In lieu of Monday’s cancelled race meeting, another was added to the Hollywoodbets Durbanville calendar with that nine-race card set for Saturday alongside a Highveld meeting at Turffontein on the same day, providing racing fans a feast of 18 races to sink their teeth into.
Justin Snaith sends 17 runners to the country course across eight of the nine races and is good value to land the spoils in no fewer than six of them!
Speedy two-year-old Speeding Bullet did too much too soon in a 1200m sales race on Cape Derby Day when racing prominently for most of the way before tiring in the closing stages. On that evidence, the return to 1000m in Race 1 should suit Snaith’s charge who, from gate No 1, is likely to have his rivals on the stretch from the jump under Grant van Niekerk.
Danon Platina colt Kyomai should complete a quick double for that trainer-jockey combination in Race 2 over 1400m. This flashy grey two-year-old caught the eye when stepped up to 1200m last time out, staying on well at the business end to finish third behind unbeaten Outlaw King. He needn’t improve a great deal to open his account but ought to improve anyway over the extra 200m, so should have the measure of his nine rivals.
Well-bred Hawk Circle has improved after gelding and the fitting of blinkers to his racing equipment. He has run two pleasing races over 1200m since resuming this year and could now be looking further, which he tries in Race 5.
On pedigree, this son of Silvano should have no trouble going 1600m so could belatedly break the ice at the eighth attempt.
Improving Kelp Forest is his biggest danger and including the pair in Swinger and Exacta bets should pave the way to profit in Leg 1 of the first Jackpot.
The second Jackpot begins in Race 6 over 1600m and Snaith will be eyeing another race win with a three-pronged attack in the eight-runner field.
Progressive Betty Boop, consistent Veronica Mars and versatile Bye Bye Bombshell all boast solid form credentials so including the trio in another Swinger and/or Exacta could prove the shrewd play.
Preference, however, is for Bye Bye Bombshell who drops in class and distance off a lower mark having posted consecutive fourth-place finishes in feature races over further at her last two starts. Unsurprisingly, Van Niekerk takes the ride for Snaith.
In Race 7, Hunting Trip and Distinction form part of a strong stable coupling, while Silver Falcon in Race 8 is likely to represent good each-way value in his to lower the colours of former Snaith inmate Beerenberg over 1250m.
Clive Robinson
