Aldo Domeyer, second only to Gavin Lerena on the national log, has a strike rate of 21% at the moment and his relentless determination may be enough to get the frustrating Bernie home in front in the Tabonline Maiden at Durbanville tomorrow.
The Candice Bass-Robinson colt has made the frame in five of his seven starts and has losses to recover after being beaten at 14-10 last time. He drops back a furlong and is well drawn.
He probably has most to fear from the well bred Love Happens (by Silvano out of the 2010 Majorca dead-heater Love Is In The Air) who overcame a slow start and being squeezed to take a hugely promising third on debut three weeks ago.
Candice Robinson (hamish NIVEN Photography)
“He is a very nice horse but that was a bit of a surprise – I thought he would take a few runs to get to that level,” says Justin Snaith who cautions: “This is another big jump for him and he has yet to go round the turn.”
Bernie better fits the profile of a typical Cape Town maiden winner – consistent placing rather than obvious first or second time talent – and gets the vote.
Domeyer may also win the Betting World Maiden 40 minutes later on stable companion Intothelimelight even though this Australian-bred filly comes into the promising debut category. She ran really well to go close against Still I Rise and Bid Before Sunset whose previous run would appear to underline the strength of the form. Dragonair, also a Bass-Robinson runner, and Silver Streamer look the dangers.
Valentine’s Girl stands out in the first, or at least she would do but for her terrible draw. The jockeys have been almost unanimous in saying that winners here can now come from anywhere but the fact that remains that a bad draw in a sprint on this course remains a bad draw.
Furthermore Richard Fourie’s mount lost a lot of ground at the start on debut and punters are going to have to rely on the effectiveness of her subsequent home tuition. Runaway Rebel and Secret Name will take advantage if she fluffs her lines.
Secret Rebel, although a five-year-old and beaten 21 times, showed significantly improved form nine days ago and Harold Crawford says: “She should run better on this course because she doesn’t really get 1 000m and this is an easy 1 000.”
Race two, the TAB Telebet Maiden, is much trickier with a case to be made for many of the 14 runners. Domeyer’s mount Johnny Black has a big chance but a tentative vote goes to Red Eight who was second to Rommel after making the running in a race run at a decent pace. The decision to drop him back a furlong can pay dividends.
By Michael Clower
