It was exciting to see a son of American champion Uncle Mo making his debut in South Africa around this time last year. A handsome individual, Motown Magic took a few runs to win his maiden.
He did it in style but was again found wanting in his next few starts before impressing again, this time in a marathon.
He is highly regarded and was nominated for the Grade 1 Cape Derby, but in an interesting twist he gets to try the polytrack now. It may not be a sign of madness, after all, his father was a top dirt horse back home.
Add to that the fact that the Mike De Kock trained inmate is a fluent frontrunner and one with buckets of stamina and local polytrack regulars Arumugam, Airways Law and Monarchy might have to look twice to see which way he went.
He takes his place at Greyville on Thursday 28 April in Race 4, a MR84 Handicap over 1900m. He is worth backing for the win and banking in all bets including trifectas and quartets with the others mentioned.
One of the value options on the day comes up 35 minutes earlier in Race 4, a 2000m Maiden Plate for fillies and mares. Sexy Shiraz may not come up favourite as she didn’t show in one earlier polytrack race. But she didn’t show on turf initially either, and it is only recently that she has been maintaining consistent form on grass.
She looks to have needed time to mature. Her style of racing handily and staying over similar distances on the turf is a good prerequisite for the poly and she could keep going ahead of very moderate opposition. An each way bet on that filly looks the way to go.
Top Ten does have decent poly form and jumps from gate one so swingers and exactas with the latter are suggested.
Impartial and Woodstock Festival should both jump at decent prices in Race 6. The former, an enigmatic character, has disappointed connections but he gave signs in his last start when running on well at the death that he may be on the up again. Woodstock Festival romped from a wide draw over the track and trip last time and could again be hard to catch.
Again, swingers and exactas could return decent dividends. Add Alfonsa Spagoni, who produced a determined finish to win his last race, for the trifecta.
Clive Robinson
