The soft going continues to attracted big fields at Ngong Racecourse.
The Kenya Oaks classic tomorrow will be no different with nine races set for the afternoon. Three of which are big cup races.
The Champagne Stakes to be run over1,200m started with seven declared runners. The field has been reduced to only four runners
It will be a very interesting opening race. All the runners have a chance. “Knighthood” is seemingly set for a double. The most fancied are both from the Patsy Sercombe yard with “Red Raider” trained by Joe Karari being viewed as principal challenger. “ Hatton Gardens” who finished second behind “Knighthood” is also in the chase.
The Spencer Tryon Trophy to be run over 1,400m is also one of interest. If “Red Raider” doesn’t get the better of the hot favorites in the opening race, then this will be Joe’s first cup race of the day. It will just be a question of who carries it among the stable mates of which “Grand Slam” is the most fancied.
The Kenya Oaks will be raced over 2,400m.
“Happy Times” is the only “A” Division athlete in this field of six and gets to be ridden for the third consecutive classic quest by South African jockey Robert Kathi.
“I can’t count the chicks before they are hatched.” This was Joe’s response when asked what he thought of “Times” next encounter. The next preferred challenger is “Allegra” judging by her current form. Even her trainer Oliver Gray agrees, “Times” is unbeatable.
“We are racing for second. Nothing can beat ‘Happy Times’,” he says.
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke