Domeyer to open the card
CAPE champion Aldo Domeyer can bounce back with a first-race winner at Durbanville today after being sidelined for much of the last fortnight. His mount Happy Girl is the highest rated in the 1 400m fillies maiden, she is drawn two and her form reads well. She beat all except the useful Valderrama over the trip at Kenilworth last time and appeals at 19-10.
Her 74 rating suggests that she can beat 15-10 favourite Secret Path who has gone close over shorter on her two most recent outings and has to concede only 3kg. The weight-for-age scale puts the difference between a four-yearold and a three-year-old over this 1 400m at 8kg but Secret Path is only rated 61.
World Sports Betting has the wide-drawn Double Rosie and Lucille (who ran well 13 days ago) next in the market at 15-2 but don’t ignore 12-1 shot Troux Au Biches. She represents the currently inspired combination of Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie. She might not have made much impression on debut but she did lose a front shoe that day.
Whatever their fortunes here, the champion trainer and his jockey should win the Tabonline Maiden (race three) with Black Indy.
This one was fancied over 1 400m here ten days ago, raced second but proved unable to quicken and was beaten into third behind favourite More Magic.
Black Indy
Black Indy is officially the best horse in the race and it is significant that he steps up in trip. He was 2-1 favourite yesterday and could have most to fear from 10-1 chance Cedar Man even though the betting suggests that 33-10 shots Hello Many (Domeyer) and Metropolitan have stronger claims.
Nasty Harry is 33-10 joint favourite with Domeyer’s mount Orakal for the TAB Telebet Handicap (race two) and gets the vote because he ran so well in a good Pinnacle on his most recent appearance. He disappointed when last tried over this 1 400m but that was 11 months ago.
Orakal was beaten only half a length on his last start despite being hampered. An interesting runner is 15-2 shot Ancestry who takes a big drop in class after running in all three legs of the Winter Series. A change of course could be just what the doctor ordered.
Stable companion Sparkeling Fire appeals in the Betting World Maiden. Royal Kiss is the 2-1 favourite but the Joey Ramsden filly stands out on both form and ratings. She looks good value at 28-10.