By Mark Van Deventer
Wearing first time blinkers, CUMBRE VIEJA set too fast of a pace last time before folding close to the finish. Three weeks later, he will bid to go all the way in Race 4 over the same course and distance.
Vaughan Marshall’s entry has placed at all six starts and comes in here after three successive seconds. SA’s top pilot, Richard Fourie gets the call up, and with astute pace judgement, can steer the Erupt gelding to victory in the 14h20 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
ROYAL PORT LOUIS and GIVETHATMANABELLS also come out of the recent Plus Four form line with the first named CUMBRE VIEJA’s main danger. He is likely to improve on that initial comeback after nearly two years off track, when sighted making neat progress from the rear.
Poorly drawn LATE DECEMBER was not a factor on his course debut but must be considered on earlier form in key Maiden races.
Still, if CUMBRE VIEJA is left unchallenged on the lead, he could prove difficult to reel in. He has proven fitness on his side and is helped by a track playing to handy types able to secure the best strip of going. On Tuesday, race winning moves were being made on the outside rail once in the straight.
Pick 6 bettors can lock up Race 5 (Leg 3) with JET TO THE SUN and SANSA STARK as their main choices, with FAIRFIELD and EXQUISITE as back up’s. The latter has made slight improvement at each start but will need to settle better, while FAIRFIELD has the opposite problem – a tendency to be slow out and get caught too far off the action.
That leaves Justin Snaith’s quirky JET TO THE SUN with a fine opportunity to break a string of placings and exit the Maiden ranks. She has her limitations yet races best handy and tries hard which will stand her in good stead at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
Though well exposed as a non-winner from 14 starts, SANSA STARK actually ran quite well to Charlotte Bronte 37 days ago and is a must use in the Picks for sharp combo, Piet Botha and Luyolo Mxothwa.
Five horses may offer sufficient cover in Leg 1 of the P6. ON MY HONOUR (came second first time out); ARDABIL (can improve after a fair debut three months ago); four-year-old, MR BELVEDERE (has twice come within a whisker of winning), DUBBELOSIX (an expensive Vercingetorix colt who was backed without showing much on debut and should do better for the experience) and JOUEUR DE FLUTE (2nd to runaway winner, Stated over the C/D a month ago) have all shown glimmers to suggest they have it in them to win a Maiden soon.
Keep tabs on REPETITION, a Twice Over debutant out of Joshua’s Princess, an accomplished race-mare. Volumes traded in the betting market and a careful paddock inspection should reveal more about this Snaith Racing entry.
The best quality contest is the last, a Cape A Stakes with a full field of 14 top division entries who have won 64 races between them. The complication is that fitness queries hang over the majority of Race 8’s runners who are using this 1250m contest to get their Spring campaigns underway.
And some of those with proven Graded credentials such as BEREAVE and FUTURE VARIETY are drawn wide, a “grosso problema” over this trip given the bendy track configuration.
The tentative contender list comprises course suited SILVER FALCON (who should get the run of the race from gate 1 under Fourie); last out sprint winner, WE’RE JAMMING; officially best weighted but enigmatic miler, ZAPATILLAS; fast-finisher, WECANGOALLNIGHT; the very smart and dependable gelding, QUESTIONING; consistent, SUGAR MOUNTAIN plus the afore-mentioned Stakes performers, BEREAVE and FUTURE VARIETY.
