RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: DURBANVILLE@2024.08.31
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 12:00GMT+2
Race Summary: BAGATELLE FLASH maintained a good level of form and consistency as a juvenile and remains open to improvement on his reappearance having been gelded. FENCING CAPTAIN fits a similar profile but is engaged to run at an earlier meeting. DAWN TILL DUSK finished an encouraging 3rd on his 3yo debut and need only confirm that improvement to play a leading role. COTONOU and MASTER INCOLOR are capable of making their presence felt too. Newcomers ELSINORE and PAPILLON BLU are others to note.
Selections:
#10 Bagatelle Flash, #5 Dawn Till Dusk, #2 Fencing Captain, #1 Master Incolor
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R110.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: MAI SENSATION ran on from a long way back when a fast-finishing 3rd on debut over this course and distance, so it could pay to follow her progress with natural improvement expected. KAMCHATKA fits a similar profile and should know more about it after an encouraging Durbanville debut. EXPEDITION SOUTH and POETIC PRINCESS have also shown enough to earn a share of the spoils. WILD APPLAUSE and NOODSBERG are bred to be useful so market support for any of those newcomers has to be respected.
Selections:
#9 Mai Sensation, #8 Kamchatka, #10 Expedition South, #1 Wild Applause
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R110.000, 13:10GMT+2
Race Summary: MON PETIT CHERIE confirmed the promise of her debut 3rd over 1000m by finishing 2nd over course and distance when last seen and needn’t improve much on her reappearance to go one better. LOVE STORY would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of an encouraging debut run under her belt, so could improve to pose a threat. TIME IN PARIS, OCTOBER FEST and GREENLIGHT DANCER aren’t taken lightly and could have a say too.
Selections:
#12 Mon Petit Cherie, #10 Love Story, #3 October Fest, #6 Greenlight Dancer
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R110.000, 13:45GMT+2
Race Summary: EMPIRE STATE was friendless in the market on debut but belied his inexperience with an eye-catching 2nd and is good value to open his account given the likelihood of improvement. LET IT BE SAID didn’t land a blow on debut although did have legitimate excuses for that performance, which he put behind him with an encouraging 2nd over 1000m last time. He should have more to offer over this extended trip so will make life difficult for the selection. PALACE GIFT and WHAT A FORTUNE could also get involved. Watch newcomer AFRIQUE!
Selections:
#8 Empire State, #1 Let It Be Said, #4 Palace Gift, #3 Afrique
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R85.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Last-start winner BENEATH THE MOON ought to remain competitive under a 4-point penalty but could be found wanting in the latter stages with an extra 5kg on her back. LOVERS LANE is holding his form and should also acquit himself well if taking his place in the lineup (engaged on 21 August). SPIRIT’S UNITE and SHIFTING PATH are proven performers at this level. Both have legitimate winning chances on the strength and consistency of their recent form. TAMBOURINE MAN ran well on his post-maiden debut and is another likely to feature prominently. IM THE BUZZ and AUGUSTA BLUE aren’t taken lightly.
Selections:
#8 Shifting Path, #5 Spirit’s Unite, #12 Tambourine Man, #11 Im The Buzz
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: KAMAKAZI made all to win over track and trip last time in her first go at 1600m and there may be more to come from her over this distance, so is worth siding with despite a 4-point penalty. ICE RAIN, with the blinkers refitted after an encouraging comeback run, and HAMPSTEAD HEATH, who is returning from a 116-day absence, are also lightly raced 4yo fillies with solid form credentials. Both have the means to fight for victory. EUREKA DIAMOND and PROTECT THE DREAM won maiden races over 1400m and are relatively unexposed, so could have more to offer over this trip. SAINT BRIGID isn’t discounted.
Selections:
#3 Kamakazi, #1 Ice Rain, #5 Hampstead Heath, #2 Eternal Optimist
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. SOLAR POWER returned to winning ways last time, beating several re-opposing rivals over this track and trip. A resultant 4-point penalty and hefty 61kg on his back shouldn’t halt his momentum but does complicate his task. INNAMORARE and ZOOMIE are 2kg better off and weighted to reverse that form although the latter is awkwardly drawn in stall No 12, which can also be said SCALINI who is closely matched on that course-and-distance meeting. ASPECT won 4 in a row before a layoff and isn’t underestimated on his return, while BARDOLINO, STEINBECK, CARRIACOU and MAGIC VERSE have claims too.
Selections:
#6 Innamorare, #5 Solar Power, #12 Zoomie, #7 Aspect
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R120.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Intriguing contest. ROCCAPINA confirmed the promise of her debut with an impressive wide-margin maiden victory over track and trip in mid-June, winning unextended and with any amount in hand. The assessor was obviously taken by that performance, assigning her an opening mark of 93, but she could prove a lot better than that rating given the likelihood of further progress as a 3yo. Both LOVE SHACK and SHE’S MY CAPTAIN set a good standard and will expose any chinks in the armour of the selection. HEAR MY VOICE and STRATA complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#3 Roccapina, #5 She’s My Captain, #4 Love Shack, #6 Strata
Durbanville, 31.08.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Open. Recent winner XPLICIT CONTENT is engaged to run on 21 August but could make his presence felt if taking his place in this. KAIBOY showed promise in his 3-start 2yo campaign and remains open to improvement this season having been gelded ahead of his reappearance. Well-bred O’TENIKWA fits a similar profile. He confirmed the promise of his debut win with a good 2nd under 61kg against older rivals in May and a subsequent 15-week break would’ve done him plenty good. Hard-knockers SWIFT ACTION and BLUFF ON BLUFF are also respected. NIGHT TIGER and WILLIAM WEST have upset potential. Go wide!
Selections:
#4 O’Tenikwa, #2 Kaiboy, #3 All About Al, #5 Swift Action
Best Win: #3 ROCCAPINA
Best Value Bet:
Best Longshot: #6 INNAMORARE
