The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Major Master (Master Of My Fate) looks to be a decent prospect and drew clear in the third race to get out of the maidens at the third attempt. Bass-Robinson was one of the three double scorers at the meeting together with Corne Orffer and Richard Fourie. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
By her own high standards, Candice Bass-Robinson has not enjoyed the most prolific Spring Carnival at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, but she signed off with a good double on Tuesday before jetting out to watch Beach Bomb contest the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr1) on Saturday at Delmar in the United States of America.
December Dawn (14/1), racing in the colours of the Late David Abery, showed marked improvement on her previous form to run out a comfortable winner of the second race, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1250m. She tracked Daisy Duke into the home stretch but quickly took control of the race and held off Alessia Asheville (25/1) and the fast-finishing True Horizon by just about a length.
Whereas December Dawn was something of a surprise winner of the second race, Bass-Robinson’s Major Master was the overwhelming favourite to land the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. Ridden by Aldo Domeyer, Major Master took some time to find his rhythm but the long-striding son of Master Of My Fate hit top gear inside the final 200m and drew clear to beat Rich Folks Hoax going away. He looks a cut above the average and will appreciate stepping up in trip.
The biggest gamble of the day was landed in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m, but only just! Congressman tried gamely to make every inch of the running and was only collared in the very last stride by the Justin Snaith-trained Mente Et Manu under the powerful urgings of Richard Fourie. Mente Et Manu, having only the third start of his fledgeling career was backed in from 3/1 to start a firm even-money favourite and he should continue to progress.
After going so desperately close to winning the fourth race, Kamchatka provided immediate consolation for the Andre Nel/Corne Orffer combination in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m. Kamchatka took up the running shortly after the start and was never headed. The classy daughter of Erupt has now recorded back-to-back victories and is certainly heading in the right direction. Enchanting Choice ran on strongly to finish a close second ahead of the market leader Jet To The Sun who was beaten with every chance.
The recently founded Paardeberg Stud’s silks were carried to victory in the opening event, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1000m. Bred by Wales-based Sandra Ajax and named in honour of her late mother, Priscilla Maisey stormed clear approaching the final 200m to give the in-form team of Glen Kotzen and Denis Schwarz their fourth winner over the past three race days.
Bluff On Bluff (Fourie) and All About Al (Zackey) fought out a thrilling finish to the eighth and final race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1000m, with Bluff On Bluff just prevailing by a neck. Racing returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday for a quality 9-race programme headed by the R300 000 Cape Classic (Gr3) over 1400m while Durbanville takes a break until March 2025.