Mark van Deventer previews racing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville
Red Palace earned a neat enough rating when beating Metar by 3.5 lengths a month ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville but the margin of victory could have been way more if she was ridden out to the line. The daughter of Potala Palace was already so much the best going into the final 200m that jockey Aldo Domeyer could afford to freewheel in, totally untroubled.
Bass Racing hold her in high esteem, even talking about a possible G1 Paddock Stakes tilt with the three-year-old who has now won her last two starts. She takes the next step towards that lofty target when entered in Race 7, a Class 4 for Fillies and Mares over 1400m.
She is drawn 1, set to carry 61.5kg’s and will again be partnered by Domeyer. With further improvement expected from her already dominant last-start romp, Red Palace qualifies as Tuesday’s Best Bet.
Race 8 is a Class 4 over the same distance with a widespread of form. Kingdom of Heaven, Oliver and Heart Stealer make the contender shortlist. The first named is lightly raced at intervals due to physical issues (respiratory noises) so is not one to bet the ranch on. However, the talented, Dynasty gelding can cause a stir off a reduced rating of 76 and wary bookies have priced up the Snaith trained entry as 7/2 ante post favourite.
Heart Stealer made a strong stretch run from way off the pace last time in the race won by Pineapple Express and with expert horseman, Bernard Fayd Herbe taking over the steering this 7/1 shot looks a live each way play, assuming he is better positioned at the top of the straight. Deft trainer Ricky Maingard clearly has him back in sharp form, so Heart Stealer looms a threat at this grade.
Last-out Maiden winner, Oliver is quoted at 12/1 antepost which may understate his claims. Numzaan has a shake on collateral form as well, but Oliver attained a solid figure when seeing off Get Impressed over the course and distance in mid- October and can work out a favourable stalking passage from draw 2 in a race where the pace horses are drawn on the wide outside.
Despite a notable last run in the Ready to Run behind ace three-year-old Tail of the Comet, Paschendaele comes with a “hazardous to your wealth warning” in Race 5, a Maiden over 1800m. He has been slow away, reported as blowing and subject to vet checks a few times, but Glen Kotzen’s horses tend to really blossom during Spring/early Summer before it gets sizzling hot out in Paarl, and he saddled Rascova and Kings Regent to outstanding wins past Saturday, to confirm that seasonal trend.
There are quite a few with legit claims here as bookies go 5/1 the field. Ice Rain and Sansa Sark emerged with credit behind Pineapplemintgreen and should go close. Family Power, Analytic and Eternal Optimist are others capable of getting involved. Taking a wider spread is probably the right exotic ploy here, though spec-bettors might find an each way touch about the enigmatic, Passchendaele at 6’s, rewarding.
Bipot players who prefer the security of having two spots count can short -select with confidence in Race 2, the 2nd Leg of the six-race sequence.
Igugulethu (Bass/Domeyer connect @ 51% places to runners) and Touchdown (Vaughan Marshall/Richard Fourie strike at a 52 % place rate) come off career best efforts at the course. Both are relatively unexposed Maidens primed to run well for high percentage connections. They should be able to run down pace setters, In the Bag and Future Gem – and go on to fight out the finish.
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