Domeyer in town, means business
Vida Es Bella to redeem herself
When jockey Aldo Domeyer flies up to the Highveld from his Cape base it isn’t to check out the scenery. He travels to win races and that could again be the case when he rides Big Blue Marble for his stepmother Ashley Fortune in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m, on the Vaal Outside track today.
This R850 000 Var gelding was backed into 13-10 favouritism on debut and was beaten 0.20 lengths into second by Prince Jordan over the minimum trip at this course – under Domeyer. That form boasts two winners and, in the two-yearold’s defence, he was subject to greenness and was restless. He’ll come on heaps and should be extremely hard to beat stepping up in trip.
BiPot players can banker him with confidence.
If not ring-rusty following 117 days off the racecourse, Mike de Kock-trained Belton Road could pose the main threat. He showed promise on debut when finishing second behind Green Haze and then disappointed in his follow-up when beaten 12.80 lengths into eighth place by Master Magic.
This son of All Too Hard has since been gelded and you can put a line through that last performance as he was slow out, raced wide and over-raced.
Float the pair in Quartets with as many runners as your budget allows.
Good news for BiPot players is that you can banker Sean Tarry-trained Vida Es Bella in the second leg, Race 2, a Fillies Maiden Juvenile Plate also over 1200m. Lyle Hewitson was booked to ride her but has been benched due to a knee injury sustained on Friday.
But no matter who rides Via Es Bella, on form she should win.
She eased in the betting on debut but produced a devastating turn of foot in the dying stages, coming from stone last to finish an impressive second, 0.10 lengths behind a decent filly, Ensemble.
Her main danger is consistent Stuart Pettigrew-trained Parental Control who, funnily enough, was ridden by Hewitson in her latest effort when beaten 0.20 lengths by Heaven’s Reward over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track.
It could be wise to take Swingers and Exactas, boxing the pair, even though they might not pay much.
De Kock sends out a four-pronged attack in Race 6, a MR 88 Divided Handicap over 1600m. Jockey arrangements suggest that consistent, but costly to follow, Secret Captain is the stable elect with Randall Simons on board.
It would be no surprise if the trainer saddles the Trifecta, so box all his runners – Elevated, Big Parade, Dhabyaan and Secret Captain.