Clive Robinson
Mac Hardy rewarded followers with his maiden win after a fair debut second – a race which he could have won if he wasn’t so green – and he still appears nowhere near a finished product. He ranged up to the frontrunners but had to be pushed out to change gears and even though an easy winner, looked to have plenty in the tank.
On Monday he runs in a handicap on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Granted, it is a lowly MR 65 Handicap (Race 2), but the shorter 1100m trip will be quicker and he will need to up his game. He should be super fit now and the faster pace should be even better for this well-bred son of Vercingetorix.
Afropolitan, while not expected to jump at overly generous odds in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1800m, could still be the value proposition in his heat. He was expected to win soon after finishing clear second best a few runs back but tried a marathon on grass and the run pushed him back somewhat. As a result, he ran below par when back on the Polytrack last time out.
What is interesting is that when he finished second best, which was on this surface, he had Vihaan’s Grey almost 11 lengths behind him. Yet last time he could do no better than run 4.70 lengths off Vihaan’s Grey when only 3kg worse off.
Zakho and Ultimate Jewel have also improved and may be the main fancied runners but Afropolitan, having proven himself over the longer distance, could come up trumps.
He runs in Race 3, 35 minutes after Mac Hardy’s sprint so it could be worth taking the double.
The next two races are intriguing contests as well. Both Pirate Prince (Race 4) and Toto (Race 5) appear strong form choices. The former looks divisions better than the field he meets and having drawn widest may see a bit of leeway on his odds. Current log-leading rider Keagan de Melo has been brilliant in terms of placing his horses.
Toto won her Polytrack debut easier than the margin suggests two starts back and was not disgraced on turf thereafter. She should relish being back on the synthetic and appeals as the best Place bet on the day.
