Three of the most exciting Cape 2yo’s of last term, each from a top local yard, add plenty of lustre and interest to the Durbanville midweek programme today. The trio will face race action at the country course for the first time in their short careers.
An R82 000 MR 86 Handicap run over 1200m opens the popular Place Accumulator bet and while a field of seven may give punters a sense of comfort to find a banker, race readiness and fitness is an unknown and the trio will all have bigger fish to fry in the months ahead.
Sergeant Hardy has the speed to wiin
Justin Snaith’s Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner Sergeant Hardy has not seen action in 17 weeks.
The son of Captain Al won 3 of his 5 starts and looks eminently suited to the quick 1200m here.
Joey Ramsden and the connections of the quality Western Winter colt Attenborough will be keen to exact revenge for their boy’s defeat by Sergeant Hardy in the nursery when he was beaten 1,50 lengths by the Snaith star.
Classy Attenborough can give a good account of himself
Attenborough subsequently ran a not disgraced fourth in the Langerman when only 2,10 lengths behind his Australian-bred stablemate Table Bay. His rest of 13 weeks is a worry, but he is all class and will come out fighting fresh.
Needs More
Candice Bass-Robinson sends out the exciting Our Mate Art, who finished two lengths in front of Attenboroug in receipt of 3kgs in the Langerman.
Candice Robinson – sends out a coupling headed by Our Mate Art
The son of Arti Schiller looks to be a fellow crying out for a mile and he may be run off his feet by the superior toe of his class opposition.
His year older stablemate Miss Marker is the only filly in the field and is asked to lumber top weight. Not an easy ask!
A winner of his penultimate start, the 5yo Fire Master is a seasoned campaigner and gets the 4kg claim of apprentice Craig Bantam.
Rock Of Africa is the only 3yo with fitness on his side.
The one-time winning son of Seventh Rock ran a cracker over the course and distance last time when running on for third behind the classic prospect, Bishop’s Bounty.
Winter Trade’s form is a little sketchy.
Entertaining
It should be an entertaining match between the stakes performing trio, with a slight preference for the exciting Attenborough.
Sergeant Hardy won’t be far behind and Rock Of Africa looks to have plenty of upward mobility – with fitness on his side.
