Somerset winner Tar Heel dominates the Darkhorsewheels.com Handicap at the jockeys’ charity meeting at Durbanville tomorrow but the Cape Classic entry faces a mammoth task.
Donavan Mansour’s mount has joint top weight and this is his first appearance since his shock odds-on defeat in the Cape Nursery four months ago. “He did too much too soon that day and Anton Marcus just couldn’t get him settled,” says Joey Ramsden whose treadmill will have diminished much of the lengthy absence negative.
But a draw nine out of ten over 1 400m is a huge disadvantage at this course and would appear to swing the balance against the forecast favourite.
Forward Drive’s catch-me-if-you-can style of running is ideal for Durbanville and in the normal course of events would make him the one to beat but his trainer wants this to be a learning process. “He has never been here before and going off in front might not be the best thing to do first time round a turn,” says Paul Reeves. “We are going to try and hold him up a bit.”
The hat-trick seeking Albarakah is 3kg worse with Forward Drive for just over a length and a half but is drawn eight and can be no certainty to confirm the placings, or with Joiners Arms.
Jet Air’s form is over a bit further (rider Aldo Domeyer, incidentally, looks the biggest certainty since Frankel in the post-racing Jockeys Chase) and stable rider Grant van Niekerk is on the worst drawn Marinaresco instead.
Eighth Wonder has run well here and was considered good enough to run in the Cape Nursery but his four point increase for last time’s second has lessened his chance. “That was cruel,” says Greg Ennion feelingly. “But he needed that last run badly and he has come on a lot since then.”
So what will win if there is good reason for so many of them not to? Maybe Groen Gevaarte. Brett Crawford’s runner was good enough to make a winning debut here four weeks ago and there are lines of form that suggest normal improvement could be sufficient.
Brilliant Idea, second on her last three outings, should finally get her head in front in the opening maiden sponsored by Richard Fourie who is making rather a slow start to his Hong Kong season – just one winner compared with four for Karis Teetan and 18 for the all-conquering Moreira.
But don’t ignore Supercilious just because of last time’s run – the blinkers are coming off.
Whatever his fortunes with her, Ramsden can win the next with Icy Trail whose first run showed potential. Shenyang and League Of Legends have more obvious credentials but Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount appeals.
Wednesday’s results suggest there is little to choose between The Best Of Me and Mount Fuji in the Mauritzfontein Stud Farm Maiden and MJ Byleveld’s mount gets only marginal preference.
By Michael Clower
Picture: Donavan Mansour (Nkosi Hlophe)
