By Mark Van Deventer
MAJOR MASTER produced a spirited stretch run to get within a length of Let it Be Said on debut – a laudable effort when drawn 13/14 in a Hollywoodbets Durbanville Sprint. He is again awkwardly drawn (8/11) but with the experience of a run and now going an extra panel, he will be hard to resist in the 12-noon opener on Saturday.
The Master of My Fate ex Maxixe colt is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and ridden by Aldo Domeyer. It may well be that Bass-Robinson bookends the meeting as her highly regarded sprinter, CAPTAIN ARROW was so impressive last time that he is likely to follow up in Race 10.
CAPTAIN ARROW loves this course, can press the pace in a race where not much speed is signed on and has the class to sweep aside Cape A Stakes rivals.
Clinton Binda’s ZIYASHA is an interesting Highveld invader with good figures and ICY BLAST should get the run of the race but neither have the natural ability of CAPTAIN ARROW who is expected to contest stronger sprint races as the season develops.
HELIOTROPE is another Bass Racing entry with legit claims. Against her though is a tendency to get too far out of her ground which is not the way to go about things when the Hollywoodbets Durbanville track is playing to early speed and pace -pressers. So, there must be a query about her chances in Race 6’s Class 4 (F &M) even if she has very solid form at the class level.
She is still worth an each way spec bet given her recent fast finishes combined with the slight relief provided by the handicapper who has dropped her a couple of points.
TWO A PENNY, ENCHANTING CHOICE, LICKETY SPLIT, PLUM PUDDING and PRINCESS OF BAYEAUX are amongst a raft of dangers that should be added to the Picks.
Bass Racing will also fancy the chances of MASTEROFTHEDESERT in Race 3 on what could be a productive day for their Milnerton stable. He has twice stayed on with purpose since being fitted with a tongue tie and can work out a ground saving trip from draw 2 under Aldo Domeyer to shed his Maiden.
There are some unraced and unexposed types that oppose him – best of those with form to scrutinise are WATER DRAGON and CHIEF RUNNER. The latter was noted running on powerfully behind Terminator two weeks ago and is primed for a career top.
WATER DRAGON is not the soundest character but can sustain a determined gallop from a handy position which is the ideal profile for this course. Those two can be hooked up with MASTEROFTHEDESERT in single race exotics.
Race 8, a seven-runner Progress Plate, is the strongest of the meet where all bar the out of form, ZOOMIE (94) sport triple digit OMR’s; ranging from 101 (UNDERWORLD) to officially best weighted on 120 (SNOW PILOT).
The last named had a torrid time of it in Durban – hanging, over-racing and coughing at each of three starts and he needs to get back into a smoother groove that saw him win the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and run a cracker in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. He might not be one to trust entirely yet has such a towering edge at the weights based on official ratings that he need not even run to form to win this.
Dangers-well, Vaughan Marshall’s ONE STRIPE is clearly a very good horse, reflected in his OMR of 112 earned after winning three of four starts in some style, and he, BJORN IRONSIDE, ALL OUT FOR SIX and TALK TO THE MASTER represent the three year old generation.
It will be interesting to see how these “next gen” entries stack up against proven elders in this early season cross-generational challenge. We will all be much wiser after the event….
