An interesting observation when looking at the eight-race card for the Vaal meeting on Thursday 20 April, is that jockey Aldo Domeyer will be making the trip up from Cape Town for just three rides.
Two of those rides are for Vaal-based trainer Ashley Fortune, who is also co-owner of the pair entrusted to Domeyer.
In Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1100m, Fortune and Domeyer team up with Var-gelding Open Highway.
Support for this youngster dwindled before his debut, but he produced an eye-catching performance, finishing less than a length behind Rose Tinted. Had he not shifted in late under Kabelo Matsunyane, the outcome of his debut could have been much better for Open Highway.
Bred by Avontuur, Open Highway was sold for R550,000 at the National Yearling Sale last year, so based on that price tag, expectations from the connections must be high.
He faces mostly newcomers in his second outing and should take a world of beating with that experience under the belt.
In Race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies, Cala Muretta flies the Fortune/Domeyer flag.
This daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was all at sea on her debut over 1000m when taking on males, but nevertheless finished just 2,25-lengths behind the winner Guy Gibson.
That run was so impressive that she found a lot of market support second time out against her own sex, shortening from 9-2 in initial betting to 5-2 when the race was run.
Although she didn’t win, she ran second to Queen Of Camelot, beaten just one length.
Bred by Varsfontein, she also reached a hefty price-tag at auction, setting connections back R300,000, so again, expectations must be pretty high.
She won’t have it all her own way, though.
Weichong Marwing’s Divine Moonlight found her running shoes at the fourth time of asking, finishing less than a length behind Callmewhenuneedme with the Brett Crawford-trained Wugug another half a length further back in third.
Considering that Wugug was on debut, this daughter of Rafeef is expected to improve in leaps and bounds.
In Race 6, a MR 80 Handicap over 1200m, Domeyer and Fortune will be in opposite corners, with the trainer saddling Black Egret for jockey Julius Mariba while Domeyer will be aboard Tayoooba for trainer Mike de Kock.
Both, however, will need to up their game if they want to see anything other than the tail of Candice Dawson’s Mini Coop.
Clive Robinson
