Mystical Twilight can make amends for last time’s disappointment and score at a rewarding 5-1 in the Gold Circle Graduation Plate at Durbanville today.
MJ Byleveld’s mount has the form to win as he had Met day Listed winner Buckinghamshire nearly two and a half lengths behind in the SA Nursery in April. He was an easy winner of maiden over this course and distance two months ago but things went wrong when he started second favourite here last time.
“He got bumped coming out of the gate and I think you will see a vastly improved performance this time,” says Vaughan Marshall. “I believe he will like the five furlongs even though you wouldn’t expect that from his pedigree.”
Buckinghampshire comes out nearly two lengths better on adjusted ratings and opened at 9-10 with Betting World yesterday but he has been off for over 11 weeks. “He will run very well although I think he is better over a little bit further,” says Justin Snaith.
Ernie, who started favourite when fourth in the Langerman and is 3-1 here, also has strong claims but he has not raced since June. “It’s not so much that he will need the run but that it’s a bit short for him,” says Candice Robinson. “He has been gelded since his last race.”
Bernard Fayd’Herbe had three winners on Saturday and he should waste little time in striking again because his mount Duke The Duke looks capable of beating fellow 5-2 joint favourite Barnstable and Rit Mo Total (28-10) in the first.
He can also win race three on Durban Beach who opened at 9-10. The gelding has not raced since starting odds-on for his debut ten months ago but bookmakers have long memories and they have not forgotten how the money poured on this one. “He was a precocious, speedy type,” Snaith recalls. “But his knees came up after that first run so he has had a long break. He is a nice type of horse.”
Snaith also trained the Darryl Hodgson pair Cardinal Call and Chennai Space when they made their January debuts but neither has raced since. Chennai Space has the better chance of the pair according to the bookies and Betting World had him second favourite at 5-2 yesterday. “I think he will probably need the run,” is Darryl Hodgson’s verdict.
Ravishing Lad doesn’t have the same potential but is expected to go close and the 7-1 chance could be worth a small place bet. “I am going to put cheek pieces on him and he will go to the front,” says Mike Stewart. “When Richard Fourie rode him here in July he was beaten less than half a length into third. Richard told me that he had the second and third stone cold but the horse wouldn’t go past them.”
Midnight Spy, 5-2 joint favourite for race four, was only caught on the line when running a cracking debut here a fortnight ago but Taffety Tart (also 5-2) has slightly stronger form and is preferred.
Big Ed has run well over shorter distances in his last two races but Shane Humby’s five-year-old is in his element over 2 400m and looks another for Fayd’Herbe in the Gold Circle Handicap. However yesterday’s 14-10 looks short enough.
By Michael Clower
Picture: MJ Byleveld
