RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: DURBANVILLE@2023.10.16
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: STRATA has been costly to follow but wouldn’t be winning out of turn after several near misses. Both GYPSY EXPRESS and STEALINGTHUNDER are open to improvement after respective layoffs so could get into the picture, although a bigger threat is likely to come from one of the newcomers. PRINCESS VIRGINIE, COTONOU and WHISPERING ANGEL are of particular interest – watch the betting.
Selections:
#4 Strata, #2 Princess Virginie, #11 Tibetan Voyage, #1 Gypsy Express
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. LIGHTNING GLOW stayed on to finish 4th over 1250m last time and on that evidence and given his pedigree, should have more to offer over this distance. PLUS FOUR didn’t go unnoticed over this course and distance despite finishing unplaced in his most recent outing and ought to make his presence felt. So too likely improver RESURGENCE, who will have more to offer with the benefit of that experience.
Selections:
#5 Lightning Glow, #7 Plus Four, #6 Resurgence, #8 Blue Bay
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive maiden. NILE THE BOSS has both the form and experience to fight for victory but is again drawn wide. PRINCESS IZZY blew the start last time but ran on well from a long way back to finish ahead of EPIKLEROS and QUEEN OFTHE PALACE, so need only jump on terms to open her account at their expense. REDROSEOFLANCASTER is probably better than her last start suggests and cannot be written off just yet.
Selections:
#9 Princess Izzy, #4 Epikleros, #10 Nile The Boss, #5 Queen Ofthe Palace
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: LORD FYFIELD is a standout pick in this race on exposed form and need only run to his rating to shed his maiden tag. HEKNOWS and WILLIAM THE RED have less scope to improve but their experience will stand them in good stead. HAKAS KRAKAS and YZERFONTEIN have no more than minor roles to play while PROTAGONIST will need to improve markedly to have a say on his reappearance. SANTO DOMINGO could have more to offer over this distance.
Selections:
#2 Lord Fyfield, #9 William The Red, #3 Santo Domingo, #6 Hakas Krakas
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: A potential match-race between AVIGNON and MARSHALL FIELD. AVIGNON is improving and is well drawn in his peak outing and gets 3kg from his older rival but attempts this distance for the first time. The latter, also in his peak outing, is distance suited and went closest to winning over this trip so is given the nod. GLOBAL MOVEMENT, IMHOTEP and WEATHER KING are all closely matched and have earning potential too. BELLA’S PABLO is another to note.
Selections:
#9 Marshall Field, #1 Avignon, #4 Global Movement, #8 Imhotep
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Another competitive maiden. LICKETY SPLIT and TIME FOR LOVE won’t be maidens for much longer and, as both have scope to improve, are likely to play leading roles. It could, however, pay to follow the progress of FATAL GEM who gave the impression that she’ll be better suited to this distance by running on well over 1400m last time. FLAMBOYANT FLYER and ETERNAL OPTIMIST are not without chances, though.
Selections:
#8 Fatal Gem, #6 Time For Love, #12 Flamboyant Flyer, #5 Lickety Split
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 16:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. WINDRUNNER and DUAL AGENT are improving sorts with more to offer on their returns. JUST BEFORE DAWN is maturing and also likely to progress after a layoff. BENEATH THE MOON ought to strip fitter and could have a say from a better draw. Stablemates COULDITBE and RED PALACE won over this course and distance last time and are progressive, so likely to play leading roles again. METAR has claims too despite a wide draw on her return from a rest.
Selections:
#10 Red Palace, #8 Coulditbe, #2 Dual Agent, #1 Windrunner
Durbanville, 16.10.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R85.000, 17:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. NAUSHON and RUN RUDOLPH RUN are battle-hardened older horses with both the form and experience to play a role in the finish. However, both MAGIC VERSE and SPELLING BEE are unexposed 3yo colts who have shown promise and should improve, so ought to have a say too. LORD QUINN and MAKHACHEV have also shown enough to warrant respect.
Selections:
#7 Magic Verse, #2 Naushon, #13 Spelling Bee, #5 Run Rudolph Run
Best Win: #2 LORD FYFIELD
Best Value Bet: #8 FATAL GEM
Best Longshot: #8 FATAL GEM
