Jack Milner
The rhyming idiom “horses for courses” is in popular use when studying form and in certain circumstances, it can be a most useful tool.
It is a phrase that applies aptly to the two racecourses in Cape Town, because there are a number of horses that will win with ease at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and then totally fail at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
The opposite is also true in that some runners love the fast, tight-turning track with its undulating straight, which was improved partially a few years back.
Others hate it and hardly show, so it is always useful when studying form at Durbanville to take cognisance of which horses run well at the course.
Which brings us to Saturday’s racemeeting at the country course.
Champion Warrior looked to be living up to his name when winning his first two races but since then has struggled to match those first two runs. Trainer Brett Crawford even tried the son of Twice Over over further but the best he could produce was a well-beaten 2.25-length second behind Tout A Fait over 1400m.
However, careful scrutiny of his form reveals that those first two runs were over 1250m at Durbanville while the balance took place at Kenilworth.
Until now.
Champion Warrior returns to Durbanville on Saturday for the first time since October last year and is back over 1250m in Race 8, a Class 3 event.
The interesting fact about those two wins is the quality of horses he beat in the process. In spite of racing greenly, Champion Warrior got up to beat Stratospheric by 0.50 lengths with Max The Otter, who started favourite, in third.
His second start was in a MR 78 Handicap, and Champion Warrior found lots of betting support to go off the 9-4 favourite. On this occasion the result was never in doubt as Louie Mxothwa guided him to a comfortable two-length victory over Masked Vigilante.
Since then he has been gelded, and last time out, over 1000m at Kenilworth, he was fitted in blinkers. Champion Warrior showed excellent pace and looked set to at least run a place. However, he received a bump 100m from home and that put paid to his chances. He went down 4.90 lengths to Ragnar Lothbrok.
The one concern on this occasion is No 9 draw which is not great at Durbanville as all races are run around the turn. However, he does have good gate speed, Mxothwa knows him well, and this recently turned four-year-old deserves to be given another chance.
This race is competitive and if you look beyond Champion Warrior there are many with chances. Wyag is another who runs well at this course and in four races at Durbanville, has a record of one win, one second and two thirds. All of these races were over 1250m so Greg Ennion’s charge must come into the reckoning.
Anthony Andrews takes the ride and they are drawn No 8.
Others to consider are Dean Street, Hammies Hero and Dance Variety, who has the advantage of jumping from No 2 draw.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 5 Triptothewoods, 8 Lady Renee, 2 Head Girl, 6 Tuscany5
Race 2: 6 Sachdev, 4 Gainsford, 1 Firealley, 2 Linebacker
Race 3: 2 Stars In Heaven, 7 Golden Grey, 3 Celtic Chief, 1 Lexican Point
Race 4: 2 Oliver, 7 All About Ronnie, 1 Red William, 9 No Apologies
Race 5: 5 Woman's World, 7 Flamboyant Flyer, 9 Mothership, 4 Goddex Aphaea
Race 6: 6 Tothemoonandback, 7 Rule Of Thumb, 8 Que Shiraz, 9 Katsu
Race 7: 3 Sudden Song, 4 Love Is A Rose, 7 Royal Watch, 5 Baratheon
Race 8: 9 Champion Warrior, 8 Wyag, 5 Dean Street, 4 Hammies Hero
Race 9: 7 All About Al, 1 Moya Wa Laliga, 8 Fort Red, 10 Yamadori
BEST BET
Race 4 No 2 Oliver
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 9 Champion Warrior
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 5x8
BIPOT
R243
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6
Leg 2: 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 5, 7, 9
Leg 5: 6, 7, 8
Leg 6: 3, 4, 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 2, 7
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 5, 7
Leg 4: 6, 7, 8
Leg 5: 3, 4, 7
Leg 6: 5, 8, 9
Leg 7: 1, 7, 8
PICK 6
R1500
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 5, 7, 9
Leg 3: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
Leg 6: 1, 7, 8, 10
JACKPOT 1
R375
Leg 1: 5, 7, 9
Leg 2: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
JACKPOT 2
R500
Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8, 10