Clive Robinson
With the backing of leading trainers, the support of big-spending owner-breeders and the conveyor belt of talented horses they’re associated with, it’s no surprise that jockeys Aldo Domeyer, Richard Fourie and Grant van Niekerk have and continue to dominate the Cape Town riding ranks. In the Western Cape alone, they have ridden more than 60 winners and earned in excess of R5 million in total stakes.
Their stranglehold on the success enjoyed this season shows no sign of abating either, with the trio’s dominance likely to be highlighted on the eight-race card at Kenilworth on Wednesday 15 June.
They should, given the quantity and quality of their rides, win seven races at the meeting – Race 1 is for work riders.
Domeyer, as stable jockey for Candice Bass-Robinson, rarely goes without a meeting winner and should strike an early blow for the yard. He has twice partnered Country Time to second-place finishes over 1000m and should go one better aboard the two-year-old daughter of Time Thief in Race 2 over the same course and distance.
Palo Queen finished just half a length off Country Girl on debut and should improve to pose a threat, so bettors would be wise to include Paul Reeves’ charge in their exotic bet permutations.
Erupt filly Queen Of Sparta was another to finish second under Domeyer in her last start, which confirmed the promise of her debut fourth over 1000m. She should continue to improve and, as such, is likely to shed her maiden tag at the third attempt in Race 3 to complete a quick jockey-trainer double.
Grade 3 Nursery winner We’re Jamming made an encouraging stable debut for Snaith having joined from Piet Steyn after a private sale and the two-year-old Duke Of Marmalade colt should get back to winning ways in Race 7 when resuming his partnership with Domeyer.
Snaith-trained Innamorare made an eye-catching debut when staying on to finish second behind a well-fancied odds-on shot over 1000m four weeks ago. He would have come on appreciably for that outing so, with the benefit of that experience under his belt and natural improvement expected over the extra 200m, this Master Of My Fate colt should take some beating in Race 4 over 1200m with Van Niekerk in the irons.
Last-start winner Academic Gold was given an enterprising front-running ride from Van Niekerk to win over 1600m five weeks back and a resultant five-point penalty is unlikely to prevent this lightly raced Vercingetorix mare from following up in Race 8, bearing in mind she has won off a higher mark before.
Fourie gave progressive Tothemoonandback a confident ride when trying 1400m for the first time, steering the Twice Over colt to a facile 3.25-length victory. He races out of the maidens for the first time in Race 6 but should continue his development and in so doing notch up another career success.
Demelza is another of Fourie’s rides with strong credentials when she returns from 123 days off in Race 5 over 1000m.
