Clive Robinson
Punters have been set a tough task finding winners at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday as the Spring Country Series continues with an eight-race card at the country course on 24 September.
There are a whole host of promising sorts carded to run on the day, including four attractive Justin Snaith-trained betting propositions for punters to cash in on.
Hunting Trip has everything in her favour in Race 1 and should open her account in Race 1 over 1250m under Richard Fourie. Given how the track has been running in recent meetings and how she adopted frontrunning tactics in her last start, this daughter of Trippi should have no trouble finding the front once more and should lead her rivals a merry dance.
That trainer-jockey combination should be seen to the fore again in Race 3 when Elusive Fort gelding Aussenkehr is expected to back up his last-start third over the course and distance with another bold bid.
There wasn’t a lot separating Aussenkehr and Sir William last time so boxed Swingers and Exactas could prove the shrewd play.
Race 7 is the Listed Settlers Trophy over 2000m is the feature on the card and is also likely to go the way of the powerful Snaith yard, who are represented by four runners.
Fourie’s ride, Somerset Maugham, is 3kg better off for a last-start defeat by stablemate Top Quality, so is weighted to turn the tables on his younger and more-progressive companion. However, the manner of the latter’s victory over 1800m last time suggests the step-up in distance is likely to bring about further improvement, so backing Top Quality to follow up is certainly worth a good bet.
Muzi Yeni takes the ride for Snaith and, with just 52kg to shoulder, Top Quality should break through for the first time at feature-race level, after consecutive thirds over 2400m in both the East Cape Derby and Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 2400m.
Western Cape Champion Two-Year-Old of last season We’re Jamming reappears for his much-anticipated three-year-old and seasonal debut in a hotly contested Race 8 over 1250m.
Rivals Charles Dickens and Dave The King, along with regally bred debut winner Narina Trogon, put their unbeaten records on the line while Le Mans will also will be looking to complete a hat-trick after wins over 1200m and 1000m recently.
However, recently gelded son of Duke Of Marmalade We’re Jamming could prove capable of giving weight and a beating to most of his rivals. He remains open to any amount of improvement and ought to enjoy being reunited with Fourie who has partnered him twice to second-place finishes.
Charles Dickens and Dave The King appear the biggest dangers, so should be included in Exacta and Trifecta bets, while Iconic Destination and Narina Trogon could be anything this term ahead of bigger prizes later in the summer and must be included in Quartet permutations.
