Kom Naidoo’s recent frustrations of close runner-up berths could be remedied by his game mare Magicallee when she run in the seventh at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday. Magicallee will be having her 40th start over her preferred course and distance and after having a strong of apprentice riders aboard, Naidoo has opted for experience ahead of claiming apprentices and Kabelo Matsunyane gets the nod this time around.
The combination of Naidoo and Matsunyane has been a profitable one in recent weeks and they can further add to their record with Magicallee who is as game as they come. She was a tad unlucky last run as she had to overcome the widest draw with her apprentice rider aboard so a plum draw and a stronger rider aboard could see her home.
Duncan Howells saddles Princess Santo who had some poor PE form before asrriving in the stable. Both runs for her new yard have seen improvement and the mare ran a cracker last time out that saw her rating jump from a lowly 48 to a lofty 59. She still has a handy weight in this contest and can give Magicallee most to do.
Lady Heist is a bit of a poly specialist but has been trying further at her last two. However, she shed her maiden over course and distance. Dunyaa is the dark horse. Paul Gadsby is confident that his yard is turning a corner and this mare appears to be coming to hand. She was running on well last start and looks primed for this.
The first is a tricky maiden. Red Magician is lightly raced and the experiment of going a mile last run proved a trip too far. He is back over a sprint, switches to the poly and should have a lot in his favour. Lazy Guy is struggling to shed his maiden but Calvin Habib knows him well. He has a short finishing burst and the switched to the poly could be enough to see him crack his first win. Lucky Dollar raced green in a race won by the useful Kitchakal and is sure to make improvement from his pole position draw.
The second sees a number of first timers in a race where some have desperate form. Of those that have run, Imperial Order has by far the best credentials and barring a first time ‘springer’ he should be hard to beat. Double Silver looks the pick of the balance although well beaten over a mile on the poly last run. He can do better over this shorter trip. Of the first timers Imaginable and Maya’s Cat could be worth following in the market.
The lightly raced L’Ultimo was not too far back when trying the poly and some ground last time out and seems to be coming along the right way which could see him home in the third. Corsican was completely outpaced in his last sprint when favourite and the race won by his stable companion. He jumps from 1000m to 1700m but comes from the stable of a more than astute trainer in Garth Puller. Cataleya Summer needs to considered in all calculations as he has improved with each outing. He stays the trip and has first time blinkers.
The fourth is a tricky affair as the form is a little skinny. Flirty Dancer made a smart debut over this trip on the turf but meets little of note here and should be capable of going one better. Such A Cracker found market support when racing in first time earmuffs going down narrowly over course and distance. A repeat should see her close again.
Of the others, Chasing Time has been improving slowly and could find this trip more to her liking while Inhle Intombi was green on debut and not far back. She has drawn well and one to watch in the betting.
MJ Odendaal has encountered more than his fair share of roadblocks in his life through injury and illness but sends out Ingakara who is over her best course and distance and has been consistent of late. She should be a big runner. Winter Melody got a four-point raise in the handicap after her last win but she does take on slightly weaker here and goes well on the poly. Reckless Love comes from a very much in form stable and with a 2.5kg claimer up she must have a chance of recording her second win while Que For You has consistent form over this trip and has a money chance.
Doug Campbell closed off last Monday’s meeting with a long-priced winner in Crested Eagle and Siege Of Orleans should also start at good odds in the sixth. She has been dropping in the handicap and was not too far back from a wide draw last start. The stable has hit form and she should be competitive. Iron Chef is over her best course and distance and Tienie Prinsloo’s stable has also hit form. She has a handy weight and should be a big runner. Green Sleeves is another that has come down in the handicap. She only faded late behind her stable companion last run and with a handy weight she must have a strong chance while Rise is way better than her last effort. She was a winner of her penultimate start on the poly and although she gives weight all around, she is looking for her sixth win opposed to her rivals looking for their second.
In the last, veteran Ralph The Rascal was game in first time blinkers when touched off by two well-thought-of younger rivals. He is up in class here but with a handy weight should make another bold bid. Grappler made a modest debut for his new stable but is way better than that judged on his Highveld form. The switch to poly and second run for the yard should see him improve. Prince Of Taranto has made a steady rise in the handicap. He went up four-points for his last win but does seem better over the extra furlong and must have a strong chance while Spirit Of My Fate was narrowly beaten last run over further but this is a better trip and he has a handy weight to go with it.
