In the absence of some top riders, some sidelined by injury while others ply their trade abroad, the decision by Bernard Fayd’Herbe to return to South Africa and settle back into his Milnerton home is a welcome addition to the Western Cape jockey ranks.
One of the country’s finest heavyweight riders made a splash in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in January by producing outsider Al Muthana to get the better of odds-on favourite Charles Dickens.
His most recent comeback, however, has yet to spark into life but that could all change at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday 8 August with at least two potential winners among his competitive book of rides on the nine-race card.
Vaughan Marshall provides one of those three potential Fayd’Herbe winners in stable star Linebacker who runs in Race 2 over 1600m.
This Captain Of All gelding is a multiple Grade 1 winner and, while he is no longer the force of old and struggling to find his best form, it would take a brave man to bet against Marshall’s charge given that he is favourably treated by the conditions of the race.
Fayd’Herbe may have to wait until Race 8 to ride another winner but ought to deliver the goods aboard Lucinda Woodruff-trained Dean Street. This five-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding has always been held in high regard by the stable, initially by Lucinda’s dad Geoff, but the enigmatic sprinter wouldn’t always bring his A-game to the races.
He has returned after a break recently, though, in good form with consistency to go with it and is good value to turn the tables on last-start conqueror Dance Variety with whom he renews rivalry over 1250m on 1.5kg better terms for a 1.25-length defeat.
That jockey-trainer combination is represented by Cafe Culture in Race 9, also over 1250m, and this maturing four-year-old, who has improved after he was gelded and fitted with blinkers, ought to be competitive with progress expected of him.
He is lightly raced so has scope for further improvement which should see him play a leading role in the finish despite jumping from the widest No 14 gate.
The same connections of Cafe Culture are also represented by Night Tiger, who carries the same silks but is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and will be ridden by stable jockey Aldo Domeyer.
This son of Rafeef is closely matched on recent form with Woodruff’s runner but is drawn two gates inside of Cafe Culture which could sway the result in favour of Domeyer’s mount who was partnered last time by Morne Winnaar.
Taking Swingers and Exactas boxed with these Fullard and Drew (owners) runners looks the way to play the concluding event and is likely to pay handsomely should they arrive. Double floating this pair in Quartet bets with the field may prove profitable too.
Clive Robinson
