Conditions favour Somerset Maugham

Jack Milner

Trainer Justin Snaith has 14 horses carded to run at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday and after the scratching of Top Quality three of them will be lining up in Race 7, the Listed Settlers Trophy over 2000m.

They are Thefutureisbright, Somerset Maugham and Salvator Mundi, all of whom have ability.

However, Thefurtureisbright is probably looking for further while Salvator Mundi will be having his first run back after finishing unplaced in the Grade 3 Gold Cup at Greyville in July.

Top Quality and Somerset Maugham looked the main contenders but withdrawal of the former, who was injured in track work, has opened the door for Somerset Maugham.

Richard Fourie's rides Somerset Maugham who was a 0.30 length second behind Top Quality over 1800m last time out.

He does remain slightly suspect over 2000m but he has a win and a close-up second in his two starts at Durbanville so he might just come to the party on this quicker track.

If one looks beyond Snaith’s runner, Baratheon has to be a consideration. The Piet Botha-trained runner ran third behind Super Quality and is 1kg better off for 0.80 lengths. JP van der Merwe takes the ride.

Race 8 is a Graduation Plate for three-year-olds over 1250m and many of these runners will be meeting again in bigger races than this. Unfortunately, Western Cape Champion Two-Year-Old of last season, We're Jamming, has been scratched but we are not short of talent in this line-up. Charles Dickens and Dave The King, along with regally bred debut winner Narina Trogon, put their unbeaten records on the line while Le Mans will also will be looking to complete a hat-trick after wins over 1200m and 1000m recently.

Charles Dickens is highly regarded by trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and if he has no problem with the Durbanville track, he will take a power of beating. Aldo Domeyer will be in a strong position jumping from No 1 draw.  

Vaughan Marshall-trained Dave The King, also a winner of two races, appear the biggest threat, so should be included in Exacta and Trifecta bets.

S’manga Khumalo takes the ride.

It should also be interesting to see how the likes of Iconic Destination and Narina Trogon shape up as they could be anything this term ahead of bigger prizes later in the summer.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Hunting Trip, 5 What Now My Gal, 8 Afrodite, 10 F Eight

Race 2: 2 Treasure Hunt, 4 Miss Greenlight, 7 Fleeting, 5 Perfect Trust

Race 3: 4 Sir William, 7 Aussenkehr, 6 Bournemouth, 2 Mo Cesar

Race 4: 3 Global Avenue, 5 Global Forests, 7 Quasimodo, 2 Guy Alexander

Race 5: 7 Porque Te Vas, 2 Different Face, 5 Ma Black, 4 Cityscape

Race 6: 8 Van Hunks, 11 Sugar Mountain, 9 Shavout, 2 Silent War

Race 7: 2 Somerset Maugham, 6 Baratheon, 8 Han Solo, 4 Chewbaca

Race 8: 1 Charles Dickens, 6 Dave The King, 3 Iconic Destination, 4 Narina Trogon

BEST BET

Race 1 No 1 Hunting Trip

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 7 Porque Te Vas

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 1x6

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 4, 7

Leg 3: 4, 7

Leg 4: 3, 5, 7

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 8, 9, 11

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2, 4, 7

Leg 2: 4, 7

Leg 3: 3, 5, 7

Leg 4: 2, 5, 7

Leg 5: 8, 11

Leg 6: 2, 10

Leg 7: 1

PICK 6

R1280

Leg 1: 4, 7

Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 7

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

Leg 4: 2, 8, 9, 11

Leg 5: 2, 4, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1, 6

JACKPOT 1

R320

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 7

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

Leg 3: 2, 8, 9, 11

Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 8

JACKPOT 2

R160

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

Leg 2: 2, 8, 9, 11

Leg 3: 2, 4, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 6