse to beat in this lineup.

Race 5 – Mel’s Princess

There is something about Scottsville that brings Mel’s Princess to display her best form and we saw it last time as she ran third. Rachel Venniker gets the ride and with the 1.5kg claim, this in-form jockey should really aid her in the best possible way to get into the winners’ box in this tricky contest, despite being drawn widest of all.

Race 6 – Sashay Away 

Sashay Away didn’t enjoy the tough conditions of the highveld in her last start and went on a short break. She’s back in her home ground here and her class should prevail. Tristan Godden gets the ride and if everything goes according to plan in the race, she should notch up another win in this contest from a neat draw of barrier gate 1.