The beautifully bred and highly promising Winter Cloud began her 3yo campaign with a fluent victory in the last race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
With market support coming for both Where’s The Party and Oni San, Winter Cloud was allowed to ease to 22/10 but that did not stop her from winning in the manner of an odds-on favourite. Well handled by Anthony Andrews, deputising for the indisposed Aldo Domeyer, Winter Cloud turned for home about five lengths off the pace, but she made up the leeway steadily and swept past Oni San inside the final 200m to win going away without being overly extended.
But while Winter Cloud was impressive, Green With Envy (6/10) was a huge disappointment when finishing unplaced in the sixth race. Green With Envy won his first two starts over 1400m in the manner of an exciting young prospect, even a potential Guineas candidate, and he was expected to do even better this time over the extra 200m. As the was case in his first two runs, Green With Envy dropped off the early pace but only this time he struggled to make any headway in the home stretch and finished a never dangerous fifth.
Yes, the going was very quick at Durbanville on Saturday but nonetheless this performance was extremely disappointing, and we will have to reserve judgement on his Classic aspirations. Maybe more of a Derby type than a Guineas candidate?
Senso Unico maintained his love-affair with Hollywoodbets Durbanville by taking out the fourth race in a blanket finish, his fourth victory from only five starts at the country course. Senso Unico was a winning chance ride for Ossie Noach and one of two winners on the day for Vaughan Marshall. His second winner was San Pedro who benefitted from an enterprising front-running Ashton Arries ride to win the seventh race from pillar-to-post in quick time.
Bernard Fayd’herbe and Aldo Domeyer were both stood down for the day and each lost out on two winning rides.
