Outlaw King has been tipped to win the seventh race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Alistair Cohen
There has always been something about Outlaw King and the way he has chased some feature races and gained a reward 10 months ago when winning the Grade 2 De Grendel Cape Merchants. Never disgraced, he could gain a much-deserved fifth career victory in race 7 over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
It was refreshing how he ran in his last start in the Grade 3 Race Coast Matchem Stakes over this course and distance, the marquee event at this course. He finished third, three lengths behind course specialist Questioning. That was a superb effort, giving some assurances that he has the game to be effective over this distance. He was often pigeon-holed as a top sprinter. His time in KwaZulu-Natal during Champions Season was meritorious, with some excellent runs without a big reward. His best run was in the Grade 3 Post Merchants over 1200m in July when he finished fifth behind I Am Giant, who won last Sunday.
Regular rider Craig Zackey is carded to take the ride for Dean Kannemeyer. Although this run could be to angle him towards the Merchants in mid-December, he still looks like he has added a new dimension to his game, which could make him effective anywhere.
Zeitz is a very interesting runner. He won the Listed Thukela Handicap on the same day as the Post Merchants on Hollywoodbets Durban July Day. He is totally untapped and he could come into his own in the coming months because the handicapper has probably underrated him. He has been well placed by trainer Andre Nel. Serino Moodley is carded to take the ride. He seems to get the most out of Zeitz. Expect him to step forward with this run under his belt, but he can certainly feature.
Respect the chances of Let It Be Said and Gallic Dream. Both are hard-knockers who give a good shot whenever they run. They should be something in and around the action.
The rest of the card has a good feel to it with some promising horses in action. Hazel Green ran her career best last time in a weak Apprentice Maiden. She was touched off by a short head by Elusive Gift over 1400m at this course. She is back to the same course over 1250m. If she shows sufficient speed out of the gates, she could get her maiden reward in a fairly moderate-looking event.
Time For Love is such a gallant trier and she could be the right horse in race 2 over 1800m under Muzi Yeni for Michelle Rix. She had a wonderful summer last campaign when she pushed the likes of the high-quality Rainbow Lorikeet in feature races. She is a never-say-die filly and the conditions of the race give her a massive sex concession. It is a small field and her rivals have either lost their form or are back from a break. She could be in the right place at the right time.
There was a ton to like about the run from Got The Look in her last effort and she must have a huge chance of winning race 3 over 1250m. She was outrun by 0,4 lengths over this course and distance by Reet Petite. That might have been tough to swallow at the time, but Reet Petite has franked her own form in one of the more impressive wins this month. She has feature race ability all over her. Aldo Domeyer is up for Candice Bass.
Flying South is a very unconfident pick in race 4 over 1250m. She had a lucrative winter season in KZN with some promising places but she returned home with a thud, never raising a gallop against winners when Miss New York beat her into eighth by 7,95 lengths over this course and distance. This field does not inspire much, hence she is given another chance. Include a few into calculations.
Greenchoice would be an aimer in race 5 over 1400m but for an awkward draw of No 11. He is still selected to overcome the hindrance, but confidence is slightly tempered. He was touched off by a short head in his most recent start over 1600m at this course. He nearly got away with a bold, positive ride. In his penultimate run he was beaten by the impressive Viva’s Liberte who has emerged as a contender for Grade 1 races this summer. It all points to Greenchoice.
Kinda Wonderful has not had much luck of late but she might make amends when she runs in race 6 over 1250m. Her last run over this course and distance was her penultimate effort when she ran second, close-up behind Dumbledore. Then she had to encounter a wide draw of No 11 in the Schweppes Diana Stakes over 1400m at the end of September and she still gave a bold effort finishing fifth behind the lightly-weighted She’s My World. She has a feature race win to her name as a two-year-old so there is no doubting her ability. She should come back to winning ways.
There was a ton to like about the way Gallic Victor won on debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in July when beating Sally Port by nearly three lengths. He has not been seen since. He returns in race 8 over 1600m. He looks like a big, imposing horse with a ton of presence – a typical Dean Kannemeyer horse. He might need the run a bit but he was definitely exciting when winning on debut and he could climb through the divisions if he confirms what he did on debut.
There are a few winning chances in race 9 over 1600m. Lomu has improved in leaps and bounds since going further than a sprint, which he is bred for so he is given the verdict. But this looks to be a hot maiden so all of Chance Encounter, Greek Heiress, World First and Diogenes are given chances of getting into the winners’ box.
