Superstar colt Charles Dickens set to light up Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, a full helping of Premier League action on the menu and more in this week’s edition of Gary Lemke’s Fiver!
QUALITY RACING AT HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH
The Cape racing season ratchets up a notch at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this weekend with the running of the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas, the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes and the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes.
The Green Point Stakes, over a mile, sees champions Charles Dickens and See It Again renew their rivalry while reigning Equus Horse of the Year Princess Calla takes her chances against the boys. Expect the superstar Charles Dickens to win for a 10th time in 12 starts.
The Justin Snaih-trained Double Grand Slam is a favourite for the Fillies Guineas, but it’s a tough race. Juvenile Horse of the Year Miss Geriatrix disappointed last time, but had won six in a row before that. She’s widely drawn though, as is Beach Bomb.
The race doesn’t stop there though. In the Southern Cross Stakes the Bass Racing stable are bullish about the chances of October Morn, but it’s also wide open. All in all, the Cape summer is here!
🏆Cape Guineas (G1)
— 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 (@WorldRacing1) December 17, 2022
1600 m, 2.000.000 ZAR, for 3yo
🇿🇦Kenilworth
Charles Dickens (SAF)
(3C Trippi - Demanding Lady, by Dynasty)
J : A. Domeyer
T :Candice Bass-Robinson
B & O :@DrakensteinStud
🥈Cousin Casey (Vercingetorix)
🥉At My Command(Querari)
🌍 #HorseRacing 🏇🏾 pic.twitter.com/Sx2dHYPSVJ
WHO WILL GET THEIR NAME ENGRAVED?
I have never enjoyed the golfing expression “Moving Day” which applies to the third round, mostly played on a Saturday, of a tournament. Surely, every day is Moving Day.
One golfer can shoot 62 in the first round and another shoots 78. The impact is as much as the Saturday. However, we will see and hear many references to “Moving Day” on Saturday as the Investec SA Open heads into the business end at Blair Atholl Golf Club.
It’s a tough course for us mortals, but for these monster-hitting young pros it’s an opportunity to score low. Expect the winner to go well into double figures under par over the four days.
The SA Open is one of the three oldest national Opens – the others being the British and US – and every golfer dreams of getting his name engraved on the trophy.
🎯Joakim Lagergren putts his way to the lead.
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) November 30, 2023
📈 Andy Sullivan's South African form continues.
🇿🇦Young Casey Jarvis leads the South African charge.
🎥 These are the first-round highlights of the Sunshine Tour and @DPWorldTour co-sanctioned Investec South African Open… pic.twitter.com/8yFsMHTM5H
HOW MANY URC FAVOURITES WILL LOSE?
So, last week again proved that when it comes to the United Rugby Championship, the favourites mostly don’t all come through. This week’s favourites are Munster (vs Glasgow), Bulls (vs Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cardiff (vs Scarlets), Lions (vs Dragons), Stormers (vs Zebre), Ulster (vs Edinburgh), Benetton (vs Ospreys) and Leinster (vs Connacht). An all to come on the favourites works out at 4/1.
Interestingly, the betting shows how tough it is to win away from home. Only Leinster are fancied to do that, although the Sharks will be hoping to pick up from where they left off last week, by silencing the Loftus crowd.
Fixtures for Round 7️⃣ are coming in strong 💪
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) November 30, 2023
Which game are you most looking forward to? 👀@Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/hlwqN9ftnr
PREMIER LEAGUE: WHY CHELSEA WILL BE NERVOUS
English Premier League action sees another full round this weekend and the confidence of table-toppers Arsenal couldn’t be higher. They followed up their league form with a 6-0 Champions League midweek win.
They will fancy another three points when they host Wolves on Saturday, and it’s not the lunchtime kickoff to expect an upset result. Burnley against Sheffield United is the proverbial six-pointer relegation battle, but for me, the match of the weekend comes at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea host Brighton – mocked as being Chelsea’s “feeder team” when Graham Potter was manager last season – and with Chelsea’s inconsistent form (recent results WDLWDL) anything is possible. It would be so Chelsea-like for Brighton to keep a clean sheet.
They have conceded 23 goals from their 13 League games, with only Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Burnley conceding more. But they have scored 28 and only Man City, Villa and Newcastle have scored more. Brighton haven’t kept a clean sheet all season … Chelsea fans will be watching this behind the sofa.
🔵🇧🇪 Roméo Lavia, involved in training ahead of Brighton game as Chelsea confirm.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 30, 2023
Pochettino, coaching staff and club all convinced about Roméo as present and future key player. pic.twitter.com/JcZBLYlls4
DO YOU HAVE A GRIDIRON FAVOURITE?
To suggest I know much about American Football (gridiron) would be stretching the point, but do admit to enjoying watching it on the TV while having a beer in the bars on the occasions I’ve been to the United States.
We’re now into week 12 of the 2023/24 NFL season and last season’s Superbowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, are still right up there in the betting to do so again, trading at around 9/2.
They’ve won eight of thir 11 games so far in the AFC West. In terms of form, it seems as though the Philadelphia Eagles are having a good season (their one defeat in 11 games is the most impressive across all eight divisions), but I’m still in the hunt with my perennial choice San Francisco 49ers.
They’ve also only lost three of their 11 matches. Why the 49ers? Simply because I loved the splendour of San Fran, which for me ranks there with Cape Town and Sydney as spectacular, similar cities. What’s your team, and why?
