Jack Milner: When studying form for a race meeting at Durbanville, there are two factors that will give a runner the edge over their opposition.
The first is a good draw and the second is form at the course.
The Durbanville track is unique in that it does not suit all horses. It is a tight turning, undulating course and usually runs fast, suiting front runners. There are three runners at Durbanville on Wednesday who fit the pattern.
Two of them are trained by Candice Bass-Robinson – Crimson Princess in Race 6 and Benjamin in Race 8 – and the other is Piet Botha’s Sonic Burst in Race 5.
Grant van Niekerk takes the ride on Crimson Princess for the first time. She runs in a MR 88 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1500m. Four runs back she won her maiden over 1600m at the course and followed that up with a 0.70-length third over 1500m, producing the fastest 400m to finish.
The Silvano filly was given a break after that, has come back to run a respective fourth and a third at Kenilworth, and will now be having her peak run. She is nicely drawn at No 3 and must be respected in this field.
Benjamin, too, has won at Durbanville. In fact, he has a record of a win and two places in his three runs at the course and this time he has the benefit of jumping from pole position in this MR 80 Handicap over 1400m.
He followed up his maiden win over 1200m at Kenilworth with a victory over this course and distance and has placed twice since at Kenilworth. Greg Cheyne takes the ride.
Sonic Burst has run second in her only start over 1250m at the course and should follow up over the same distance from No 1 draw.