By Mark Van Deventer
Race 6 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday is named in tribute of the late, David Abery, a spirited an ebullient character.
David was a successful businessman in the mining sector, and passionate about racing in his spare time. He was an owner/breeder associated with some very smart horses over the years. Upon retirement from the cut and thrust of the commercial world, he dedicated his energies to resolving complexities around SA’s thoroughbred export initiatives.
Racing owes a debt of gratitude to David for his tireless efforts and wise interventions even when his health was depleted by major heart issues. And friends will miss his jaunty good humour and razor-sharp observations.
KNOCKOUT should go well in the 6th – a repeat of either her penultimate when staying on strongly behind Nordic Quest, or most recent (49 days ago) when producing a sizzling come home sectional to blitz past Princess Izzy should see off her nine rivals. Richard Fourie rides this Justin Snaith trained filly.
FATAL GEM is a possible menace at a tempting price. On a line through Princess Izzy, with whom she dead heated at this course in November ’23, Brett Crawford’s filly can wake up second run after a rest to do some damage.
Saturday’s Feature event is the Settlers Trophy (Listed) over 2000m. The paucity of staying races on the program sees endurance runners like NAVY STRENGTH, PONTE PIETRA, ALLEZ MORIS and LOVE IS A ROSE take their chances in this contest which is at the low end of their preferred distance spectrum.
Of those mentioned, the top weight, PONTE PIETRA (a valiant third in the Gold Cup over 3200m) and lightly weighted ALLEZ MORIS who ran down Future Turn with a flashy burst a month ago at this course, are selected to fare best.
RAPIDASH who has a similar OMR to PONTE PIETRA and CALL TO UNITE are upwardly mobile, last start winning, Snaith entries with encouraging profiles. They too can pull it off, in a difficult handicap where cases can be made for practically all the runners.
The Bass stable has been slightly quiet recently as they try to play catch up after the interruptions to Milnerton gallops in late Winter and belatedly get their horses race ready. They send out extremely smart looking sprinting filly, NORDIC QUEST in Race 10.
The daughter of Querari is a four-time winner from 10 starts and comes in here off a career best figure attained three months ago. That raises a query about her current fitness but there can be no doubting her ability as she gave the afore-mentioned knockout weight and a three-length thrashing in that Hollywoodbets Kenilworth sprint demolition job.
Her principal rival is course specialist BLUE HOLLY. She ran well at Fairview two weeks ago to showcase sharp fitness after a short spell and is three from four over this Hollywoodbets Durbanville 1000m scurry.
The primed, MISS MARGUERITE can produce a late dart under JP van der Merwe, whilst ONI SAN with some good back form at the course and pacy, BONNE BOUCHE from draw 1 are others to consider.
