Nel and De Melo star at big “D”

It was a good day for favourite backers at Durbanville on Saturday, as all three odds-on shots arrived, and five tote favourites in total out of eight.

The trend was set in the opening race.

Vaughan Marshall’s Tutorial (6-10) had been far from disgraced on debut in the Listed Juvenile race on Sun Met day.

He made all, but had to hold off a spirited late challenge from Justin Snaith’s Mister Vargus, who found a good finish to go down less than 0.50 lengths.

Andre Nel and Aldo Domey-er then teamed up for a skinny priced double. Both Computa-form and Racing Express made Procrastination the best bet on the card after she was runner up to classy Run Fox Run first time out.

This Oratorio filly duly obliged in Race 3 a Fillies and Mares Maid-en Plate over 1000m, surging clear late to win comfortably at 7-20, and her jockey was impressed.

“She gives me a good feel. A bit green, but there’s lots to work with, and this trip is way too short for her,” was his summation.

Expensive to follow Metropoli-tan (5-10) then landed the odds in Race 4, A Maiden Plate over 2400m.

But as is his nature he did it the hard way.He looked likely to have to set-tle for second again when rank outsider Mist Of Time led inside the final 100m.

But Domeyer managed to coax a finish out of this Silvano gelding, and he prevailed by a neck.

“Aldo rode a fantastic race. This horse finds ways of getting beaten. He has ability but a very small heart,” said a thankful Nel post-race.

The three non favourites to win were Waldorf Astoria in Race 5, (16-1), A er Glow, Race 6, (6-1) and Sacred Story, Race 7, (11-1), and remarkably all three were piloted home by Keagan de Melo.

“This is only the second time I’ve ridden at Durbanville. The first time, last October I had three seconds, and today three winners,” said an understandably delighted De Melo after Sacred Story had completed the 1427-1 treble

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