The eight-race card at Durbanville could prove a valuable pointer to the Cape Summer Season’s three-year-old features, as a number of promising colts and geldings with big reputations put their Classic credentials to the test on what is an attractive midweek card.
In Race 3, Candice Bass-Robinson sends out a pair of talented three-year-old geldings to take on Brett Crawford’s unbeaten Zapatillas in a Progress Plate over 1250m.
The latter confirmed the promise of his debut win with a 1200m feature-race success at Kenilworth last month and, while out at the weights given the conditions of the race, this Master Of My Fate colt is likely to take another big step forward with improved race fitness on his side.
Crawford runs another impressive debut winner in Future Prince in Race 5 and this promising son of Futura will need to improve markedly with the benefit of that experience to remain unbeaten as both Bass-Robinson and Justin Snaith send out talented three-year-old colts of their own.
Silent Trigger and Pacaya are bred to be useful and have shown in their two outings they could be well above average and capable of progressing through the divisions.
Voldemort and Silver Falcon, fall into the same category. They’re clearly talented individuals with bright futures so their clash in Race 6 could provide somewhat of a yardstick ahead of races like the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Cape Derby later this summer.
Dean Kannemeyer-trained Waterberry Lane was an Equus Two-Year-Old nominee last term so his eagerly anticipated reappearance in Race 7 over 1400m is sure to attract attention ahead of the Guineas trials and Cape Guineas itself.
Highly rated colts Van Hunks and Master Redoute dominate Race 8 and should, with natural improvement, dominate the finish. Both are potentially smart sorts with big-race ambitions, so should dominate this race over 1600m.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Antico Amore, 2 Rio Supremo, 4 Gimmegifts, 3 Rock On Captain
Race 2: 6 Imposing Angel, 3 Captain Mike, 1 Empire Glory, 2 Don Reposado
Race 3: 5 Zapatillas, 3 African Rain, 4 No Laying Up, 2 Hyde Park
Race 4: 8 Mr Master Starter, 1 Resonate, 3 Winchester Mansion, 2 Angry Warrior
Race 5: 6 Future Prince, 7 Pacaya, 4 Silent Trigger, 1 Fort Red
Race 6: 7 Voldemort, 8 Silver Falcon, 1 Fast Love, 6 Star Of The South
Race 7: 8 Waterberry Lane, 7 Adios Amigos, 1 Super Silvano, 6 Gainsford
Race 8: 3 Van Hunks, 5 Master Redoute, 4 Aus Bob, 7 Vida Futura
BEST BET
Race 2 No 6 Imposing Angel
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 8 Mr Master Starter
BEST SWINGER
Race 8 3×5
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 3, 8
Leg 5: 4, 6, 7
Leg 6: 7, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R96
Leg 1: 6
Leg 2: 3, 5
Leg 3: 1, 3, 8
Leg 4: 6, 7
Leg 5: 7, 8
Leg 6: 7, 8
Leg 7: 3, 5
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8
Leg 5: 7, 8
Leg 6: 3, 5
JACKPOT 1
R150
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 1, 7, 8
Leg 4: 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R60
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 1, 7, 8
Leg 3: 7, 8
Leg 4: 3, 5