Domeyer takes early season lead
ALDO Domeyer (pictured) went into a two-winner lead over former champion Gavin Lerena at the top of the national log with a Candice Bass-Robinson double at Durbanville on Saturday.
But it was Friday’s Fairview four-timer for Alan Greeff – all on horses that Greg Cheyne would have ridden but for his Whisky Baron commitment – that really accelerated the momentum.
Domeyer, now on the 30-winner mark and a 28-1 chance for the title, said: “You need a second yard like that to have a chance and, if I had one, I would have a real go at the championship.”
Interestingly, he stressed how difficult a wide draw still was in Durbanville sprints after getting Johnny Black home by a hardfought three-quarters of a length in the Tab Telebet Maiden.
The 10-1 shot had been drawn 12 out of 14. He said: “I was scratching my head beforehand because it’s almost impossible over 1 200m. You have only got 50m to get into a position and even then you need the horse to help you, and this one did.”
The Brett Crawford-Corne Orffer combination signalled their readiness for Saturday’s features with a treble with Honey Suite, Gimme One Night and Bobby Dazzler and the first-named newcomer was fitted with ear muffs, an aid still rare in South Africa. “She is feisty and likes to put her head up. She works at home with them in place and they help,” explained assistant trainer Barry Donnelly.
Vaughan Marshall thinks a fair bit of Grant Knowles’s Nordic Chant who MJ Byleveld got up in the last 30m of the mile handicap with the trainer remarking: “He is a fair horse and I think he is going to go on from here.”
Querari’s Secret also looks worthy of note. He finished strongly to take third – only just over half a length behind the winner – and it was his first race out of the maides as well as his first for 12 weeks.
The stipes ordered a veterinary report on Love Happens, the 22-10 favourite who finished with only two behind him in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden. Nothing showed up but significantly Bernard Fayd’Herbe reported that the colt took no interest in running.