The At The Races Tipster has selected Cafe Culture to win the 8th (Picture: Wayne Marks)
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1 12:30 PM – Hollywoodbets Durbanville Welcomes You Maiden Plate
CASINO ACE and BARNBOUGLE have the form and experience to make their presence felt and are likely to be competitive. NAVAJO DANCER hasn’t been seen since his February debut but warrants respect on the strength of that form. Snaith-trained newcomers LASTING INFLUENCE, OLD Q and DAIMYO are well bred so it is worth keeping an eye on the betting. Well-related LITTLE LEXI is another to note on debut in receipt of weight from her male rivals.
2 1:00 PM – Cape Turf Club Syndicates Maiden Plate (F & M)
Well-bred PRINCESS VIRGINIE caught the eye on debut with a staying-on 2nd over 1000m. She ought to improve with the benefit of that experience and is likely to be better suited to this distance, so is the one to beat. Returning MARPORI and KZN raider PRANKSTER are unexposed and should improve over the extra. CAPTAIN’S DESTINY is another likely to improve after a pleasing introduction with blinkers fitted. BRIGHT DUCHESS and NILE THE BOSS (drawn wide) have both the form and experience to also warrant respect/inclusion. Reserves TEQUILA SKY and LOVE SHACK must be monitored.
3 1:35 PM – Cape Racing Sales Maiden Plate
SPELLING BEE was left too much to do when 2nd from the widest draw over track and trip last time out but he needn’t improve a great deal to go one better. GREENLAND and KING VISERYS have been close-up recently and are likely to do so again with blinkers now fitted. INFRARED was unlucky not to have finished closer last time and should improve, so must be included. RAINBOW COLOURS and NAUSHON have the means to also stake claims but won’t be done any favours by their wide starting berths. COSMIC RHYTHM is drawn widest but is not without a chance either.
4 2:10 PM – Turf Talk Syndicate Cape A Stakes
Great race. Equus Horse Of The Year PRINCESS CALLA is slung in under the conditions and is obviously the horse to beat, but she’s unlikely to be fully tuned on her reappearance with bigger targets on her agenda later this summer. Veteran RIO QUERARI has lost little zest for racing and would’ve tightened up following an encouraging comeback over 1000m so is capable of fighting it out. WECANGOALLNIGHT, KING REGENT and LOOK FOR HOUNDS have a bit to find on these terms but are effective over the track and trip, fully fit and in good form having won recently. AFTER THE RAIN completes the shortlist.
5 2:45 PM – Laisserfaire Stakes (Fillies’ Listed)
Smashing renewal of this Listed race. OCTOBER MORN and BLUE HOLLY were impressive in their reappearances over this course and distance. Both will have more to offer with improved fitness on their side so are likely to feature prominently. HUNTING TRIP, ONI SAN and THE CHARLESTON should acquit themselves competitively too, though a bigger threat is likely to come from CANDY TOWN who is quick and has just 52kg on her back.
6 3:20 PM – Cape Mile (Grade 3)
High-class Grade 3 renewal littered with Grade 1 performers. PACAYA runs well fresh but is unlikely to be wound up for his reappearance under a big weight. Grade 1 winners TRIP TO FORTUNE and DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE will have tightened up with the benefit of encouraging comeback outings and will be competitive. WATERBERRY LANE and AT MY COMMAND are awkwardly drawn but both remain capable of staking a claim. COSMIC HIGHWAY, FUTURE PRINCE and MONTIEN could also improve after eye-catching recent performances to make their presence felt.
7 3:55 PM – Western Cape Fillies Championship (Fillies’ Grade 2)
It’s hard to oppose unbeaten MRS GERIATRIX, who has proved too good for her rivals in KZN and on the Highveld, so there’s no reason to suggest why she can’t do likewise in her first trip to Cape Town. WINTER CLOUD was beaten 2.30 lengths by that rival in a 1200m Grade 1 and is 2kg better off with the benefit of track experience on her side, but she has yet to race over this trip. LUNA HALO’s only defeat was on a previous visit to these parts, so she’ll be looking to set the record straight. DOUBLE GRAND SLAM is unexposed and can’t be ignored. JUST BE LEKKER has claims back against her own sex.
8 42:30 PM – destinationcaperacing Cape B Stakes
Tricky. CAFE CULTURE is unbeaten over this track and trip but will have his work cut out confirming his superiority over VELDSKOEN on these terms. MOYA WA LALIGA ran well from a wide draw over this course and distance last time and there’s no reason to suggest why he can’t repeat that feat from another wide starting berth. PIROSHKA, on the other hand, is ideally positioned and could enjoy the run of the race in his peak outing, so rates the one to beat. Both CHEEKY LADDIE and DEAN STREET are not without chances either.
9 5:05 PM – Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 (F & M)
PALO QUEEN confirmed the improvement of her previous start by winning authoritatively last time over track and trip. On the evidence of that victory, she could confirm her superiority over HIGHLYCONFIDENTIAL and SILVER SCREEN despite a weight turnaround. SHE’S MY CAPTAIN returns from a rest but the booking of Richard Fourie bodes well for her chances. WHERE’S THE PARTY is drawn widest but has the form and experience to stake a claim. It could, however, pay to follow the progress of LA DIVINA who won over the course and distance on debut before finishing behind a Grade 3 contender last time.
