South Africa Horse Racing Previews: DURBANVILLE@2023.08.15
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R150.000, 12:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race to start. SILVER FALCON has improved with maturity to win four of five starts this year, but that winning sequence could be halted on these terms, as WECANGOALLNIGHT (1.5kg better off) is weighted to turn the tables. RESONATE should also fare better on 3kg better terms and is likely to make his presence felt in his peak outing. HOEDSPRUIT and AFTER THE RAIN are capable when racing freshly so are not discounted either.
Selections:
#6 Wecangoallnight, #4 Silver Falcon, #5 Resonate, #1 Hoedspruit
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 13:20GMT+2
Race Summary: KYTHERA has finished a close-up 3rd in both starts over this trip and with any improvement ought to open her account. PINEAPPLEMINTGREEN, THREE COINS and SILENT WINTER are well-bred fillies who would’ve gained plenty from their debut outings so should have more to offer with the benefit of that experience. NILE THE BOSS has both the form and experience to be competitive too. NIGHT VIGIL and LA PEQUENITA are well-bred newcomers to keep an eye on, especially if the market speaks in their favour.
Selections:
#2 Kythera, #10 La Pequenita, #7 Nile The Boss, #9 Night Vigil
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R125.000, 13:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. WHAT A STATE has been at the top of her game for the better part of a year now and she is also capable of holding her own racing against the boys, so is likely to play another leading role here under favourable conditions. RAGNAR LOTHBROK and BEERENBERG have maintained a good level of form and consistency. Both should be competitive once more and will give the selection most to fear. ROD THE MOD, ELUSIVE TRADER and BARNEY MCGREW are inconsistent but remain capable of staking a claim in the finish.
Selections:
#6 What A State, #4 Ragnar Lothbrok, #7 Beerenberg, #5 Rod The Mod
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 14:30GMT+2
Race Summary: As in the preceding event with her stablemate, JURY DUTY arrives at the top of her game and is likely to prove hard to beat under favourable conditions. CHARLIE MALONE showed improvement with the headgear on at this course recently and ought to pose a threat as this trip will be more to his liking. WORDSWORTH and FINAL MOVE also have claims on their recent form over this distance. BULLITT can make his presence felt too.
Selections:
#10 Jury Duty, #2 Charlie Malone, #9 Final Move, #8 Wordsworth
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R100.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. CATTALEYA took advantage of a drop in the ratings by winning over 1400m recently, and was well backed to do so, before changing hands and switching stables. She ought to remain competitive despite a 3-point penalty. LADY LOOK ALIKE improved with the benefit of an introductory outing to win her next start and she should have more to offer. UNCONQUERABLE LADY ran well in defeat last time, giving the winner 3kg, so she too can fight for victory in her peak outing. Last-start winner ON BOARD, returning stablemate KENNEDY, and EASY MONEY are also capable of getting into the picture.
Selections:
#3 Cattaleya, #6 Lady Look Alike, #9 Unconquerable Lady, #1 Kennedy
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R125.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: A case can be made for most of these. LADY SILVANO looks the pick of the Crawford runners on riding arrangements but has failed to make the frame in 2 starts at this course, whereas stablemate FLEETING has done all her winning this track and trip. MY FLOWER FATE has been sparingly raced and is probably better than rated. She is likely to remain competitive despite a 4-point penalty for winning over this trip last time and could complete the hat-trick. PHILOSOPHISE and ISLAND TREASURE are better off at the weights, though. VERONICA MARS has not won in ages but has strong form credentials.
Selections:
#4 Veronica Mars, #5 Fleeting, #6 My Flower Fate, #9 Island Treasure
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R100.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. PEUT ETRE MOI plummeted in the ratings and will take advantage of that sooner rather than later. Like her, fellow fairer-sex representatives FALLO ANCORA and ALFRED’S GIRL are well weighted so ought to be competitive. The latter has dropped to her last-winning mark and with frontrunning tactics in her peak outing could be the value in the race. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is highly thought of so should produce better results than his recent efforts have yielded. SAINT SILAS is likely to improve after making a comeback and can make his presence felt too.
Selections:
#8 Alfred’s Girl, #7 Peut Etre Moi, #6 Fallo Ancora, #2 Kingdom Of Heaven
Durbanville, 15.08.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: On these revised terms, ESTIMATED and LUCY THE PINK are both weighted to pose more of a threat to last-start conqueror ZIPPY OVER. However, the latter won so well last time that a 4-point penalty is unlikely to prevent her from winning again. Stablemate CLOUD CHASER may have needed her last run after a break so ought to do better with improved fitness on her side. WINTER SCOUT could spark improvement dropped in the ratings.
Selections:
#7 Zippy Over, #6 Lucy The Pink, #2 Estimated, #1 Cloud Chaser
Best Win: #7 ZIPPY OVER
Best Value Bet: #8 ALFRED’S GIRL
Best Longshot: #8 ALFRED’S GIRL
