RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: DURBANVILLE@2024.10.19
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 11:55GMT+2
Race Summary: CORK BAY confirmed the promise of his course-and-distance debut (3rd) by finishing a close-up 2nd over this track and trip last time. He needn’t make a great deal of improvement to go one better. GIMMEATHRILL and ELSINORE would have come on after encouraging introductions so they could pose a threat with that experience to count on. GOOD SHINE showed pace, before tiring, over 1250m and this shorter distance may be more to his liking. SHIPINDANI was unlucky not to have finished closer last time. She would have tightened up with the benefit of that comeback run so could acquit herself competitively.
Selections:
#4 Cork Bay, #9 Gimmeathrill, #6 Good Shine, #7 Elsinore
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R165.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: RAPIDASH has had the measure of PACAYA, OTTO LUYKEN and LOVE IS A ROSE (twice) recently but is worse off at the weights with those familiar foes. There won’t be much separating those runners on these revised terms. FUTURE SWING and BARATHEON are not taken lightly on their Western Cape reappearances after successful KZN stints.
Selections:
#1 Rapidash, #4 Love Is A Rose, #2 Pacaya, #6 Otto Luyken
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R180.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: DOUBLE GRAND SLAM thrived in KZN, winning at Grade 3 and Grade 2 level before finishing 3rd in a 1600m Grade 1. She is most effective over this distance and is weighted to be competitive on her return. Best-weighted RED PALACE is unbeaten in 2 starts at this venue and races off a career-high mark after winning a 2000m Grade 2 in KZN when last seen. PRINCESS IZZY finished 3rd recently in a course-and-distance Grade 3 and she ought to make her presence felt again off an unchanged mark. Last-start winner FATAL GEM and consistent SIDDELEY, who has a good record racing fresh from a break, have claims.
Selections:
#5 Double Grand Slam, #1 Princess Izzy, #6 Red Palace, #2 Fatal Gem
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: ENGLISH MISTRESS would not be winning out of turn but will need things to go her way from a tricky No 12 gate. Like that rival, DOUBLE DASH, LAVENDER BAY and POCKET DIAL have both the form and experience to play leading roles. However, it could pay to follow the progress of improving LOTUS ISLAND who caught the eye when a fast-finishing 2nd over track and trip last time. She was dropped out from the widest draw on that occasion before clocking the fastest 400m-to-finish sectional. EXQUISITE has improved with each start but won’t be done any favours from the widest gate.
Selections:
#10 Lotus Island, #4 Double Dash, #12 English Mistress, #6 Lavender Bay
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:14GMT+2
Race Summary: SONG TO THE MOON was dropped out from a wide draw before running on smartly to finish 2nd over this course and distance 3 weeks ago, edging out INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH with whom he renews rivalry on similar terms. The unexposed latter ran well in defeat that day (his Western Cape debut) and remains open to improvement, so could make sufficient progress to turn the tables. ALL ABOUT RONNIE and BARDOLINO weren’t a long way adrift that day and are weighted to get closer. HOODIA didn’t go unnoticed on his reappearance and may have more to offer stretching out this trip. LA PULGA isn’t taken lightly either.
Selections:
#8 Industrialstrength, #7 Song To The Moon, #6 Hoodia, #1 La Pulga
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: RADICCHIO is at the top of his game and a 3-point penalty for his recent 1400m victory is unlikely to prevent another competitive showing. SHAVOUT made no impression from a wide gate last time but is a dangerous frontrunner who shouldn’t be underestimated, especially from a favourable No 2 stall. Last-start maiden winners LEGAL COUNSEL and DALMENY FACTOR are progressive and should acquit themselves competitively, with further improvement expected. DEVIL A SAINT was a surprise winner over track and trip recently, so is respected despite a penalty. GREENLAND and DAWN TILL DUSK aren’t discounted.
Selections:
#10 Dalmeny Factor, #5 Legal Counsel, #2 Shavout, #1 Radicchio
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: ASPECT has defied the handicapper by winning 5 in a row, the latest over this course and distance. He faces his toughest test yet under another 6-point penalty but could prove equal to the task, especially if allowed an uncontested lead. Last-start winners OLIVER, returning LUCE VERDE (gelded), ROSH KEDESH, on his Cape comeback, and INNAMORARE have the means to pose a threat, despite resultant penalties. MAURITIUS KESTREL ran on well from a hopeless position to finish an eye-catching 5th on his 1250m reappearance and could improve to challenge the selection with the benefit of that outing.
Selections:
#4 Aspect, #8 Mauritius Kestrel, #9 Oliver, #12 Innamorare
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R120.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: MAPHAKA confirmed the promise of his eye-catching debut 2nd by winning impressively over 1200m in KZN on 4 August. He would have come on appreciably in the 11 weeks since and has an ideal opportunity to make a winning Cape Town introduction. O’TENIKWA, MONUMENTAL, KAIBOY and KELP FOREST are closely matched on the form of recent meetings and have the experience to expose any chinks in the selection’s armour. The same applies to hard-knocking class-dropper SOOTY. Last-start course-and-distance winners MON PETIT CHERIE (filly), KING OF SPIN and ARCTIC WIZARD are also respected.
Selections:
#9 Maphaka, #10 O’Tenikwa, #2 Mon Petit Cherie, #4 Kaiboy
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1250m, Turf, R85.000, 16:42GMT+2
Race Summary: ISCHYRO has made marked improvement in 2 starts (both under this rider) this term as a 4yo and he confirmed as much by winning over track and trip last time, beating TRY ME. The former is 2kg worse off but could defy that weight turnaround if making further progress in his peak outing. BENEATH THE MOON, LADY LOXTON and GRUE OF ICE are inconsistent but capable of acquitting themselves competitively in a race of this nature. CAPTAIN’S DESTINY has improved with blinkers refitted and could have a say too. CHAMPAGNE MAC and TAMBOURINE MAN aren’t without chances either, despite wide starting berths.
Selections:
#1 Ischyro, #3 Try Me, #7 Lady Loxton, #8 Grue Of Ice
Durbanville, 19.10.2024, Race 10, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R135.000, 17:17GMT+2
Race Summary: SAHARA CAT and BE MERRY are unbeaten over this distance so something will have to give. The well-weighted former was a smart juvenile and is open to improvement as a sophomore, so she gets the nod ahead of the progressive latter who steps up in class. MISS MARGUERITE, PORQUE TE VAS, LADY LOOK ALIKE and BOMBER GIRL (finished in that order) renew rivalry, having met in a similar course-and-distance contest recently, and they have the form and experience to challenge the younger fillies. HIGHLYCONFIDENTIAL isn’t underestimated on her reappearance.
Selections:
#1 Sahara Cat, #7 Be Merry, #6 Miss Marguerite, #5 Porque Te Vas
Best Win: #4 CORK BAY
Best Value Bet: #10 LOTUS ISLAND
Best Longshot: #10 LOTUS ISLAND
