The brother and sister partnership of Wayne Badenhorst and Barbara Kennedy have some decent runners at Greyville on Monday when they race on the Polytrack, but two stand out.
The best of the lot looks to be Two Of Us who runs in Race 3, a MR 73 Handicap over 1200m. He won an amazing race at Scottsville last time out. He was switching from the Polytrack to the turf and expected to be outpaced, but more unexpected was the bump he took at the start. On top of that he was carried inward midway ending up the inside of the track – and still won.
He had been running good races but reducing his burden by 4kg with a claiming apprentice looks to have done the trick. Apprentice Donald Geerthsen has been improving with each passing month and with Two Of Us could be headed for a good partnership themselves.
Badenhorst/Kennedy could start their streak in Race 2 with Winter Journey with in-form Muzi Yeni up. The latter has run three good seconds in a row but may have gone too quickly in those 1000m scurries. She takes her place in a 1200m Maiden Plate for fillies and mares and it could be the right move for her.
However, she is also carded to run the day before at Scottsville where she also looks to have a big chance and could get the job done there.
Their other runners on the day rate decent chances as well. Cashew, also partnered with Yeni, is a strong frontrunner and while she beat a weak field in the maidens last time she may still be good enough against the bottom division on handicap debut in Race 4, a MR 66 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m.
Fiery Duke, with 1.5kg claimer Rachel Venniker up, is in a strong field in Race 8 but he is back over his best trip and holding form could make it a red-letter day for the yard.
Roy’s Command has been a revelation for trainer Alyson Wright on the Polytrack. He is one of those rare horses who wins easily coming from off the pace on the poly and he could continue on in Race 7, a MR 72 Handicap over 1600m and could be the best banker on the day.
Clive Robinson
