Captain America served notice that he will again be a force to reckon with in the top Cape races when bouncing back from a five-month plus absence to decisively give weight all round in the Matchem Stakes at Durbanville yesterday.

Corne Orffer had no problem tracking the pace-setting Blarney Bay or, for that matter, in sweeping past over 200m out and the authority with which the 22-10 favourite won was considerably understated by the 0.4 length winning margin.

Orffer said: “He was sort of stopping towards the end – he still needed it – but with his big heart he kept going and I was never in any doubt.”

Brett Crawford, winning his first Matchem, added: “He still has to tighten up but he was the class horse in the race. He’s been a champion for the yard and as a six-year-old he is just awesome. He now goes for the Green Point on December 3 followed by the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.”

Stable companion Sail South finished an honourable fifth but he was top-rated at the weights, something that his trainer again cast doubts about – “This was his first time running off 110 and, while he ran a good race, I’m not convinced about his mark.”

Baritone finished best of all to take second and stablemate Heartland finished just behind the Crawford-trained 22-1 outsider Midnight Zone in fourth.

Justin Snaith, although undecided on plans, said: “Baritone had to come from a long way back and, while I thought I had done enough with Heartland, he still needed it.”

Captain’s Flame is booked for the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and the Klawervlei Majorca after fully justifying Andre Nel’s confidence in the Diana Stakes. The Plattner four-year-old has only been beaten twice in seven outings and, while she started what proved a generous 5-1, Aldo Domeyer was able to lead over a furlong out to beat Goodtime Gal by three-quarters of a length.

Nel said: “I have always thought she was way above average. She needed this a bit and we will see how she is before deciding on where she goes before the Paddock Stakes.”

Alexis, the 5-2 favourite, was never at the races and managed only ninth of 13 leaving Crawford scratching his head in disbelief while Domeyer galloped his rivals into the ground in the Jockeys Chase for the fourth successive year. Richard Fourie and Donovan Dillon filled the minor placings. The race raised R34 000 for the Western Cape Equine Trust, according to new chairman Ken Truter.

Just Sensual, starting at 13-20 despite not having raced since her debut in February, won the opener in a manner suggesting she has a real future, coming away under Donovan Dillon with ears pricked and over three lengths clear.

Joey Ramsden said: “She hasn’t quite got her summer coat and she had a sticky draw yet she managed to do it nicely. There are a number of options for her.”

But Derek Brugman virtually ruled out including the Choice Carriers among them, saying: “It might not be the right race for her – and she may be more of a six furlong filly.”

Magic Trick, a Trippi daughter of the 2007 Empress Club winner Little Miss Magic, took a step nearer the Lanzerac Ready To Run after coming from way back to win the mile maiden for Candice Bass-Robinson, Drakenstein and Grant van Niekerk.

The handicappers, so often criticised, are entitled to take a bow after less than three-quarters of a length separated the first five in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap won by MJ Byleveld on the Vaughan Marshall-trained Mr Jay.

Michael Clower