The three Stakes races at Kenilworth could not have been more different from both a results and pace perspective. Unconsidered outsider, Russian Rock, trained by Guineas record holder Dean Kannemeyer, was an extreme bomb result in the historic G1 at an SP of 100/1; Nexus was a middle pin at around 6/1 in the G2 Peninsula Handicap; whilst Silvano’s Pride was supported into 18/10 favourite before winning the G3 Victress Stakes.
And the pace profiles were also vastly different, though the final times for the Peninsula and Victress were virtually the same for both Justin Snaith- trained winners. They translated into very good speed figures of 107 for front-runner, Silvano’s Pride and deep closer, Nexus.
Silvano’s Pride was understandably labouring through the final stages after her early exertions. In contrast Nexus hurtled through a 400m to finish fraction in 23.3 seconds (nearly a second faster than the brave mare).
Measured as a ratio of final fraction to overall time, Silvano’s Pride scored a declining 101% with Nexus meriting a notable 105%, showing how quickly he finished off his race.
The Cape Guineas was a slow run affair in the early stages which, unfortunately turned into a rough rodeo show when a cluster of contenders were sprinting for the line down the straight. The diminutive and racy Pomodoro colt, Russian Rock’s powers of acceleration proved decisive. Despite being steadied at a crucial stage, he zoomed through a come- home sectional in 23.1 seconds. This translates into a finishing ratio of 108%.
Russian Rock probably ran to a speed figure of about 100 + on my scale which is not remarkable in itself – what won it for him was his nimbleness, athleticism and turn of foot.
Beaten horses with good speed figures from Saturday’s Kenilworth meeting possibly worth supporting at their next couple of starts include: Heart Stwings 106, Sleeping Single 102, Super Silvano 106, Love Happens 106, Seventh Gear 104, Linebacker 100 and Rascallion 98 + in the Guineas.