By Mark Van Deventer
The final meeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville takes place Tuesday afternoon, before the venue switch back to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 2 November for the Cape Classic, Need for Speed and Southeaster Sprint, which kicks off the start of the Cape Racing Summer Festival of Racing.
Under the circumstances, the Hollywoodbets Durbanville circuit has coped well over the past months, with the going shifting from being extremely soft in July and August to becoming harder and faster, recently.
Much of the time, Hollywoodbets Durbanville caters for a particular racing style. The ability to hold position from a low draw, race handy and kick early are optimal tactics at the country course.
The wider expanses of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, a more galloping, and fairer, track calls for different riding strategies, especially when the prevailing summer wind, the Southeaster is pumping head on up the long straight.
Some trainers elect to harness early speed and have their horses ridden aggressively whilst others prefer to see their charges settled, conserving energy for the closing stages.
Early pace matters at both venues – it is just that at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth off pace runners have more of a chance to mount their late rallies than at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
MAJOR MASTER is held in high regard by Bass Racing but has been beaten in his first two starts. He ran on well from a wide draw in a 1250m sprint at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in mid-September but, as indicated in the preamble, like so many hold-up horses at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, fell marginally short.
He then suffered the same fate when rolled as the 5/10 odds on fave at his follow up in October over 1400m, despite gaining ground in deep stretch. The Master of My Fate colt will now try getting third time lucky in Race 3, off time 14h00 – Leg 1 of the Pick 6.
BOUNCEBACK stands in his way. The Justin Snaith trained entry now gets blinkers fitted and comes in off a fine try behind Terminator when finishing off with verve from a stalking position. He too will be primed having his third start after a pause and it should be a fascinating tactical battle between two crafty, high percentage jocks, Aldo Domeyer on MAJOR MASTER and champion, Richard Fourie on BOUNCEBACK.
Just as the opening Leg of the Pick 6 appears to be a two-horse race, so the finale (Race 8) could be fought out by ALL ABOUT AL and BLUFF ON BLUFF.
Trainer of the latter, Piet Steyn explains that everything must go his horse’s way, confirmed by the low winning strike rate of 10%. That is because the son of Oratorio, who places often, is a late-running sprinter who needs both a pace meltdown and to get the gaps at precisely the right moment to win. He will be afforded every opportunity under Fourie who has ridden BLUFF ON BLUFF eight times for a win, four seconds and a third.
ALL ABOUT AL beat his rival three weeks ago by three quarters of a length over the course and distance and has been raised three points for his troubles so it should be a close run thing again. Trainer Adam Marcus is meticulous in how he campaigns horses and typically has his entries in the right spots given their ability. ALL ABOUT AL seems sure to go well at a course and in a Class level (4) where he has proven his capabilities.
These two are selected to lock up the Pick 6 though the ultra-consistent, SHIFTING PATH remains a clear and present threat. Speedy mare, HEAR MY VOICE; the erratic, ELUSIVE WINTER, who has appealing back form, and course-suited, pace-presser, ACROSS THE BOW can be used underneath in Tris and Quartets.
