RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: DURBANVILLE@2023.11.21
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R120.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: QUICK TRIP finished behind TRES CHIC over this course and distance last time but was well backed on that occasion when returning from a rest, and she is good value to turn the tables with improved fitness on her side. NILE THE BOSS has run well in defeat from wide draws recently and ought to pose more of a threat from an inside gate. TEQUILA SKY is better suited to this distance and drawn well, so should make her presence felt too. TRUE HORIZON could confirm the improvement of her last start with the cheekpieces retained.
Selections:
#6 Quick Trip, #8 Tres Chic, #3 Nile The Boss, #4 Tequila Sky
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: TIME FOR LOVE has the form and experience to fight for victory, and also has more scope to improve than most of her rivals. However, LICKETY SPLIT deserves to get her head in front after finishing 2nd in 3 consecutive outings, including twice over this course and distance, so is marginally preferred. BYTHELITEOFTHEMOON and STATE CAPITOL should improve over this trip and complete the shortlist. DARK FUTURE and GRANDIOSA could improve to play minor roles.
Selections:
#8 Lickety Split, #3 Time For Love, #1 Bytheliteofthemoon, #4 State Capitol
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: NAUSHON was drawn wide and ran on from a long way back to finish 2nd recently, which was his 4th runners-up finish over this course and distance. He is ideally stationed in gate No 2 this time around so could finally open his account. APACHE CHIEF is unexposed and likely to improve over the trip but is 4kg worse off with FLASH LIGHTNING, who has improved in two starts after gelding, so unlikely to turn the tables on the latter. RUN RUDOLPH RUN, despite a wide draw, has the form and experience to pose a threat with just 54kg on his back.
Selections:
#3 Naushon, #6 Flash Lightning, #2 Apache Chief, #10 Run Rudolph Run
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R90.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. WEATHER KING is a young and maturing stayer who improved for the step up to this distance last time to finish 3rd over track and trip – ahead of YZERFONTEIN (4kg better off), HEKNOWS and GOLD JET (both 4,5kg) – and could well defy the weight turnaround by confirming his superiority over those rivals with further progress expected. MASTEROFALLSTORMS and STORM BOULEVARD relished the step up to 1800m last time when improving to finish 2nd and both may have more to offer over the extra 200m, so feature high on the shortlist.
Selections:
#1 Masterofallstorms, #7 Weather King, #2 Storm Boulevard, #3 Heknows
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R115.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. GENTLEMAN JOE has rediscovered his form in 3 starts off this mark, finishing 2nd twice over 1600m and 3rd over this track and trip from a wide draw in a big field. He is neatly positioned in gate No 4 here so is good value to recapture the winning thread. Last-start maiden winners EPIKLEROS and AVIGNON are maturing and are favourably treated under these conditions, although the former is by far the best-weighted runner on these terms so ought to play a leading role. EXCEEDER has good recent form and should be involved once more.
Selections:
#4 Gentleman Joe, #7 Epikleros, #1 Avignon, #8 Exceeder
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R115.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. MAJOR APOLLO confirmed the promise of his debut 3rd behind WILLIAM WEST by winning last time. He ought to improve with experience so is likely to play a leading role, especially as the latter is 2.5kg better off with last-start conqueror WORDSWORTH, who is also 1.5kg worse off with BONANZA. Both AXL and WYLIE JACK are capable of getting involved too.
Selections:
#7 Major Apollo, #3 William West, #5 Bonanza, #4 Wordsworth
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R155.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. ICY BLAST was making his seasonal reappearance when finishing alongside BLUFF ON BLUFF on identical terms over this course and distance last time, so is good value to reverse that form with improved fitness on his side and the No 1 gate to boot. BARNEY MCGREW is held on that form, though isn’t incapable of staking a claim either. ROD THE MOD acquitted himself well in a higher grade last time so also warrants respect at this level.
Selections:
#2 Icy Blast, #7 Bluff On Bluff, #4 Rod The Mod, #6 Barney Mcgrew
Durbanville, 21.11.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R135.000, 17:00GMT+2
Race Summary: FORT RED made full use of his inside gate to win over course and distance last time and is likely to remain competitive despite a 3-point penalty. MASKED VIGILANTE and JAM JAM were raised a point each for finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively but ought to pose more of a threat on 1kg better terms. HARD WINTER has improved in the two starts after he was gelded and will have more to offer in his first post-maiden outing, so must be included. OPEN HIGHWAY was not disgraced in a stronger race on his local/stable debut and ought to be more competitive at this level with improved fitness on his side.
Selections:
#7 Open Highway, #3 Hard Winter, #2 Masked Vigilante, #1 Fort Red
Best Win: #8 LICKETY SPLIT
Best Value Bet: #7 OPEN HIGHWAY
Best Longshot: #7 OPEN HIGHWAY
