There is some cracking racing at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge high on the list of the lands race-of-the-season as Charles Dickens seeks revenge on Al Muthana.
There are three Grade 1 WFA races over 1600m around the country that are open to all horses and the winners of the first two legs are set to line-up here.
Al Muthana, who won this race last year when trained by Mike de Kock, then went on under the mentorship of Ricky Maingard to claim the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January lowering the colours of Charles Dickens for the first time.
Trip Of Fortune was in that race but was not at his best and finished down field. However, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained gelding made the journey to the Highveld for the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes for the second Grade 1 feature over 1600m and won it in style.
Charles Dickens has won two highly regarded races over 1600m, the Gr 1 Cape Guineas and the Gr 2 WSB Guineas. The results of both races were never in doubt and despite his surprise loss to Al Muthana, this son of Trippi, trained by Bass-Robinson, will be the runner to beat.
In fact, he has been priced up at 9-20 to notch up his first Gr 1 victory in open company. Aldo Domeyer has been given the ride once again.
Trip Of Fortune has come on in leaps and bounds since being gelded and showed his wellbeing when winning the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m last month.
Gareth Wight will take the ride this time.
Al Muthana may have found 2000m in the Cape Met a touch too far as did Charles Dickens, but he has since run fourth in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m and was only 0.90 lengths back in third behind Trip Of Fortune in the Drill Hall Stakes after finding traffic.
The Australian-bred son of Deep Field could be peaking at the right time for the defence of his title. Grant van Niekerk has the ride.
Cousin Casey has yet to get the better of Chares Dickens, but will have the benefit of a pole position draw and S’manga Khumalo in the irons.
Safe Passage ran a shocker in the Drill Hall Stakes, but improved when third at Turffontein next time out and could do even better this time. This is a very strong field but De Kock’s charge cannot be underestimated.
Do It Again might be almost nine years old but in 14 runs at Greyville he has yet to finish out of the places. Richard Fourie is in cracking form currently and he takes the ride.
Also run at the meeting is the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m.
