Family first for Aldo at the Big T

Aldo Domeyer seldom visits family in Joburg without returning home to Cape Town a little richer. On Thursday, the ace jockey is in town to partner just three horses for stepmom Ashley Fortune at Turffontein, where racing is on the Inside track.

Domeyer has a scarcely credible win strike rate of 21.3% over the past 12 months, and a placing rate of 42.8%.

So, with him in the saddle, it’s a fair to expect Fortune’s runners to be in the money. But which one/s will win?

Bookmaker ante-post betting suggests Captain Lannister in Race 4, a 1200m Novice Plate, might be the stable elect for the day.

The son of Captain Of All was a commendable fourth in the 1200m Gold Medallion at Scottsville on 6 June, running on strongly at the end. Since then, he has been gelded and rested – for 158 days – but opened at 16-10 at the first betting call, suggesting the word is out he has come good at home.

That Scottsville showing and an earlier sprint win at the Vaal have seen Captain Lannister handed a sky-high handicap rating of 102. If he runs to that, he’ll make short work of this field as he is weighted to win easily.

Two runners from the Johan Janse van Vuuren ranks are the main dangers – impressive debutant winner Moonshiningthrough and in-form Sheldon.

Domeyer and Fortune get their day underway in Race 1, a marathon Classified Stakes, with Secret Is Ours. The four-year-old grey is showing form and having a peak run after a short break. He has never tackled anything like this 2600m trek, though his breeding says he’ll manage it.

By contrast, Mike de Kock filly Masaaken won over this distance earlier in the year. She has been running with great heart recently and must be linked with Secret Is Ours in Exactas, Trifectas and Quartets.

In Race 2, Domeyer carries the Fortunes’ fortunes aboard Buck’s Fizz, who was opened as a 22-10 favourite. This son of Soft Falling Rain was gelded after his maiden win in early September and got back on track with a fast-finishing third place over 1200m last month.

Buck’s Fizz goes 1450m in this MR66 Handicap and will surely have a say in the finish. Last-time maiden winner Code Zero is the obvious threat.

SELECTIONS

1: 5 Masaaken, 1 Secret Is Ours, 7 Liverpool Legend, 9 Western Dance

2: 1 Buck’s Fizz, 3 Code Zero, 8 Escape Artist, 2 Corvette Captain

3: 4 Indlamu, 1 Whorly Whorly, 5 Sound Of Summer, 6 Captain Hindsight

4: 2 Captain Lannister, 8 Moonshiningthrough, 4 Sheldon, 3 Team Gold

5: 4 Bureau Des Legende, 2 Ocean Warrior, 6 About To Storm, 3 Barney’s Pride

6: 1 Lion Of The Desert, 4 Banha Bridge, 5 Little Prince, 2 Fsquadron

7: 8 Eskimo Pie, 5 Val D’Orcia, 3 Sea Ways, 6 Back To Black

8: 8 Irish Rain, 4 Flying First Class, 3 Kings Cup, 2 Pride Of Paris

Pick 6: 1,3,4,5,6 x 2,4,8 x 2,4 x 1,4,5 x 1,3,5,6,8 x 3,4,8 (R1350)

PA: 1 x 1,4,5 x 2,8 x 2,4 x 1 x 3,5,8 x 8 (R36)