South Africa Horse Racing Previews: DURBANVILLE@2023.09.12
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R110.000, 11:35GMT+2
Race Summary: A tricky/competitive race to start. MANEKI NEKO has obvious claims after an improved last start over course and distance but is drawn widest of all. THE GREY KING caught the eye when running on from a wide draw to finish behind that rival on debut, though could turn the tables from an inside draw with the benefit of that experience and likelihood of improvement. GUARDING THE WALL and SAIL TO THE SKY should also have more to offer, so could get into the picture. The betting market will provide a guide to the chances of the newcomers – COLONEL GREEN, SILVER PLATTER and KING OF SPIN are worth noting.
Selections:
#2 The Grey King, #13 Maneki Neko, #11 Silver Platter, #12 King Of Spin
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R110.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: A competitive maiden. TENANGO and NORDIC CHIEF are likely to improve after encouraging debuts over course and distance. Both should be competitive from their inside stalls. KAAPSE KLOPSE has the form and experience to stake a claim in the finish but is drawn poorly. After an improved last start as a gelding, LINDBERGH should have more to offer so could also get involved. Newcomers BITTERMINT, ORIENTAL CHARM, DOUBLE DISTILLED and WILLIE JOHN are worth noting in the betting and must be respected, especially if the market speaks in their favour. HOUSE OF SUSSEX and RUN FOR ME have minor roles.
Selections:
#2 Nordic Chief, #1 Tenango, #14 Kaapse Klopse, #9 Lindbergh
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Another hot maiden. ICE RAIN caught the eye on debut from a wide draw and is likely to improve with that experience and over this trip, so could represent the value here. GLEE CLUB improved to finish ahead of that rival last time and ought to feature prominently from her No 1 gate. TIME FOR LOVE and PINSTRIPE are likely to improve after pleasing introductions so are also on the shortlist. VIX PRINCESS and REDROSEOFLANCASTER showed promise in two introductory sprints up the straight and should also have more to offer stepping up to this distance. FATAL GEM must overcome the draw to have a say.
Selections:
#8 Ice Rain, #1 Glee Club, #6 Redroseoflancaster, #3 Time For Love
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: NAUSHON was drawn wide when running on well to finish 2nd over track and trip last time, so should be competitive from a better draw. GREENLAND was stationed outside of that rival and finished little over a length behind, though does have more scope to improve so could turn the tables. Fellow 3yo DIAMOND ROCK is closely matched on that form and also likely to have a say. However, it may pay to follow the progress of APACHE CHIEF who was returning from a 3-month absence when running on to finish 2nd over 1400m last time and, on that evidence, should have more to offer over the extra 200m.
Selections:
#5 Apache Chief, #2 Greenland, #4 Naushon, #1 Diamond Rock
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R85.000, 13:45GMT+2
Race Summary: LICKETY SPLIT and GREEN ISLE ran improved races when staying on over 1400m last time and should have more to offer over this trip in their peak outings. Runner-up over this track and trip in her latest start, improving COULDITBE is also likely to play a leading role. TWO A PENNY is, on pedigree, open to any amount of improvement over this distance and could improve beyond those rivals. She made a pleasing return after a break to finish 2nd in a sprint at big odds but is unlikely to be on offer at such a generous price this time around, though could represent value nonetheless.
Selections:
#7 Two A Penny, #2 Green Isle, #9 Coulditbe, #1 Lickety Split
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: RULE OF THUMB confirmed recent improvement when winning over track and trip last time and ought to remain competitive under a 2-point penalty. TOTHEMOONANDBACK returned the beaten favourite behind that rival last time and appears held on these terms but the addition of blinkers could eke out the improvement needed to turn the tables. Stabelmate KIMBALL O’HARA is maintaining consistency and may have more to offer over this trip, though the same could be said of lightly raced LUNCH MONEY who is dangerous off a 2-point lower mark with scope to improve. FAIRE ADVANTAGE and SHAVOUT are capable.
Selections:
#3 Lunch Money, #7 Tothemoonandback, #5 Rule Of Thumb, #13 Shavout
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R120.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: FUTURE VARIETY debuted behind JEWEL CAT (2.5kg better off) over this distance and improved to win next. He returns after a rest as a gelding with more to offer and it should pay to follow his progress, though the chances of the latter on his reappearance can’t be ignored either on these terms. TEFLON MAN is drawn widest but showed enough ability as a 2yo to warrant respect on his return. CAPTAIN ARROW may have needed his last outing (gelded) and is open to improvement. BLUFF ON BLUFF and ELUSIVE TRADER remain capable of getting involved. Keep an eye on returning duo CITYSCAPE and RAVENSTHORPE.
Selections:
#8 Future Variety, #12 Teflon Man, #6 Jewel Cat, #10 Captain Arrow
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R135.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE is slung in under the conditions and may retain the ability that saw him win the Cape Guineas and place in both the Met and Cape Derby (all three Grade 1 races) but is likely to lack ‘match’ fitness following an injury-enforced layoff. Fillies HAPPY CHANCE and GIMME’S LASSIE are also favourably treated on these terms, although the latter ought to make her fitness count. MEU CAPITANO faces a tough test in this grade/company but could well be better than rated so is best to keep safe despite a wide draw. DUMBLEDORE and KING REGENT are capable of playing a role. Tricky!
Selections:
#8 Gimme’s Lassie, #6 Happy Chance, #10 Meu Capitano, #4 King Regent
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R85.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Both WINTER PEARL and EASY MONEY have the form and experience to be competitive but will need a lot to go their way from wide starting berths. SEEKING PEACE is drawn better and has maintained her consistency at this level, so could be more competitive. MASKED VIGILANTE has a big weight to carry but is not incapable of getting involved from an inside gate. HAT’S PRIDE and LADY RENEE have more to do now having exited the maiden ranks. With that said, this is a good opportunity for YAMADORI to resume winning ways having finished 2nd in a stronger race last time in his first post-maiden outing.
Selections:
#1 Yamadori, #9 Seeking Peace, #11 Easy Money, #13 Winter Pearl
Durbanville, 12.09.2023, Race 10, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R120.000, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: A tricky race to end though it could pay to side with improving younger fillies who will need to be competitive in a race of this nature if they are to go on to bigger and better things. Of the three 3yo last-start winners, MIA’S HARPER is preferred on the evidence of her dominant maiden win over a similar trip. NORDIC QUEST also confirmed the promise of her encouraging debut by winning last time and should have more to offer. DOUBLE GRAND SLAM was a runaway winner over track and trip and is likely to improve but has been off for 6 months. UNCONQUERABLE LADY and SIDDELEY aren’t out of it.
Selections:
#2 Mia’s Harper, #7 Nordic Quest, #9 Unconquerable Lady, #12 Double Grand Slam
Best Win: #1 YAMADORI
Best Value Bet: #7 TWO A PENNY
Best Longshot: #7 TWO A PENNY
