Punters face a tricky card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday but two of the better bets on the card could come in the first two races.
In the first, Corsican comes from the very much in form Garth Puller yard and the gelding has gone close in both starts including a smart debut over course and distance. He looks good enough to get it right in this company. Paul Matchett holds a strong hand with I’ve Got Wings and Arbitrator and both are in with winning chances. The former takes on males but gets the blinkers back on and she goes well on the poly while the latter has not been far back and is showing steady improvement.
Gavin van Zyl saddles Cantfoolme in the second with red-hot Keagan de Melo in the irons. The filly raced green in a promising debut and the extra furlong should suit. Michael Roberts has two lively runners in She’s Not Easy and Natalia. The two met last time out with the latter edging her stable companion. That was over a sprint and both stretch to a mile. On jockey bookings She’s Not Easy would appear to be the stable elect.
Street Art didn’t quite land the gamble last time out and was caught out late. Peter Muscutt steps him up in trip in the third and the extra 300m should be right up his alley. Dawn Mission looks the biggest threat although he has claims to the second box. He is overdue and consistent and seems to go best on the poly. Izuizorizuaint has improved with each outing of late and appeared to enjoy the step up in trip last start while Duke Of Africa was run out of it late by the well regarded but reluctant winner Liketheclappers. He was game in defeat and can go one better.
In the fourth, Lucretius was the million-rand party pooper after out-gunning his stable companion to deny one punter the jackpot of predicting all eight winners on the card. Lucretius made marked improvement in cheek pieces for Carl Hewitson and can again get the better of stable companion Lord Minver who was clearly second best on the day although Lucretius got a hefty shunt up the handicap. Living Waters is never far back and has done well to stronger. He is both course and distance suited while Pineview has been consistent but without any luck. He steps up in trip and off a handy weight should be competitive.
Sean Tarry sends out Immeasurable in the fifth and he has not been out of the money in three starts since switching to the poly. He is slightly down in class but with a 1.5kg rider allowance he could finally get it right. Master To Be seldom runs a bad race for Mark Dixon and was caught late over shorter when back on turf last start. This is his optimum trip. Bend The Rules is back on his favoured surface and has a very much in form rider aboard while Straight Up could be the dark horse as he has been dropping in the handicap and is also down in class.
Duncan Howells steps Purple Operator up to what could prove to be a more suitable trip in the sixth after showing good sprint form. He jumps from a plum draw. Kom Naidoo has Stanley back on his preferred surface. He goes well this trip and comes from a very much in form stable. Gunsmoke was not too far behind the highly rated Donquerari last start and takes on weaker here. He has a useful 1.5kg claimer aboard.
The seventh could rest between Bingin Beach and Dawnofanewday. Bingin Beach has been much improved in blinkers and won well last run beating subsequent winner Dawnofanewday. The two meet again this time on the poly with the former still 0.5kg to the good. Both have good form on the poly so there should be very little between the two. Splash Of Green has improved in blinkers and now makes her poly debut from a plum draw and a useful 4kg claimer aboard will make her dangerous. Trump My Queen makes her poly debut and has been coming down in the handicap. She could be competitive off her new mark and must come into contention.
The last is an open handicap but could rest between One Too Many and Chara Sands. One Too Many came good at long odds over course and distance last start and only got a three-pound raise in the handicap. He can go in again. Chara Sands comes off a short break but goes well over course and distance although his best recent form has been in blinkers. Watch for late declarations. Valiente is quick and seldom too far back. He only has 48.5kg to shoulder and he could go all the way.
