– By Mark van Deventer
Speed on the rail has been holding up well through the Spring at Hollywoodbets Durbanville and RAFA BAY will try take advantage of the track profile in Race 2, a Maiden sprint over 1250m.Justin Snaith’s entry jumps from draw 1, gets help from cagey jock, JP van der Merwe and has twice shown sustained speed over the minimum trip. He must now carry that gallop an extra 250m and hold off late charges likely to come from MASTER BOMBER AND DIABLO, who stayed on well behind Sir Korski last time.
MASTER BOMBER made a positive impression on debut, closing ground rapidly from well off the pace, but he must again overcome a bad draw (11). Shane Humby’s GRAND ALLEGRO is another to consider, having run nicely after a rest behind Arctic Wizard. There are also five firsters to add complexity to Race 2.
Humby, a patient conditioner, steps out PALACE GIFT in the following race, the opening Leg of the PA. This four-year-old comes off two neat runs at the venue where he went handy and kept on for place money. He will probably use the same tactics from gate 3 and hope to stave off a persistent challenge from another well drawn (2) pace-presser, WHAT A FORTUNE.
KING VISERYS is a moderate, 18 start career Maiden but he did run his best race here almost exactly a year ago and must be respected in a weak field with champion hoop, Richard Fourie booked to ride for Piet Botha.
SIR KORSKI’s form will be tested in Race 2 – if it holds up, then punters can swing more confidently with ZEITZ in the 5th Race as an inclusion in the early Jackpot and P6.
Andre Nel’s charge got mugged on the line by Greg Ennion’s giant speciman, Sir Korski three weeks ago, and with the grey Vercingetorix colt now stretching out to a more suitable longer route, appeals as an exotic banker. BOMBERS IN THE SKY (an improved figure behind Happy Days) could be the main menace.
Brett Crawford seems to have revived JOIN THE DOTS, and the gelding who showed early promise before losing his way can go in again in Race 6. A six- point penalty may not be enough to scupper his progress as he won fluently a month ago over the C/D to justify heavy market action. Fourie sticks solid in a vote of confidence.
By far the best quality race of the day is the 8th, a Cape A Stakes over 1400m, where the average merit rating is 111. Major contributors to that high mark are Drill Hall Stakes victor, ROYAL AUSSIE and Merchants winner, SURJAY with OMRs of 124; G1 placed HLUHLUWE (OMR 118) and front-running World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas heroine, Rascova (OMR 119). Then, there is a gap back to WECANGOALLNIGHT (OMR 109) who will appreciate the likely torrid pace, with OUTLAW KING and GET IMPRESSED next on 106’s.The top quartet have not raced for three months since their successful Durban Winter campaigns, so there is a question mark over their race readiness. All four are prepping for bigger prizes into Summer. On class alone they have a significant edge however, and all have done just fine at this unique course before.
As mentioned, there is a surfeit of speed signed on with RASCOVA, ROYAL AUSSIE, light weight, SAN PEDRO (OMR 97) and GET IMPRESSED all having shown a propensity to charge forward. It should be an exciting watch and the outcome of significance for upcoming Features when racing reverts to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
