The absence of leading Western Cape riders Richard Fourie and Grant van Niekerk from the eight-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday 26 March brings to mind the expression that when the cat’s away, the mice will play.
Fourie and Van Niekerk lead the charge in Cape Town this season as the jockeys with the most wins, but their non-attendance presents a perfect opportunity for Aldo Domeyer to cash in.
Although Fourie and Van Niekerk have ridden more winners than Domeyer in the Western Cape this season, the latter boasts a slightly better strike-rate than both adversaries. He is likely to better those statistics with a particularly strong book of seven rides at the meeting, including no fewer than five potential winning mounts.
Var-filly Tanneron should get the ball rolling in the opener over 1000m after a promising course-and-distance debut when touched off at the finish by exciting Sahara Cat who had run two previous races. She raced against winners that day so should fare better facing maidens on this occasion, especially with natural improvement expected of Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge given the experience of that encouraging introduction. Morne Winnaar rode Tanneron on debut but Domeyer takes over the reins.
Justin Snaith-trained Moonacres has improved in his two most recent outings this year under Fourie and Domeyer has ;picked up this choice ride in Race 2 over 1400m.
Both Moonacres and Aladdin’s Lamp, who is 3kg better off with the former, will have more to offer stepping up from 1200m of their last start to 1400m from favourable inside stalls.
Bass-Robinson sends out Maneki Neko in Race 3 over 1200m and further progress from this three-year-old son of Danon Platina should see him exit the maiden ranks. He has improved as a gelding to finish third and second in consecutive outings over 1000m and, on pedigree, should have no issue proving as effective over the extended distance under Domeyer in Leg 1 of the Pick 6.
This trainer-jockey partnership is represented by Philosophise in Race 4 over 1600m and it would take a brave bettor to go against the combination and The United States filly, despite a wide No 9 draw and hefty 61,5kg on her back.
Philosophise is course-and-distance suited, in good form and she will be at peak fitness in her third run after a rest.
The likelihood of a fifth Domeyer-ridden winner and fourth success on the day for Bass-Robinson’s stable isn’t beyond the realms of possibility either as Fly Futura has the credentials to make a bold bid from gate No 1 in Race 6 over 2000m.
He was game in defeat under Domeyer when finishing a close-up third over 1800m last time, having led for much of that race, and is likely to find the lead easily given his favourable starting berth, so could have enough in reserve to keep rolling in front.
Clive Robinson
