By Mark van Deventer
Stayers’ races on the program are scarce and the Maidens, WOOD WORLD and PAST AND PRESENT compete as if they could do with a test of stamina. They will therefore enjoy an opportunity over the 2400m distance of Race 1 so should fight out the opener at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday – off time 12h45 and get punters off to a clean start in the Bipot.
Canford Cliffs, a Champion Miler in the UK around 2010/11, who won five Gr 1’s in a row, has been ratcheting up his S.A. stallion stats with a spate of recent winners. SHOW OFF can add to the list in Race 3, an Open Maiden over 1500m by building on an eye-catching second start when closing smartly from far back when drawn wide at this venue. His dam Front and Centre was very talented – let’s see what ability level the smoothly progressive, SHOW OFF can attain.
Brett and James Crawford trained stable mate MONKEY PUZZLE finished slightly ahead on that occasion to Chasingtherainbow but has less scope as a well-exposed 4YO. Crawford also saddles SMART HORSE who might get into the picture, though his fourth entry, HAWAII TRACTOR showed nought on debut and has been rested and gelded since.
GRAN CANARIA and AFRIQUE have legit chances on their runs to RED DAWN and NATIVE RULER, while NOBLE HERO has shown enough recently in blinkers to be competitive.
ALL ABOUT RONNIE drops down to a Class 5 after doing nicely in a stronger contest when fourth to My Bestie over this 1800m distance. That makes him the possible solution to Race 5 where the average official merit rating of the field is a humble 62.
Ace pilot, Richard Fourie, a 25% rider, has won on him before and will give Des McLachlan’s runner another adept steer. ALL ABOUT RONNIE tends to come well this time of the year, and though this three-time winner from 27 starts is not one to bet the ranch on, he gets a favourable set up in Race 5.
SOHOT SOWHAT shows neat potential as a sprinter for Lucinda Woodruff. Gavin Lerena sticks solid on this daughter of Soqrat who got run out of it over seven panels last time and may prefer turning back to 1250m. This two-time winner of four starts is making her Hollywoodbets Durbanville debut with a favourable inside draw (1) to help.
She faces a bunch of challengers. PILOT FLAME gamely fended off Tanneron at this course three weeks ago; EXQUISITE has been rushing off into the distance before tiring over much further and now cuts back to sprinting which could work the oracle; CAPTAIN’S DESTINY rates close to SOHOT SOWHAT on their mid-January clash, as does PRISCILLA MAISEY. And, MIRACULOUS and DECEMBER DAWN have terribly wide draws, yet can get into the mix on their best efforts.
DECEMBER DAWN
ELSINORE may be a bit of a wild hit or miss swing for the fences but could be worth a speculative wager in the last race, a Class 4 over 1250m, jumping at 16h55.
The Justin Snaith trained runner suffered a bad trip here three weeks ago which does not reflect his true capabilities. ELSINORE’s back form at this peculiar course holds up fine though he is best assessed off a steady performance going handy to Kelp Forest in early January. That effort gives him at least as good a chance as likely favourites, the speedy FIRINGONALLENGINES and, on subsequent collateral form, STREET OUTLAW.
AZURRI is interesting dropping back to the shorter cuts and can be added to single race exotics. COUNTER ATTACK, mixes his form, but would have a shake on a going day from the best draw, whilst Bass Racing stable mate MASTEROFTHEDESERT is also erratic yet fits at this class level, too. Draw 12 makes life hard though on this fast running, bendy circuit.
ELSINORE will also need his share of good fortune from an awkward gate of 9, but longer odds offset the risk. If Sean Veale can somehow navigate a clear round, then an each way touch might prove rewarding in Race 8.
