Dutch Philip produced an explosive burst of speed to go from last to third inside the final 200m of his reappearance in the Supabets Handicap at Durbanville yesterday. The Choice Carriers Cape Classic on 28 October now beckons.
But Candice Bass-Robinson went home convinced that Aldo Domeyer’s mount should have won and explained: “He got taken out at the start. He would have won on the line otherwise.”
Aldo Domeyer (Liesl King)
Whichever way you look at it, though, this was a good performance considering he had been off for four months, the handicapper had taken no chances with his 102 merit rating and the distance was well short of his best. Percival, who made all under Bernard Fayd’Herbe, gave Andre Nel his third winner of the afternoon.
Anton Marcus is a surprise booking for Goodtime Gal in the WSB Diana Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday week.
Mike Robinson, who had expected the four-time champion to be on Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual, said yesterday: “Bernard Fayd’Herbe couldn’t ride mine because he is riding for the Snaiths. Anton rang me for the mount and he confirmed it with me on Tuesday. Naturally, I am delighted.”
Joey Ramsden reported that Just Sensual will miss the race although not because of her wide draw. Marcus will ride the stable’s Cape Classic winner Table Bay in the Matchem on the same card.
Goodtime Gal is a 10-1 chance with the sponsors but that price is not going to last long now. Indeed there is likely to be a wholesale shake-up in the market this morning. The sponsors have had Just Sensual on 5-2 with Gimme Six favourite at 18-10. Justin Snaith says she “is doing well.”
World Sports Betting have installed Sun Met fourth Gold Standard as 12-10 favourite for the Matchem and go 3-1 Table Bay, 6-1 Copper Force, 8-1 Nebula, 16-1 Always In Charge, 20-1 and upwards others.
Gavin Lerena, despite being given a seven-day suspension on Tuesday (for failing to ride fourth-placed Ilha Da Var to the line at Turffontein on the 19th) is 12-10 favourite to regain his title.
Prior to yesterday’s racing he had a lead of four over 9-1 chance Callan Murray and Domeyer (28-1). The last-named is in blistering form in the Western Cape – he won three of the first five yesterday – but WSB reckons the dangers are going to come from dual champion S’Manga Khumalo and three-time title holder Anthony Delpech. Both are 9-2 chances.
The expansionist firm has also opened a book on the Sansui Summer Cup and the Sean Tarry-trained KZN Breeders Million Mile winner Matador Man heads the market for the November 25 Turffontein Grade 1 at 10-1. Second favourite at 12-1 is the Empress Club winner Nother Russia trained by Mike de Kock who also has charge of 16-1 chance Elevated.
Geoff Woodruff has farmed this big handicap, winning it in each of the last four years and six times in all. His Pagoda is 15-1 third favourite and stable companion Master Switch is a 16-1 chance. Master Sabina is quoted at 18-1 to win the race for an unprecedented third time but is now registered with Joey Soma who was successful with Wagner five years ago. Triple Crown winner Abashiri is a 16-1 chance.
Eight have been left in against Whisky Baron in tomorrow’s Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket. The Andrew Balding-trained Beat The Bank is 5-2 favourite but the British bookmakers, mindful of the Sun Met winner’s 244-day absence, have pushed out the Brett Crawford-trained gelding from 12-1 to 14-1. The going remains good-to-firm.
By Michael Clower
