Warren Lenferna

The vibe, mood, and atmosphere at Hollywoodbets Durbanville were good yesterday for their eight-race programme, with all looking forward to the approaching World Sports Betting Met race day. There were some tight finishes and great rides on display at the country course on a brilliant summer Cape Town day.

Raffish Trend won the first race under Craig Zackey for trainer Adam Marcus, and this filly clearly relished the reduction in racing distance. She won a tad cozily, but still showed signs of immaturity and greenness. Her trainer mentioned in the post-race interview that there could certainly be a few more wins in the tank for this daughter of Rafeef.

Race two saw the well-backed son of The United States, Prairie Dawn, win well under a typical Andrew Fortune ride. They looked cozy from the 400m marker, and this flamboyant rider had time to pat his mount and pose for the photographers close to home. He won from the deepest draw, giving owner Nic Jonsson his first winner of the day.

The regally bred Amayah was allowed to drift slightly in the market but still asserted her authority when winning the third race for Candice Bass and Aldo Domeyer. She is by champion Vercingetorix out of the very good mare River Jetez. She was also drawn wide, but that clearly had zero effect on her. It was a good race for trainer Candice Bass, as her other horse, Beautiful One, filled the exacta position.

The fourth race was where owner Nic Jonsson recorded his second winner of the afternoon with Waloyo Yamoni, who was also a drifter in the marketplace. This handsome son of Trippi got into an argument with the well-backed Phantom Man in a very tight finish, but the visiting German rider denied the extremely in-form Fortune another victory. Justin Snaith was the trainer responsible for the winner’s well-being and was hugely complimentary of both the ride and the rider.

Race five was won by Midway from the barn of James Crawford, with stable jockey Luyolo Mxothwa doing the steering. This gelding showed guts and determination up the inside to post a solid win.

There was a nail-biting finish to the sixth race between Lovers Lane (Craig Zackey for Paul Reeves) and Act Of Grace (Chad Little for Glen Kotzen). It was an outstanding call from race caller Alistair Cohen, as it was extremely tight. He committed with confidence and went the way of Lovers Lane, who denied Act Of Grace victory. This was the first of the Social Squad-owned winners.

These colourful silks recorded a race-to-race winning double as Gravity, under a great strong ride from Richard Fourie, won the seventh for trainer Piet Botha, who had been experiencing a drought in the winners’ department. Now that he has broken the ice, the winners should flow. The Social Squad syndicate is a remarkable and cost-effective way of experiencing racehorse ownership.

The last race saw yet another tight finish, but the eventual winner was Wyze Declaration from Eisteddfod. Wyze Declaration was the second winner for the “Candyman” on the afternoon, giving Candice Bass another success on the day.