Punters face a choice between a scopey young filly, LADY SPRINGFIELD and two older rivals, LAVENDER BAY, and ENGLISH MISTRESS in Race 2, which opens Tuesday’s Bipot at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
LADY SPRINGFIELD made good improvement behind Pentolina at her second start – being slow away, then working forward to lead at one stage, before getting outrun in deep stretch. She is trending in the right direction and with further progress under record breaking champion jockey, Richard Fourie, Justin Snaith’s entry should go close.
Pace analysis shows that LAVENDER BAY galloped with determination at a steady rate behind Charlotte Bronte in what is turning into a key Maiden. Andre Nel’s charge must be respected carrying just 2kg’s more than her junior opponent.
ENGLISH MISTRESS, placed at seven of her 11 starts and now equipped with cheekpieces, won’t be winning out of turn, either. The trio look to have Race 2 sewn up between them.
KING PELLES emerged from the rain squall to saunter in last time under a tight hold just 17 days ago at this venue. He has now really found form with Gareth van Zyl and can defy a six-point hit from the handicapper in Race 4. Grant van Niekerk sticks solid, and they should relish the likely good pace, then launch an attack from midfield to try double up.
CALL TO UNITE is on the comeback trail and rates the main menace after just caving in late in a blanket finish behind OTTO LUYKEN. There is little to choose between these two on a reading of their beaten runs to the high class, Green With Envy in last year’s Politician Stakes.
Others to consider in this opening Leg of the P6 are BLUE BAY (Fourie) and deep closer, GIMME MORE TIME (Aldo Domeyer), though both will need to get clear commutes from wider gates. Senior pilots are appointed to manage that tricky task.
Lower draws make life easier at the country course. In Race 5 over 1400m, three to focus on are all penned towards the inner – SAIL THE SEAS (1), KELP FOREST (3) and RADICCHIO (4). The former makes a handicap debut in Class 4 after romping stylishly in a Maiden 73 days ago.
KELP FOREST will again go well at this level over a C/D he enjoys – jockey trainer combo, van Niekerk and Adam Marcus mean business when teaming up.
RADICCHIO may have “bounced” (regressed) slightly at his second start after a sterling yet gut-busting win on his August return. Assuming he is revived, he will be a big player racing handy under visiting rider, Tristan Godden, who must quickly try familiarising himself with the peculiar nuances of the country course.
This is an open contest, typical of a medium grade handicap, and all of BIG UNIT, DAS GUTE, UNICORN ALERT and maybe even ALL ABOUT RONNIE may get involved if lucky in running from their wide gates.
LADY LOXTON should be able to make her own luck in Race 6 as she is comfortable pressing the pace and is favourably drawn. The daughter of Vercingetorix is no star (1 win from 11 dips), but she enters calmer waters after a neat comeback run at the Class 4 level 40 days ago when splitting Philosophise and She’s My Captain at the track.
She now drops to Class 5 where her main dangers are Greg Ennion’s VERONIQUE and CATTALEYA. They place quite regularly yet have only won twice from 43 starts and thrice from 27 starts, respectively.
NILE THE BOSS is also limited in ability yet represents the tactical speed-on-the-rail angle, and course suited turn back play, FAMILY POWER can be lobbed onto wider tickets.
HANG OUT THE STARS is another esoteric lurker. She has flopped badly at her last two starts and is drawn 12/13 – at a cursory glance, her chances seem remote. But a deeper dive into the past performances reveals that she is weighted to beat LADY LOXTON on the Kebonalesedi, April form-line and she was finishing faster that day, too. A rare, Richard Fourie booking for trainer Mike Stewart is another plus factor, so it seems best to keep this Querari mare onside even if she has managed just a solitary victory from 19 starts to date.
Race 8 provides an each way play in the form of MISS MARGUERITE who was not disgraced in false run race behind Knockout a month ago. Piet Steyn’s entry has won second up after a rest before, handles soft ground and copes with Durbanville’s bends just fine. She gets further relief from the handicapper, coming down from a high OMR of 99 (after a smart dart in the Olympic Duel Stakes back in January,) to a more manageable 92.
MISS MARGUERITE is trying to snap a losing sequence of 439 days so punters will need generous odds to compensate. Stern opposition will come from SOUTHERN SKIES who seems sure to go well if fit after a layoff and taking to the track; Bass Racing’s sprinter, WINTER RAINFALL and MY FLOWER FATE who, though best over further, can rush home on resuming after a break.
Piet Botha’s enterprising, Dare to Dream stables may round out Tuesday’s meet. He saddles TRES CHIC, TRY ME (will have all the favours drawn 1) and the quirky, EASY MONEY in a Class 5 scurry over five panels.
TRES CHIC is the more dependable of the trio and is poised for a second win after showing decent recent form and dropping a few merit rating points. But off-pace closers are hostages to fortune at this venue and JP van Der Merwe will need to get the breaks on cue if she is to crack it.
Feedback from the jocks indicate that stable mate EASY MONEY is a very difficult ride and will test the forceful, Luyolo Mxothwa’s skills as a horseman. Of interest, her best fig was recorded at this course behind talented enigma, Tail of the Comet close to a year ago over 1400m, and her only two wins have been at the minimum trip.
It’s hard to know quite what to make of her given her quirks but based on a positive interpretation of both her course, and distance potential, she might settle better and pop– up at a price.
Apart from Botha’s tag team, ELECTRIC FIELDS, ON BOARD and BECKY SHARP are suggested as back up for bigger P6 perms on what shapes up as a challenging day for horseplayers.
– By Mark van Deventer
