By Graeme Hawkins
The highly successful and generally well-attended Hollywoodbets Durbanville Spring Country Series closes out on 29 October with an 8-race programme as racing is scheduled to return to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth at the weekend when the fast-approaching Cape Summer Festival of Racing kicks into high gear. But for today, it’s a largely bread-and-butter offering which kicks off at 12:50 with the running of a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1000m.
The opener, and first leg of the Bipot, is a competitive affair but HERITAGE RIDGE could show further improvement following a solid last start effort when third behind ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED over track and trip three weeks ago. Facing stiff competition from the likes of PRISCILLA MAISEY, FRIDA KAHLO, ANGEL’S OASIS and possibly the newcomer BENEATH THE CLOUDS, HERITAGE RIDGE rates no “good-thing” but at 9/2 appears to offer good each way value in the ante-post market.
The second race, and first leg of the Place Accumulator, is a trappy Open Maiden (F&M) over 1250m and there is very little to choose between LITTLE LEXI and TRUE HORIZON on the evidence of their most recent run. The winner could well emerge from this duo but TIMELINE, who drops back in trip from her last start, is worthy of respect and should be considered for exotic perms.
A possible banker bet comes in the third race and opening leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. MAJOR MASTER has run two promising races and there appears to be more to come from this 3yo son of Master Of My Fate who will be partnered by Aldo Domeyer for the Candice Bass-Robinson stable. As a matter of course one can never discard the Justin Snaith/Richard Fourie combination lightly and the fast-improving BOUNCEBACK rates an obvious threat to the odds-on favourite.
The fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m, looks tricky and on official handicappers’ ratings there is not much to choose between the leading candidates. The unexposed MENTE ET MANU is difficult to assess but does not have to be too smart to beat this limited and well-tried field, despite not being well treated in terms of the weight-for-age scale.
GLEE CLUB improved with blinkers to finally register her second career victory three weeks ago. She lines up over the same course and distance in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, and GLEE CLUB should again be competitive but the consistent JET TO THE SUN may well have her measure this time around. The list of potential winners does not end there, and it will be interesting to see how KAMCHATKA fares on her handicap debut having easily shed her maiden ticket at only the third time of asking. Usual suspects COULDITBE, ENCHANTING CHOICE, ICE RAIN and HAMPSTEAD HEATH are not chanceless in a difficult race. When in doubt, row in with Snaith and Fourie and JET TO THE SUN should at the very least give us a good run for our money.
The sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, is a nightmare but I am looking for positive runs from the two Greg Ennion inmates FLY TO RIO and FAMILY POWER to help me through my exotics. The seventh race, a Cape D Stakes over 1000m, is no easier as the average merit rating is a lowly 58. I am not sure what went wrong with WYLIE JACK last time, but he has a definite chance on his previous form and 10/1 in the ante-post market looks attractive. CASINO ACE also appeals but that being said, this race is wide open and including the field of seven runners is the only surefire way of getting through.
The eighth race is a Class 4 Handicap over 1000m in which ALL ABOUT AL, BLUFF ON BLUFF and SHIFTING PATH renew rivalry after finishing 1-2-3 over the course and distance three weeks ago. They could again dominate the outcome but watch out for a better run from ELUSIVE WINTER who was not too far away in the same race. The only mare in the race, HEAR MY VOICE, could spoil the party for her gelded rivals and may be worth a second glance.
