South Africa Horse Racing Previews: DURBANVILLE@2023.09.30
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive opener. TENANGO and GUARDING THE WALL have shown promise in introductory sprints and are likely to improve for this step up in distance. MAGIC VERSE and KING VISERYS have both the form and experience over this trip to make their presence felt, though are drawn wide, which isn’t the case for STARS IN HEAVEN who is ideally stationed in gate No 1 and should improve after a pleasing Cape intro over track and trip. CELTIC CHIEF, however, was ahead of that rival when an eye-catching 4th on debut and with any improvement should fight it out for victory.
Selections:
#10 Celtic Chief, #1 Stars In Heaven, #11 Magic Verse, #3 Tenango
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. Well-related FOUDRE caught the eye when running on well to finish 2nd over a shorter trip on debut and with that experience and improvement expected over this trip, ought to play a leading role. LINDBERGH, runner-up in both outings as a gelding, has both the form and experience to pose a threat, which can also be said of SACAMBAYA who finished 2nd over track and trip last time. THE NIGHT FERRY and LORD QUINN are other likely improvers who could have a say. OLIVER sports headgear for the first time and has scope to progress while MOREMI GORGE was a costly acquisition – respect both.
Selections:
#12 Foudre, #6 Lindbergh, #5 Moremi Gorge, #9 Sacambaya
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. TIME FOR LOVE has run well in both outings and given the impression she’ll be better for this step up in distance. The same, however, applies to CHARLENE whose best effort was over the furthest she’s been (1400m). SCHOOL POLICY finished ahead of that rival last time and could also have more to offer going this trip for the first time. Both LICKETY SPLIT and FLAMBOYANT FLYER ran career-best races last time out and ought to be competitive on that evidence, though that could also be said of ENGLISH MISTRESS who improved over this track and trip. PINSTRIPE is another who warrants respect.
Selections:
#6 Time For Love, #9 Charlene, #7 School Policy, #11 Flamboyant Flyer
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: MARSHALL FIELD and LORD FYFIELD have a score to settle. Either has the form and experience to play a leading role, though the latter could edge their rivalry in receipt of 4kg. Fellow 3yo AVIGNON ought to appreciate the step up to this distance in his peak outing and could have their measure if making any improvement with top jock Richard Fourie aboard. LOCKHEEDLIGHTNING, BELLA’S PABLO and WEATHER KING complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#5 Avignon, #7 Lord Fyfield, #4 Marshall Field, #11 Bella’s Pablo
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide open. CHEEKY LADDIE has not yet reached his ceiling but is drawn widest of all on his Western Cape comeback, so will need things to go his way. ZOOMIE was a smart 2yo and has scope to improve this term having been gelded, which could also be said of stablemate ZIL MORIS (reserve). NEVADA KING had excuses for a disappointing last run and is capable of better if ready to go after a layoff. PROMETERRE, SAN PEDRO, SCALINI and MARVEL WILLIAM make up a strong Vaughan Marshall quartet capable of staking a claim. PREVALENCE caught the eye last time and could be the value in the race on that evidence.
Selections:
#7 Prevalence, #4 Zoomie, #14 Cheeky Laddie, #8 San Pedro
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R300.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: A small but high-class field for this Grade 3 renewal. CHARLES DICKENS is the undoubted star attraction and one to beat on these favourable terms. However, fellow Grade 1 winner GIMME A PRINCE is more than capable of posing a threat over this trip. AFTER THE RAIN is likely to lead and will be hard to peg back if allowed his own way. Recently gelded ROYAL AUSSIE is distance suited and open to improvement too, so cannot be discounted either. RUNAWAY SONG and COSMIC HIGHWAY have place chances at best.
Selections:
#3 Charles Dickens, #1 Gimme A Prince, #6 Royal Aussie, #2 After The Rain
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R200.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: The Bass yard has a good record in this race and its stranglehold on this Graded feature looks set to continue with GOLDEN HOSTESS, who acquitted herself competitively in consecutive Grade 1 events in KZN late last season. She sets her sights lower and should capitalise. Stablemate GIMME’S LASSIE finished ahead of HAPPY CHANCE recently (1250m) but the latter is weighted to reverse that form over this distance. CALA MURETTA, however, is open to improvement and could emerge as the biggest danger on her local debut having won a 2yo feature in her first start for the Crawford/Rix stable.
Selections:
#6 Golden Hostess, #4 Cala Muretta, #8 Happy Chance, #3 Gimme’s Lassie
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. Fillies EASY MONEY, HIGHLYCONFIDENTIAL and her stable companion MUSICAL ARTS, are well in under the conditions and ought to be competitive on these terms. FINAL MOVE was unlucky not to have finished closer last time and could be worth another chance, although WYLIE JACK fared better on that occasion and is weighted to confirm that form. Veteran ELUSIVE TRADER caught the eye that day and has been dropped a further point in the ratings, so races off of an attractive mark. WARM WINTER NITE and BONANZA are course-and-distance winners capable of staking claims too in a race of this nature.
Selections:
#7 Elusive Trader, #10 Wylie Jack, #1 Final Move, #6 Highlyconfidential
Durbanville, 30.09.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R120.000, 17:00GMT+2
Race Summary: An intriguing race to end. LA DIVINA justified betting support and clocked a good time when making a winning debut, and the way she accelerated away from her rivals suggests she’ll have more to offer over this distance. However, the same can be said of WINTER RAINFALL who should make her presence felt despite conceding weight from a wide draw. That also applies to returning last-start winner DOUBLE GRAND SLAM, who is held in high regard and fancied (stable talk) to run well after her 200-day absence. Stablemates FLYING V and KNOCKOUT have scope to improve, as does MONTELENA after a rest. Open!
Selections:
#10 Winter Rainfall, #14 Double Grand Slam, #9 La Divina, #12 Flying V
Best Win: #6 GOLDEN HOSTESS
Best Value Bet: #7 PREVALENCE
Best Longshot: #7 PREVALENCE
