Work will commence on the Durbanville Racecourse track upgrade project on 22 October and listening to Kenilworth Racing GM Dean Diedericks talk about the plans in place, it is clear it is going to be one helluva better and fairer place to race.
Kenilworth Racing GM Dean Diedericks – excited about the Durbanville project
The 2000m antic-clockwise near-oval circuit in Cape Town’s upmarket Northern leafy suburb has not exactly grabbed the imagination of many local trainers over the years.
Draws
An undulating, or call it corrugated surface, has made it suitable to only certain styles of equine athletes and the tight corners have given it a draw sensitivity – to a point of crying.
Then years ago, the hedges that lined the rail made visibility a bit of an issue – even if they did give the ‘Big D’ a unique character.
New Summerhill stallion Act Of War – seen winning the 2015 Matchem Stakes at Durbanville
In recent years the country course has managed to attract horses of the calibre of Variety Club, Capetown Noir and Act Of War – plus Ebony Flyer and Inara – but many trainers have been reluctant to run good horses there for risk of damaging them on the ridge and furrow, particularly when the ground is firm.
Let’s face it – it has always been the kind of track to provide a ready list of excuses for jockeys and trainers and a wide range of hard-luck stories.
Changes
But Kenilworth Racing’s Dean Diedericks is confident that will all change when the project is completed around end March.
“The turf will be pulled up and maintained with a view to replanting it. The corrugated surface will be levelled and the running surface widened. The 1000m will no longer jump right on the turn as we will install a dog-leg. A cross- four will be introduced on the final turn into the home straight – and will be cambered like a cycle track. This will visually appear to make the bend look wider and it will also go some way to negating the draw bias,” said Diedericks.
Was the polytrack not an option?
“The turf seems to have been the preferred surface amongst the trainers and it will work out a lot more cost-effective” he said.
And a completion date?
“We are looking at the end of March, but projects like these can be subject to variables. And the growth period of the turf winds down come end February. But we are hopeful and excited about the positive spin-offs from a revitalised Durbanville,” he said.
Seven Races
Today’s Durbanville programme boasts just enough races to accommodate a Place Accumulator from gun to tape and is headlined by a R97 000 MR 96 Handicap over the flash 1000m,
Buckinghamshire wins the Listed race on Met Day – he has been a bit disappointing
The draw should not prove much of an issue given the eight horse field but one thing is guaranteed – blink and you may miss out.
Speed
Vaughan Marshall saddles a coupling that includes the topweighted Scarlet Letter speed merchant Olympian, who beat the promising Le Harve in a lower rated Kenilworth handicap last time out.
Olympian is very efficient at this track and while he loses the apprentice claim advantage, he sould be competitive.
Vaughan Marshall – spped coupling
His stablemate Captain Sam has not seen action in 10 weeks since July day where he ran unplaced. He may need this.
Andre Nel saddles a talented Var coupling, headed by the fit and well drawn Ovar.
This speedball was beaten 3,55 lengths by Olympian last time, but gets some relief at the weights and is drawn against the paint. Grant van Niekerk rounds off a competitive package.
His stablemate Percival hasn’t run for 17 weeks when winning against lesser in PE.
Classy
The classy Australian-bred Buckinghampshire was a Listed winner as a 2yo with Justin Snaith, but has not really gone on with it.
He looks to have the beating of Captain Bagg on his penultimate start and carries a handy galloping weight at his second start at Durbanville.
Captain Bagg and Al Wahed are both capable of winning at best.
Go the field in the Pick 6 and Jackpot – and at least two or three to be safe in the PA!
