This could be a good day or a bad day for punters. There look to be some fair bets on Monday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville card on the poly but as is always the danger of things going pear-shaped.
In the card opener, African Beat must surely get it right some time. Mike Miller’s filly has yet to miss a cheque in seven starts and was touched off last time out. She appears to be the obvious choice but there are a number of improves in the field including Vali Gil who has shown up well in two starts over shorter and should prefer this trip. Baby On Board has improved with each outing and enjoyed the poly last run and should put in another good showing.
Dean Kannemeyer has given Medal Of Freedom two starts on the poly over shorter and the gelding should be fully primed for this step up in trip and is one of the better bets on the card. MJ Odendaal and good friend Marco van Rensburg team up with a smart prospect in Paris Rain who can put a spanner in the works. Touched off at his last two, distance suited and has the best of the draw. King Of Seville has been knocking at the door. He steps up to what may be a more suitable trip.
Visiting Lucky Houdalakis sends out Impersonation who has consistent Highveld form and was a close-up second last start. She faces a modest field in the third and the Highveld form is often a lot stronger than local. Mythical Tune looks the main threat and may finally get it right for Duncan Howells who has not enjoyed an extended trip to the second box. Paul Gadsby’s filly Pixie In Love has gone well over course and distance and is consistent.
Regular Highveld visitor Clinton Binda saddles Flying Grace who has been consistent contesting against stronger of late and has done well on the poly. This could be his day in the fourth. Absolute Value could be a threat as he makes his poly debut but has smart Highveld form. He was close-up to much stronger last start and if he takes to the poly the drop in class could see him home. Forward Spell showed good improvement at his second poly start. The stable is in form.
The fifth s a wide-open handicap. Everglades made a smart local debut on the poly for Andre Nel and had some fair Cape form before that. She can follow up. Bay Breeze has been knocking on the door for some time now. She has a handy weight and should put in another solid performance for Gareth van Zyl while Carl Hewitson has booked champion jockey elect Keagan de Melo for Rise. The mare’s form is nothing to write home about but she does have first time blinkers and older horses often show much better form on the poly.
The Dennis Bosch-trained Trafalgar Square goes best over course and distance and has been close-up at his last two. He has a fair weight to shoulder but looks to be the right one in the sixth. But Proper’s Gift improved nicely second run after a break with blinkers and Nathan Kotzen’s runner should be right there while One Too Many goes well over course and distance and with a claiming apprentice up should be competitive for Kom Naidoo who is recovering from a stroke.
Alyson Wright sends out the juvenile Far Horizon in the seventh who was a most impressive winner on debut and De Melo stays with the ride. She meets a modest field and can follow up. Diamond Girl ran well below form last start and is best ignored. She has solid form before that for Stuart Ferrie. Flying The Star had her consistency rewarded last run. She has bottom weight with a top gate and Corine Bestel’s mare could follow up. Ice Star won on debut on the Highveld but her subsequent form has been moderate. However, she must have a chance of improving in this line-up.
Bosch could round off the day with Diani. He is a smart galloper that takes a big drop in class. Bosch has stepped him up in trip and he must be a big runner if he stays. Caesura is looking for one more race for the tenth win of his career for Alyson Wright and was touched off by his stable companion last time out. He is highly consistent and with a 1.5kg claimer up he could get it right. Super Silver is the choice of stable rider Tristan Godden for Mike Miller. The gelding has his third run after a break, is down in class and is over his preferred trip. Captain Rocket won well first up on the poly beating a hard-knocker comfortably and appeared to enjoy the synthetic surface.
