Snaith to ‘host’ Durbanville Cup

Jack Milner

Racing reverts to Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday with the eight-race midweek card including the Listed Durbanville Cup over 2400m.

It is an interesting race but the outcome could well depend on the condition of Justin Snaith-trained Silver Host.

The Silvano gelding was ranked as one of the better stayers in the country two seasons ago but an injury setback kept the Snaith-trained six-year-old off the track for the whole of 2022.

He pleased connections on his reappearance from that lengthy layoff with a creditable effort from a wide draw in the Grade 2 Premiers Trophy and followed that up with an eye-catching and fast-finishing fourth, beaten just over a length, under a big weight in the Grade 3 Western Cape Stayers behind stablemate Salvator Mundi to whom he was conceding 1.5kg.

Twice successful from three starts over 2400m, Silver Host is primed to run a big race and Snaith's charge is well placed under favourable race conditions to recapture the winning thread in his peak outing, continuing the red-hot form of rider Richard Fourie.

The value in the race could lie with Senso Unico who has shown a penchant for distance races in his last two starts. He also contested the Western Cape Stayers where he finished third behind Salvator Mundi, 0.50 lengths ahead of Silver Host. They meet again at the same weight differential so Vaughan Marshall’s charge should contest the finish.

Progressive Future Swing has gone up eight points in the ratings after consecutive wins over 1600m but even that is unlikely to prevent the Futura colt from completing a hat-trick over the distance when he lines up in Race 5, a Class 3 Handicap over 1600m, under Fourie who has partnered the talented three-year-old to all three of his wins.

Fourie steered Gimmethegreenlight filly Distinction to victory over stablemate Hunting Trip last time out but will partner the latter instead when stepping up from 1000m to 1250m for Race 8.

Course-and-distance winner Hunting Trip, who is a daughter of Drakenstein Stud's (owner-breeder) resident stallion Trippi, will be better suited to the extra 250m on offer and is also weighted to reverse the form of her most recent outing.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Articuno, 9 Highlyconfidential, 8 Unconquerable Lady, 5 Glawari

Race 2: 1 Warm Winter Nite, 6 Lily Of The Nile, 3 Streetshavenoname, 8 Prince Of Denmark

Race 3: 6 Youcrackmeup, 5 Go Like Flo, 1 Mary Lamb, 7 Anna Karenina

Race 4: 6 Port Louis, 7 Tout A Fait, 8 Kwinta's Light, 1 Sun Dazed

Race 5: 6 Future Swing, 7 Michael Faraday, 10 Steinbeck, 1 Lion's Head

Race 6: 4 Silver Host, 2 Senso Unico, 6 Thefutureisbright, 1 Master Redoute

Race 7: 4 Love In Winter, 1 Trivial Matter, 3 Mufasa, 6 Tchaikovsky

Race 8: 4 Hunting Trip, 3 Shantastic, 5 Miss Greenlight, 1 Distinction

BEST BET

Race 1 No 3 Articuno

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 6 Youcrackmeup

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 3x9

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6

Leg 4: 6, 7

Leg 5: 6

Leg 6: 2, 4, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 3, 6

Leg 2: 5, 6

Leg 3: 6, 7

Leg 4: 6

Leg 5: 2, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 4

Leg 7: 3, 4, 5

PICK 6

R1152

Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

JACKPOT 1

R48

Leg 1: 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6

JACKPOT 2

R96

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10