Racing in the Western Cape has been interrupted by heavy winter rain and resulting waterlogged tracks, with some trainers also bemoaning the interruption caused in their horses’ preparations.
Consequently, punters would’ve found Wednesday’s Cape Town card difficult to solve and there were a number of big-priced winners on the day, including two 25-1 shots as well as a 100-1 rank outsider.
The nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday 12 July is another challenge for bettors to unravel but there are several attractive betting propositions to cash in on.
Aldo Domeyer and Grant van Niekerk both enjoyed success at last week’s meeting and are likely to bag a brace that should be matched by Champion Jockey in waiting Keagan de Melo.
Candice Bass-Robinson had two winners last week, including the winner of the opener, and looks good value to repeat that feat beginning with two-year-old filly Callmegetrix in Race 1.
After an encouraging debut third over 1000m, the daughter of Vercingetorix confirmed that promise by finishing closer to the winner when third again over 1200m last time out.
Callmegetrix should, on pedigree, have more to offer going an extra 200m so can get Domeyer off to a winning start.
The stable’s double on the day could be completed by consistent Benjamin who will represent good eachway value in Race 6. He is 1,5kg better off with last-start conqueror Masked Vigilante for a 2.20-length beating on heavy ground last time and 4,5kg better off with stablemate Night Tiger after finishing 0.60 lengths behind the latter in his previous outing.
Striking grey colt Harajuku (Race 2) and Look Forward (Race 4), who is overdue her maiden win having finished second in three of her last four starts, are Van Niekerk’s plum rides on the day and should deliver the goods for their supporters.
The former, a two-year-old son of Danon Platina, has shown ability in both of his starts over 1200m but should have more to offer racing around the bend when stepping up to 1600m.
De Melo has a 100% strike-rate aboard Adam Marcus’ Jury Duty and could well preserve his unbeaten record on the Greys Inn mare with whom he is reunited in Race 3 over 1100m. It is worth noting that she is the only runner in the race to have won over this distance.
Hang Out The Stars is trained by Mike Stewart who has a reputation for doing particularly well with his horses during Cape winters on rain-affected ground and he will enjoy a return to 1400m from a good draw in Race 7 and could provide De Melo with a second winner.
Elsewhere on the card, Carriacou and Dean Street are the most likely winners in a competitive 1200m sprint in Race 5, while it could pay to follow progressive Green Mandarin who looks the part on his post-maiden debut in Race 8.
Clive Robinson
