Aldo, Candice set for flying start

Jack Milner

There is a forecast of some light rain for Cape Town on Saturday, but the track at Hollywoodbets Durbanville has reportedly dried up sufficiently over a few sunny days this week, for a 10-race programme to go ahead.

Concerns that horses are not yet at full fitness as a result of missing work during all the inclement weather also appear unfounded as there have been some form results in the couple of meetings that did take place.

This meeting was originally slated to be raced at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth but the decision as taken to move it to Durbanville to give the area’s main racecourse extra time to recover.  

Jockey Aldo Domeyer and trainer Candice Bass-Robinson can get punters off to a winning start with a quick double in Races 1 and 2.

Domeyer rode promising From A Distance in her three two-year-old appearances last season, finishing second in consecutive starts over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth aboard Candice Bass-Robinson's inmate. Unsurprisingly, Domeyer continues the partnership with this daughter of Querari on her three-year-old debut in Race 1 over 1000m.

On the evidence of those back-to-back seconds, From A Distance need not have improved much in the 67 days since her last start to make a winning reappearance and shed her maiden tag in her first outing at the country course.

Stablemate King's Quest has the benefit of track experience which will stand this Querari colt in good stead when lining up over 1250m - the same course and distance of his debut - in Race 2.

Domeyer was in the irons when King's Quest finished an eye-catching third in a juvenile race on debut last month and, no doubt, would've been impressed by what he felt from the youngster who ought to have come on appreciably with that run under the belt.

Ideally positioned in stall gate No 3, with track-and-trip experience on his side and natural improvement expected, King's Quest is one of the better bets on the card and it should pay to follow his progress.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 From A Distance, 10 Champagne Kisses, 11 Fleur De Ville, 7 Elizabeth Grace

Race 2: 3 King's Quest, 9 Captain West, 4 My Archangel, 7 Let It Be Said

Race 3: 8 Cumbre Vieja, 7 Arbitration, 10 Plus Four, 3 Black Cherry

Race 4: 1 Little Suzie, 5 Pretty Precious, 2 Festival Chic, 7 National Disgrace

Race 5: 2 Radicchio, 5 Master Of Paris, 3 Holding Thumbs, 11 Mont Loisir

Race 6: 1 Blue Bay, 3 Otto Luyken, 2 Salvator Mundi, 8 Navy Strength

Race 7: 2 Midway, 7 King Pelles, 6 Heliotrope, 5 Prime Venture

Race 8: 3 Veronique, 6 Protect The Dream, 12 Tres Chic, 5 Electric Feels

Race 9: 8 Handsome Prince, 4 Winter Pearl, 6 Shifting Path, 13 Spirit's Unite

Race 10:10 War Chariot, 5 Dean Street, 8 Gimmelightning, 9 Night Vigil

BEST BET

Race 4 No 1 Little Suzie

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 2 Midway

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1x5

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 3, 4, 9

Leg 2: 7, 8

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 11

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 2, 5, 6, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 7, 8

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 1, 3

Leg 5: 2, 6, 7

Leg 6: 3, 6, 12

Leg 7: 4, 6, 8

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 4, 6, 8, 13

JACKPOT 1

R540

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R480

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 4, 6, 8, 13

Leg 4: 5, 8, 9, 10