Pas De Nom has been tipped to win the Listed Settler’s Trophy (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
The R200 000 Settler’s Trophy (Listed) over 2000m heads a competitive 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Durbanville tomorrow and being a handicap, the race has a wide-open appearance with chances to many in the 9-horse line-up.
Rapidash was a good winner of his last start at the country course when getting up in the last stride to deny Pacaya over 1800m by the narrowest of margins. His 5-point penalty seems a little harsh given the margin of victory, but the son of Danon Platina could have more to offer and the extra 200m should be right up his alley. But can he give 7,5kgs to Pas De Nom and Call To Unite? Only the race will provide the answer to that key question, but I am of the view that Rapidash faces an uphill battle at the weights and for that reason I am tempted to look elsewhere for the winner.
Pas De Nom makes plenty of appeal. He absolutely loves racing at Durbanville and was an eye-catching winner just 11 days ago when coming from off the pace over 1600m to win going away. He has previously won over 1900m and should have no problem going the trip here, but does this run come too soon after his last win? That’s anybody’s guess but with only 52kgs to shoulder, Dean Kannemeyer’s runner should be very much alive, and it would come as no surprise to see him return to the winner’s enclosure.
Call To Unite steps up in class following his course win three weeks ago but like Pas De Nom comes into the race with only 52kgs on his back. The lightly raced 4yo son of Vercingetorix is clearly progressive with plenty of upside and Rachel Venniker jets into town to partner Nick Jonsson’s gelding. Despite being 1kg under sufferance, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Call To Unite may be equal to the task.
Sachdev could be the surprise package in the race. He is 3kgs better off with Rapidash from their most recent encounter and if you go back to May as much as 4kgs better off for less than a length between the pair when finishing behind Pacaya in the Legal Eagle Stakes. Sachdev was a good winner at the course in November last year and his recent form suggests his fifth career victory could be imminent. Navy Strength completes Justin Snaith’s four-way coupling, and he is not without winning claims either, having won his only previous over the distance.
Kannemeyer also saddles Ponte Pietra who ran a blinder when a close third in the World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m at the end of July. He is equally adept over this sort of trip, but he may just be found wanting under top weight of 60kgs.
In-form Brett Crawford sends out Solar Power (55kgs) and Allez Moris (52kgs) and preference is for the latter who has won both his previous starts at Durbanville. Allez Moris has Greg Ennion’s mare Love Is A Rose stone cold at the weights and but is nonetheless 2kgs under sufferance here and I think there is every chance that fellow bottom-weights Pas De Nom and Call To Unite will finish ahead of him, despite his impressive record at the country course.
The 2024 renewal of the Settler’s Trophy is an intriguing affair. Without much confidence I am siding with course specialist Pas De Nom to follow up on his recent success, but exotic bet punters may need to cast their nets a little wider.
There are no standout bankers at Durbanville tomorrow but, on the subject of course specialists, Blue Holly could be the value bet on the card. She lines up in the tenth race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1000m and her last victory came at the country course when beating the progressive Captain Arrow, an impressive winner last weekend. Blue Holly is a three-time course and distance winner, but she will need to be at her sharpest to lower the colours of ante-post odds-on favourite Nordic Quest who brings terrific form into the race.
