Brett Crawford dominates both the Matchem and Diana Stakes at Durbanville on Sunday when Captain America (Corne Orffer) begins his preparation for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.  The gelding was fourth and third in these two races last season.

Captain America is rated five points clear of the next highest horse in the Matchem, his stable companion Sail South, but he has to concede 3kg and give weight all round.  Crawford  has the top-rated runner in the Diana with Tibouchina winner Alexis who also has to shoulder top weight.

There are no three-year-olds in either race. Joey Ramsden had five in the Matchem but Table Bay and Attenborough have run in the last week as have Captain Gambler and Silver Captain from his four in the Diana.

Sunday also sees the Jockeys Chase, a race without horses in which Aldo Domeyer has totally outclassed all opposition in each of the last three years. He has been assessing his prospects of completing a four-timer.

“They say they are going to roll me this time and I gather Callan Murray and Lyle Hewitson are coming down to take me on – it won’t be easy giving weight to those youngsters. I also hear that they are stretching the race to 400m and that is Richard Fourie’s distance,” he added, doubtless recalling that Fourie was second in the inaugural running, “but I am not just a sprinter.”

Michael Clower