By Mark Van Deventer
Stakes winners, DOUBLE GRAND SLAM and RED PALACE have a big class edge in Race 3 over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, though there is a slight conditioning query as they make their seasonal debuts on Saturday. This after being off track for three months since successful KZN Winter campaigns.
DOUBLE GRAND SLAM (OMR 118) has an excellent record between 1400/1600m – but for some torrid trips would have won more than five times from 12 starts. She will target Gr1’s during the Summer under the judicious handling of Justin Snaith. The daughter of Vercingetorix is 6/10 odds on for this assignment.
Fellow 4YO, RED PALACE (OMR 119) is best from a mile upwards but is ideally course suited with her pace pressing style perfect for the fast-running, bendy Hollywoodbets Durbanville circuit. Candice Bass-Robinson’s entry is 5/2 second favourite in this Prestige Plate.
Snaith will fancy the chances of LOTUS ISLAND in the following race. The Ideal World filly made a big stretch run from miles back when second behind Little Suzie and with further improvement likely, it could be her turn to exit the Maidens.
She had only one horse behind her with just two panels to go and cannot afford to give as much start as she did last time when drawn 13/14. If Craig Zackey can position her closer to the early action, then she could prove too strong for LAVENDER BAY, ENGLISH MISTRESS and EXQUISITE. POCKET DIAL, DOUBLE DASH and FORGOTTEN SONG are also plausible contenders.
Snaith is teed up for a big day – SONG TO THE MOON is another with persuasive claims in Race 5, a Class 4 over 1600m. The 4YO gelding has twice rushed home from hopeless positions and is due a change of fortune.
On collateral form to shock winner DEVIL A SAINT, INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH rates upsides and arguably has more scope given that it’s only a fourth start for Dean Kannemeyer’s entry.
Race 5 is the First Leg of Jackpot 1. Punters seeking a wider spread can add promising and well-drawn, youngster, LA PULGA and Andre Nel’s, HOODIA with BARDOLINO a tempting 14/1 each way overlay on his best efforts at this class level. Maybe, strong rider Luyolo Mxothwa can get roust him sufficiently and stage a wake-up.
Class 3 handicaps are especially competitive in the Cape. Race 7 over 1400m has at least half of the 12 runners in with a shout. Bookies go 11/2 the field in early quotes, reflecting the openness of the race.
Fluent last start victor, OLIVER; the adaptable and now peaking, ROSH KEDESH; ultra-game, seven panel expert INNAMORARE; talented, GALLIC DREAM; TOUT A FAIT; five-on-the-bounce front-runner, ASPECT and 3YO, MAURITIUS KESTREL makes the not-so-short, list.
Race 8 is for bottom of the barrel Class 5 exponents. There is not much separating the 11 entries in this race which, given all the handy types, should go at a testing pace for the class level.
Under the circumstances, it sometimes pays to shop for a price horse in closely clustered, weaker contests. The value suggestion is PRINCE OF TIBET who can come to light at long odds now that he gets his preferred firmer ground.
He is of similar ability to these modest rivals, receives some relief from the handicapper and now gets the skilled services of JP van Der Merwe. Should the cheap speed around him cave in, then van der Merwe, a canny waiting rider, might be able to roust Piet Steyn’s charge for a telling rally and reward each way backers.
Steyn will also loom to close out the meet with MISS MARGUERITE in the nightcap under the same pilot. The mare is trying to snap a losing streak stretching back 485 days and her off the pace running style is not tactically the answer for this course. That said, she has been closing off willingly and should be involved in the finish.
Exotic bettors participating in the second Jackpot may want to add a few to get over this Leg 4 hurdle. Course suited dasher, HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL and in-form, BE MERRY are must-use Snaith Racing representatives; speedster, PORQUE TE VAS takes a drop in class and 3YO, SAHARA CAT can build on juvenile promise already shown for Vaughan Marshall.
