This Wednesday will be the last time racing is held at Hollywoodbets Durbanville for a few months so it is potentially a good chance to find out which horses could have a tilt at the specialists course in spring when all racing in Cape Town takes place. On a highly interesting card, King’s Quest could be one horse to watch. He runs in race 4 over 1600m.
King’s Quest has been to the course three times and he has run third on three occasions. Those were his first three career starts and all three came on soft or sticky going. He has been touted as a horse to watch going forward and now there is evidence that he has taken an upward swing so he could start to come into his own.
There is a line of form that appeals strongly in King’s Quest’s favour. On 25 January, he finished a 2,4-length third behind Legal Counsel over this distance at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He finished nearly two lengths ahead of Unicorn Alert and he is 1,5kg worse off. However, low mileage hints that Kings Quest has more to come. Aldo Domeyer is carded to take the ride for Candice Bass-Robinson.
Touchdown is rated as his main danger. If he gets the slightest bit of luck from the widest gate of No 8, he has every chance under Gavin Lerena for Vaughan Marshall. He finished ahead of King’s Quest when they met in February. This time the draws are reversed. His only win came at this course and his last start was a pleasing second behind Okavango who produced the best finish seen this year in South Africa.
Arbitration has plenty of scope to improve and although he might not be the finished article just yet, he has the profile of a horse who will come into his own. Interestingly, JP van der Merwe is carded to take the ride and he would have had the choice with Unicorn Alert who must have a say too.
Past and Present stands out in race 1 over 2400m under van der Merwe. There are not many races over this trip especially in the maiden ranks. He has been pining to go over this trip. He ran a 1,25-length second behind Umfula at his last start and that form was emphatically franked last weekend by Umfula. That alone stacks up as a strong pointer.
Jockey Corne Orffer reported that Thingamabob would run well on debut and he did by failing narrowly behind Hoerikwaggo at this course over 1250m. He steps up in trip by 150m but he should take a big step forward and win race 2 on the card.
Wehaveasituation is regarded as the main danger but she is a professional maiden having been stuck in these ranks for an eternity.
Lerena steps aboard Gran Caneria in race 3 over 1500m and a repeat of his penultimate run should get him to win. From a poor draw, he finished second behind Native Ruler over 1600m down the road at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He found a stronger field than this last time when he ran a little below par but still not disgraced.
When Cosmic Rhythm is tipped to win a race, one knows that is must be a fairly shallow field. He is weighted to back up his maiden win which took 16 runs in race 5 over 1800m. He takes an age to get into stride and his regular rider Oswald Noach generally works upon him. But he took the bit last time and managed to win seeing off the equally frustrating Golden Grey by a short head. Gold Index must have a chance and he was 4,3 lengths behind. Cosmic Rhythm has 2kg to play with. As unlikely as it sounded a month ago, Cosmic Rhythm could to back-to-back.
Trainer Adam Marcus has a strong hand in race 6 over 1250m with Tambourine Man and True Horizon having strong winning chances. The former is selected to win.
Seeking a hat-trick, Tambourine Man has won his last two in totally different styles. His penultimate win came from off the pace while his last was a commanding start-to-finish display. His regular rider Craig Zackey is serving a suspension so Aldo Domeyer takes over. He knows the horse well. Life is harder off a four-point penalty from the handicapper but his adaptability must be enough proof that there is some more to come.
Sohot Sowhat must be a decent filly having reeled off two wins and a close-up second in her last three runs. She has the benefit of draw No. 1 and the services of Gavin Lerena. Her opposition is fair but they all seem to be in their places as far as the company is concerned whilst it would be no shock if Sohot Sowhat is a division or two better than what she takes on being so lightly raced. She carries the same silks as King’s Quest but is trained by Lucinda Woodruff.
Firingonallengines has such heart about him and his never-give-up attitude always gives him a chance. He runs in race 8 over 1250m. He is not the best behaved around. Going to the start he gives his rider a hard time getting up to tricks. But in the race, he shows great grit to fight from the front and totally overachieve.
