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Racing is back at
Durbanville on Saturday for an eight-race programme and punters will be hoping for better results than last week, when things were topsy-turvy and a few outsiders came to spoil the party.
There are good racing vibes emanating from Cape Town where increased stakes, track turnout and turnovers have improved recently. The R150,000 Settlers Trophy over 2000m tops the bill and with no real pace evident among the contenders, this could be a race in which jockeyship will win the day.
Richard Fourie’s mount Somerset Maughan is 3kg better off for a beating by Top Quality last time it’s an advantage that looks to be the key factor in determining who will take home the lion’s share of the stake.
A Graduation Plate from the top drawer follows this feature and it presents an opportunity for Candice Bass-Robinson’s classic contender Charles Dickens to show that he is the emerging star from a promising three-year-old crop. Dave The King, Iconic Destination and dual feature winner We’re Jamming will be there to ensure that any prospective title claim will be accompanied by fierce competition.
Mike de Kock has no runners this weekend, but he did furnish comments for next midweek’s Highveld meetings, both on the inside track at Turffontein. He said: “Our horses are ready to step out. We’re sitting on a few nice ones, waiting for the right races.”
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He has the so far battling filly Pinky Levine entered for a Maiden Handicap over 1800m on Tuesday and said: “Pinky Levine could be competitive because she’s in her place, a Maiden handicap. She is exposed, no star, but in a field of poor standard she’ll have an eachway chance.”
The same would go for Mr Bodacious, who has shown improvement recently and is likely to be competitive off what is the second-highest rating in another weak-looking Maiden Handicap over 1800m. “He also has eachway claims,” said Mike.
“Lilliana is a big runner in Race 6 over 1600m. She was right up there in second for Smanga Khumalo last time and she’s one for the shortlist now, she is well.”
There are four from the stable on Thursday, starting with newcomer Alice May (What A Winter) in Race 1 over 1200m. Mike said: “She is showing us good work on the sand track at Randjesfontein but has not been tried on grass yet. Also her draw is a concern, she’ll have to come from the widest position. So let’s see, I think she’s in with a shout.”
In-form Kabelo Matsunyane partners Red Emperor in Race 3 over 1200m. “He’s improved on his debut effort. Given the experience of that run and the fact that he’d only been on sand before that, I fancy he has a money chance in this contest.”
Matsunyane has also been booked for Commanding Officer in Race 3 over 1700m and this one is perhaps not ready to go to war with just yet as Mike reports that he is showing nothing on the sand track at home.
Sequoia goes to post in Race 6 over 1700m and once again the draw comes into play. “He’s drawn 11 out of 12 in quite a trappy race, a horse that is coming back to himself but it won’t be easy from his wide position,” Mike noted.
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