Eight On Eighteen wins the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)
EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN makes his seasonal return in Race 5, an A-Stakes contest over 1400 on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
The former Horse of the Year is an outstanding performer at middle distances and returns after an 83-day break, having last been seen winning the HKJC Champions Cup at Greyville over 1,800 metres when outduelling elite rival, SEE IT AGAIN.
His upcoming summer campaign is eagerly anticipated, though this race looks very much like a preparatory outing for Justin Snaith’s champion who won the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 and Lucky Fish Cape Derby Gr 1 as a three-year-old in 2025.
He is weighted a comprehensive ten points ahead on official ratings. However, it may not quite be a casual stroll in the park, as EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN is yet to win from five tries returning after a break and 1400m is below his optimal distance range.
GALLIC DREAM is a somewhat underrated exponent over seven furlongs who might have won more than just four races from 22 starts if things had panned out better. He will be receiving seven and a half kilograms from EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, which brings Eric Sand’s tough pace presser into the reckoning, especially on a fast-running track.
HAH LAH LAH has won four of five races with escalating speed figures. This very promising 4YO Hawwaam gelding is trained by Dean Kannemeyer.
Justin Snaith also saddles BEWARE THE BOMB as a stable companion to EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN. The Lancaster Bomber mare comes off the good third behind multiple Grade 1 winning stable star, DOUBLE GRAND SLAM over the course and distance in the Diana Stakes Gr 3 just three weeks ago.
It promises to be an intriguing contest.
HEY JACK YOU’RE LATE is a strong contender in Race 4, the first leg of the Pick 6, a 1250m sprint.
He made an excellent debut, finishing particularly powerfully behind BIG CITY ROLLER, after being positioned in midfield for much of the race. BIG CITY ROLLER has given the form a nice sheen by subsequently nearly toppling highly rated, VIVA ASTERIX on Wednesday. With expected improvement from that first outing, HEY JACK YOU’RE LATE could prove hard to hold off.
Adam Marcus trains; Kabelo Matsunyane rides.
The horse he’ll have to run down is BULLET TOOTH TONY, who just succumbed to SOSSUSVLEI at its most recent start three weeks ago. That contest was briskly run in the early stages, but the finishing fraction was relatively slow so HEY JACK YOU’RE LATE might just be able to out finish Lucinda Woodruff’s charge.
CONTINUE THE DREAM steps out in Race 6 over 1400m, a C Stakes. He was hugely impressive on debut. Despite being somewhat lost early on, he quickened like a proper racehorse when rushing by GODRIC GRYFFINDOR, clocking 22.3 seconds for the come-home sectional.
This Gimmethegreenlight colt, out of Real Princess, and thus a regally bred sibling to champion, GIMME A PRINCE and Durban July victor, THE REAL PRINCE, is making his second start.
He takes on LOVING PRAGUE, a solid performer in these lower-grade handicaps who loves this course and distance, together with emerging three-year-olds, IT’S GOOD IT’S NICE and LE SOLEIL.
FERRYMAN showed signs of rounding back into form last time and could play a minor role with further progression.
That said, CONTINUE THE DREAM should handle this steppingstone if coming forward from that eye-catching debut. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge appeals as a banker for exotics on Saturday’s card. Craig Zackey, fresh off a midweek four-timer at the course, boosts confidence in the selection.
Race 8 is a brain teaser, with quite a few live chances in this Class 4 over 1000 meters.
TAKE THAT hints at well-above above average ability and comes back after 151 days off track during which time she would have strengthened. James Crawford is the conditioner. Draw 1 at this venue is an advantage in sprints.
ULEZ CAMERA was punted with some fervor after winning its maiden and only just got run out of it by veteran, SHIFTING PATH at the course just 24 days ago. Richard Fourie is booked to try make amends on the son of Erik the Red, prepared by canny horseman, Patrick Kruyer.
Each way value could lie with ALL ABOUT AL who has really been a credit to Adam Marcus’s training skills. He’s kept this nine-year-old Captain Al gelding full of energy and in competitive spirits over many seasons. The ensuing, rewarding tally is eight wins, nine seconds, 13 thirds and seven fourths from 58 starts.
Claim 2.5kg apprentice Bungane slightly offsets the top weight’s assignment. And consistently strong speed figures at his three most recent efforts give him a serious chance dropping down in class.
PEACE OF MIND is a speedy mare, who’s done well since switching yards to Ashley Fortune. Back from injury, bionic-man, Andrew Fortune is reunited on this 5YO mare. She has been raised in the handicap and goes up the rungs of the class ladder. A wide draw of eight complicates matters further, but she should still give a good sight.
MEXICAN PETE is interesting on back form, witness a neat try to FUTURE VARIETY in 2025, but that was in the distant past. The son of Master of My Fate, who last won 1090 days ago, is now with Rob Barrett, who is maintaining an excellent strike rate of 23%.
He saddled GEORGIE GIRL to double up on Wednesday at this venue and maintain that impressive winning streak. It would be a feather in Barrett’s cap if he could somehow revive this one’s fortunes, too, though MEXICAN PETE is expected to need the run after such a long layoff.
