Joey Ramsden can win two of the first three races when Durbanville stages its first meeting for four months today.
His two-year-olds are good this term – he has won more Cape Town juvenile races (16) than any other trainer and both Sandy Bay and World In Union look nailed on. The former has run well in her last three starts and looks a worthy favourite for race two.
She drops back a furlong to 1 200m after being run out of second close home last time. “She has been a slow learner and we felt we would like to bring her back a bit,” reasons her trainer.
The obvious danger is Under Milkwood who showed promise when fourth to Whose That Girl on debut despite running green. “She has come on a lot since then and she went exceptionally well when I worked her last Friday,” says Greg Ennion. “She was a Ready To Run horse so she knows the course.”
World Sports Betting opened Sandy Bay 13-10 favourite on Monday but the money has come since and she is now odds-on. Under Milkwood remains firm at 22-10 with the Mike Bass newcomer Tipping Point already nibbled at and now 11-2.
Donovan Dillon, who rides Sandy Bay, is also on World In Union in race three and he has made an enormous impression in his first Cape Town season. He has won 17 two-year-old races, far more than any other jockey.
World In Union started hot favourite in a decent maiden over a mile at Kenilworth 11 days ago and led over two furlongs out before being headed by Studiolo and going under by only a neck. This 200m shorter trip should be fine for him, he has a good draw and has already been backed from evens to 17-20.
The obvious danger is Volatile Energy – indeed the sahorseracing.co.za computer has him finishing only a neck behind the Ramsden horse – but the Bass runner is not so well drawn. However he has strong form claims as he had Studiolo just behind when third to William Longsword over this trip last month. He has been backed from 7-1 to 15-4.
Gimme Green’s chance in this is likely to be pinpointed by Cape Horn in race one. The Dean Kannemeyer horse, 15-20 and hard to oppose here, had Gimme Green three lengths back fourth when second to Ramsden’s I Travel Light at Kenilworth 18 days ago. The latter’s stable companion, the unflatteringly-named British Fairy, is a 16-1 chance and difficult to fancy.
Valado (11-2) is drawn badly in race four but he might just have the pace to upset the 15-10 favourite Impressed. He got caught wide without cover on the bend at Kenilworth last time but still went close.
Michael Clower
