By Graeme Hawkins
DOUBLE GRAND SLAM makes her seasonal debut in tomorrow’s headliner at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, the R180 000 Prestige Plate over 1400m, and the daughter of Vercingetorix is widely expected to kick off her 4yo campaign on a high note. DOUBLE GRAND SLAM is arguably at her best over 1400m having registered four of her five career victories over this trip and she should prove too sharp for RED PALACE who ranks as the principal danger to Justin Snaith’s charge.
DOUBLE GRAND SLAM was last seen in July when finishing third behind Humdinger in the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes Gr 1 over 1600m, prior to which she ran out a comfortable winner over Humdinger in the Tibouchina Stakes Gr 2 over 1400m.
RED PALACE finished about a length behind DOUBLE GRAND SLAM in the Garden Province before going on to record a facile victory in the 2000m Gold Bracelet Gr 2 at the end of July. RED PALACE has yet to win over any distance less than 1600m, but she is packed with class and is unbeaten from two starts at the country course. I suspect though that DOUBLE GRAND SLAM, who has an equally impressive record at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, may prove too quick for RED PALACE and is the confident first choice to land the spoils.
The R165 000 Cape A Stakes over 1800m, billed as the second event on the 10-race programme, has attracted a small but competitive six-horse line-up which sees RAPIDASH and stable companion PACAYA renew rivalry. In early September RAPIDASH denied PACAYA over the same track and trip by the narrowest of margins but is now as much as 3,5kgs worse off at the weights which certainly points to PACAYA as the possible winner. But as the ante-post market suggests, this is by no means a two-horse affair and FUTURE SWING, LOVE IS A ROSE and OTTO LUYKEN all come into the reckoning with bright chances.
Grant Van Niekerk retains the ride on RAPIDASH but interestingly Richard Fourie is aboard FUTURE SWING rather than PACAYA who will be partnered for the first time by Craig Zackey. Both PACAYA and FUTURE SWING are past winners of the World Sports Betting Greyville 1900 Gr 2 and will no doubt have the R5-million WSB Cape Town MET at the end of January on their radar. But tomorrow they probably all have most to fear from LOVE IS A ROSE who appears very well handicapped here and has an undeniable chance of overturning her five male rivals with just 52kgs to shoulder.
CORK BAY should get punters off to a flying start in the opening event, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, and rates one of the better bets on the card. Stable companion SHIPINDANI is improving steadily but Andre Nel’s stable jockey Corne Orffer has opted for CORK BAY and the promising 3yo son of Rafeef should prove too good for his eight rivals.
The Fourie/Snaith combination are worth following in races five and six. Fourie partners SONG TO THE MOON in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m, and the 4yo son of What A Winter comes into the race with solid credentials. He ran on strongly from a hopeless draw last time to finish second behind shock winner Devil A Saint and he could again confirm that form with the ante-post favourite Industrial strength who finished just behind SONG TO THE MOON.
LEGAL COUNSEL looks a useful sort in the making and he could make a winning Handicap debut in the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m. He won his Maiden over 1400m at the only the second time of asking and the 3yo son of Legislate will appreciate the step up in trip. LEGAL COUNSEL bumps several well performed older hard knockers, but he looks to have a touch of class and could be equal to the task. DAWN TILL DUSK and DALMENY FACTOR are improving 3yo’s but I fancy that LEGAL COUNSEL will have their measure.
The talented SAHARA CAT makes her first appearance as a 3yo in the 10th race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1000m, with a 9-point higher rating than BE MERRY who has recently won her last two starts over track and trip. BE MERRY has match fitness on her side but SAHARA CAT has shown her best form over the minimum trip and from pole position could prove a tough nut to crack.
