Our Destiny should get punters off to a winning start in the opening Welcome To Durbanville Maiden at the country course tomorrow.
The Glen Kotzen-trained filly really caught the eye in her first start proper, racing prominently and coming again in the closing stages to finish second to Sails Set with subsequent winner Taffety Tart in third.
Kotzen sent her down early that day, explaining: “The first time she ran she wouldn’t go in the pens so I wanted her to get into a routine and get things right.
“I think she is a special filly and, while I could have run her over 1 200m again, I want to find out if she gets the 1 400m and see where we are going with her.”
The Var filly will have Greg Cheyne in the irons and should get the trip as her dam won over it. She has already been to Durbanville for a gallop and is part-owned by former trainer Ralph Rixon whose long list of big race winners includes the 1976 Durban July with Jamaican Music.
The obvious danger is Qing who lost a lot of ground at the start on debut last month and will obviously know much more about it this time.
Qing is trained by Justin Snaith who has a favourite’s chance with Bora Bora in the next although there are distance doubts. “It’s a bit short for him and that’s why I am putting blinkers on,” says the former champion trainer who is again setting a hot pace.
However punters should not be put off by stable jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe riding newcomer Benji’s Dynasty instead – “Bernard was meant to be riding for Joey Ramsden (Ridgemont has first claim on Fayd’Herbe) but the horse was scratched and I had already confirmed Sean Cormack for Bora Bora.”
The Brett Crawford-trained Winter Prince is the danger on form but his nine draw lessens his chance. However stable companion Carrie Bow Cay has 5kg in hand in the Place Your Bets Maiden if the handicappers have got it right
The mare has much in common with Gift Of Rain in that she is also well bred but was not quite good enough to win in Britain or Ireland, even when dropped down to the all-weather. Gift Of Rain started off here on a mark of 67 but had dropped to 62 by the time she managed to win at the fourth attempt.
Carrie Bow Cay ran well on her South African debut off a rating of 72 and has remained on that. Whether she is as good as the handicappers think is open to question but she is probably good enough to win this and five runs at Dundalk – tight by our standards – should ensure Durbanville holds no fears.
Andre Nel has hit the ground running and Arctic Teon looks another for the Western Cape’s newest trainer in the Soccer 10 Maiden. This gelding would have lost his maiden tag months ago but for the Plattner-Govender split and his run a fortnight ago should have brought him on.
By Michael Clower
Picture: Greg Cheyne (Liesl King)
