Follow the Brett Crawford stable's rising star Captain's Choice this season

Ken Nicol

Two powerful Cape Town stables seem to be heading into the summer season “proper” in fine fettle after a couple of winners apiece at the final Durbanville Saturday meeting of the year.

Brett Crawford provided one to add to your notebook when wellbred Captain’s Choice swooped late to narrowly prevail in a fillies Maiden over 1400m.

Cantata had been runner-up in both her previous appearances, but looked to have done everything right this time when going a couple of lengths up inside the final 200m. Captain’s Choice found another gear late on, though, and got up to win going away by a neck, and Crawford had plenty of good things to say.

“She’s exceptionally well bred, looking for more and is very progressive”, to be precise.

Well-tried Depeche completed the stable double with a more workmanlike win in a fillies 2000m Maiden later on.

Candice Bass-Robinson also recorded a duo of wins, as four-yearold geldings Meraki and What A Winner scored in the handicaps.

Bass-Robinson came close to a third victory but Joey Ramsden has always been a force over staying trips and his charge Paddington kept up that record with a gutsy win over favourite Benjan in the MR 76 contest over 2400m.

Ramsden has been quiet this season by his own high standards, but 2400m specialist Paddington kept on stoutly under Donovan Dillon to score by half a length after apprentice Sandile Mbhele on the favourite had appeared to have done everything right from the front.

There was a nice feel to the day as Kenilworth Racing hosted around 60 kids from local pony clubs and their parents – to give them a feel of the race day experience.

July-winning ex-jockey Mark Sutherland helped host the children and Louella Robinson was heavily involved with the initiative.