There wasn’t much stealth about Vaughan Marshall’s latest two-year-old star on debut and it doesn’t look as if there will be in the first at Durbanville tomorrow either.
That day in February Captain Of Stealth went to the front after two and a half furlongs and he switched into another gear quite some way out to win by five and a half impressive lengths without really being asked a question.
Vaughan Marshall yesterday indicated that there is unlikely to be much attempt to teach him to settle and come from behind, saying: “That (first time) is the way he runs and you can’t change it.
“Also he is drawn one and we don’t want to give that up. He will run as the race pans out – if something goes on Captain Of Stealth will sit behind him but, if nothing does, he is big enough and strong enough to do it himself.”
Marshall added that M.J. Byleveld’s mount has done very well since that debut win. Furthermore the colt has been to Durbanville to work and the sharp course presented no problems. It is in his favour that it suits front-runners
You can knock holes in the form of that February 23 introduction – none of the seven behind has won since – but they were all out with the washing and it is hard to quibble with either WSB’s 5-10 odds or the sahorseracing computer which has the favourite winning by many lengths from 7-1 shot Finding Camelot whose win here five weeks ago has also had holes knocked into it.
Minnesota Dream (7-1) and 15-2 shot Marco Polo just might be better prospects for the minor placings. True, the former has been beaten since his impressive first time success but Joey Ramsden promptly had him gelded and that should enable him to revert to his original good form. Marco Polo sprang a 50-1 shock when flooring the odds laid on stable companion Roi Querari here four weeks ago and ran as if he will appreciate this extra 150m.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rides Minnesota Dream, has good prospects of winning the next three races. There is not much to choose between Celestial Storm and Velvet Dawn who is 2kg better for a length and a quarter and has been backed from 9-2 to 2-1 in the Play Soccer Handicap but Fayd’Herbe’s presence should swing the balance.
Lip Service (4-1) drops in trip in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden and may be able to recoup last time’s losses as her previous form was better while Empire Glory (despite drifting from 28-10 to 7-2) has a lot going for him in the Betting World Maiden.
By Michael Clower
