If Miss World comes back to her best earlier form in race 8 over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, she will stand an undeniable chance. There is some exciting racing on the card and she heads up what could be the most exciting race.
She has earned some black type for being stakes-placed more than once. But her form to Lion Rampart stands out. Added to that is the demotion in grade recently that has taken her to the second box at her last two starts. She also has runs to Asiye Phambili, who was deemed good enough to compete in the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship just over a month ago. There is nothing close to that level of form in this lineup.
She finished 1,95 lengths behind the multiple Grade 1 placed filly in December over 1000m who is two years older and far more battle-hardened than Miss World. She was only in receipt of 4kg while the true Weight For Age scale in a normal handicap would have had them 6kg apart at the time. That was the level trainer Greg Ennion thought Miss World to be.
She was a winner all over at her last start before she was snared by a short head by Trip To Maputo at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Trip To Maputo has run subsequently but was desperately unlucky at Fairview where she ran into traffic and was eased out of the race. She is a good deal better than that.
Corne Orffer is carded to take the ride on Miss World. He did duty last time out.
War Chariot could be the horse to watch as the main danger. He is not the most straightforward around but he has form to some serious sprinters. His last run came on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met day in late January when he finished 2,55 lengths behind Golden Destiny in sixth place. On that run, he has the decent African Prince held comfortably.
Blinkers are added to Victor Hugo in race 5 over 1400m and he is listed as the best bet of the day. He has been beaten favourite more than once. He has been tough to follow because punters will not be fond of him. But blinkers could be what he needs. He does not follow through with his races after looking like a winner. Also, the quicker track should help. Hollywoodbets Durbanville is a tight course that suits horses who like to race handy. Chad Little takes the ride on this horse who has four runs and four places to his name.
Pilot Flame stands out as the horse to beat in race 9 over 1250m. The form of her last run has been well franked by Give Me Everything, who hacked up to win the Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic. Pilot Flame was 4,4 lengths behind and she now has the services of Richard Fourie. She is miles down in class and she should take all the beating. Past her, the race is wide open.
There is a lot to like about Let It Be Said as a horse to watch in the future and even though he takes on some well-established horses in race 2 over 1600m, he could come out on top under Fourie for Justin Snaith. His last run was a taking win from The Grey King who is likely to run against boom three-year-old One Stripe eight days after this meeting.
Tripping Thunder is overdue a win and he could be the horse to follow in race 4 over 1000m. On the back of two consecutive second-place efforts he could be the next off the conveyor belt. One must bare in mind those were not in plum maiden races but neither is this. It could be shrewd that trainer Glen Kotzen has dropped him to 1000m with his good early pace.
To the top of the card, Dawn’s Early Light stands a strong winning chance in race 1 over 1250m. Louis Burke is the leading workrider in Cape Town this season with three wins from only four rides. Dawn’s Early Light has the best form on offer too. It is a very shallow race.
There are a lot of potential improvers in race 3 over 1400m. The key, this being the first two-year-old race over this middle distance range this season. So, a few of these horses could gain plenty from the form that they have to their names. Supposeyou’veheard ran a cracker on debut when finishing fourth behind the promising Ireland Forever. There is not much evidence of stamina genetically but if he is ready for this step up, he could be the horse that has most to come. Grant van Niekerk takes the ride for Ennion, who will be hoping this is the day his horses take their plethora of recent places to wins.
There is a long list of chances in race 6 over 1500m. Beneath The Clouds under Richard Fourie for trainers Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford is the angle of selection because of her steady progress. Her last run was her best when she finished second behind Happy Wives, who looked the part on that occasion. Fourie rode her then and he takes plenty from a horse after he has ridden them. She should run another big race even if she does not win. Dangers include Ocotillo, Vivo Per Lei, Kleinzee, Tuscan Romance and Another Dream.
The hardest race on the card is race 7 over 1250m. Punters will need to cast their nets wide in pursuit of a winner, but at a push, Trippi’s Silk could finally visit the winners’ box. He has recorded a second-place finish at his last two starts without being emphatic but he is due. He has not won in 18 months, which emphasises the lack of confidence one can have.
