In last year’s G1 Cape Flying Championships, Brett Crawford’s Run Fox Run held off the late dart of a Justin Snaith’s Rio Querari in a dramatic tussle, and fans are expecting similar excitement in 2022, though fast- developing speedball, Real Gone Kid will be Crawford’s representative this time around. A strong field of 14 will load into the starting stalls, and while it is sometimes a mistake to presume a “two horse race” when there is a wide spread of form on offer from around the country, Rio Querari (speed score 116) and Real Gone Kid (s/s 112 +) do have an clear edge on speed figures.

Real Gone Kid has been hot property this summer, winning three in succession by setting the pace and kicking again when challenged. Power sprinters with those attributes of raw speed and the ability to finish with verve are difficult to beat. As a son of Snitzel out of the G1 winning mare, In the Fast Lane, Real Gone Kid will boost his stallion potential considerably should he land this coveted prize. Anton Marcus is practically without peer in South Africa riding dominant, pace pressers and he is again entrusted with the steering.

Rio Querari enjoyed an excellent past season, culminating in an emphatic “away” win of the G1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein. He’s been lightly campaigned since and a few recent niggles caused him to miss an intended prep in early January, so trainer Snaith’s task is to get enough speed-work into his charge so that he’s ready to fire his best shot after two months off track.

Internationally recognised jockey Grant van Niekerk rates Rio Querari as one of the best horses he’s ever ridden and is convinced that he could take on and beat top Hong Kong sprinters with his hold-up style and brilliant acceleration. Van Niekerk’s challenge is to stay clear of traffic in a big field, not get too far back then time his finishing burst just right. It promises to be a tremendous tactical showdown between two contrasting racing styles. A strong South-East headwind would aid Rio Querari’s cause.

Bereave, Captain Fontane, African Rain and Sound of Warning could be the pick of the remainder. Their best speed scores fall well short of what the top two have achieved, but horse racing is not run on paper after all, and fitness on the day combined with luck in running can swing things.

Bereave (s/s 108 +) has looked top class from the get-go and comes off a fluent victory in the South Easter Sprint. Adam Marcus will have him primed to produce a career peak. Jock, Craig Zackey, who has a good rapport with this son of Vercingetorix, retains control.

Garth Puller’s Captain Fontane (s/s 107 +) arrived with a big reputation from KZN and was only a length behind Bereave in the Cape Merchants after racing too exposed and taking a bad step at a crucial stage. There is not much between the Captain Al gelding and Bereave on form, and both hint at sufficient talent to play a role in the finish. In an interesting gear change, Captain Fontane races with a tongue tie for the first time. High percentage senior rider, Gavin Lerena is booked.

Three-year-old, African Rain (s/s 106 +) duffed it last time but was impressive when sauntering in at his penultimate start, albeit in a much weaker MR 96 handicap. Candice Bass Robinson has a very smart sprinter in her care, but this race will show whether he is up to handling G1 pressures. Likewise, his contemporary, the filly Sound Of Warning (s/s 105 ++) is also uber-talented and now faces her toughest assignment. Trainer Sean Tarry is shrewd with the strategic placing of his horses and respect is due this daughter of Trippi.

Single race exotic players might add Joburg invaders True to Life, Hello Winter Hello and Bohica to their play’s underneath. However, Rio Querari has comprehensively defeated all of them before which puts their chances in perspective. Speed scores of 106, 106 and 107 respectively make them place prospects.