South Africa Horse Racing Previews: GREYVILLE@2023.07.30
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R250,000, 11:10GMT+2
Race Summary: OUTLAW KING (1) has been disappointing since his arrival in KZN for Champions Season. He made a promising debut in the Godolphin Barb at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and was second best behind runaway winner Lucky Lad in the Grade 1 Gold medallion over the same course and distance. On that evidence he was sent pout favourite for his latest outing but did not go on with his effort. All three of his runs have been in yielding going and with the going likely to be on top and from the best of the draw he may be worth another chance. READY TO CHARGE (4) comes from a strong Highveld yard and after an easy debut victory was a close-up third in a useful Juvenile field. He was running on late that day and should be a contender here. JUST BE LEKKER (7) is one of two fillies in the line-up and is unbeaten in both starts to date. She appears to be well above average in spite of her lowly rating and has been pitted against males in preference to taking on her own sex in the Debutante Stakes. MOUNT PILATUS (3) was making up ground quickly when touched off on the poly track last time out in his first start for a new stable. He is capable of a few lengths improvement back on turf. LET THE FLAG FLY (9) looks held on current form but this stable can fly them up on occasion and he is one to watch.
Selections:
#1 OUTLAW KING, #4 READY TO CHARGE, #7 JUST BE LEKKER, #3 MOUNT PILATUS
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R250,000, 11:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Tough race with many in with winning chances. ORIENTAL BOUQUET (2) was beaten a piece of paper in a smart field last time out and an objection against the winner was over ruled. Her previous run is best ignored as she ran into a myriad of problems. The stable rates her highly and from a good draw she should be a major contender. THE CHARLSTON (13) has the worst of the draw but came off some useful Cape Town form when down the field from another tricky draw behind Oriental Bouquet. That was her first run since February and she is sure to have come on from that effort. MOVING IN (5) was running on stoutly in that same race and was possibly a little unlucky finding her way through traffic and can finish a lot closer to the selection. LEAVING LAS VEGAS (3) went into the Gr1 Allan Robertson unbeaten in two and finished a creditable sixth behind the leading juvenile filly Mrs Geriatrix. She was well supported in the betting that day and from a good inside draw must have a strong winning chance. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (12) also has a difficult draw to contend with but Lyle Hewitson will have been well tested in Hong Kong.
Selections:
#2 ORIENTAL BOUQUET, #13 THE CHARLESTON, #5 MOVING IN, #3 LEAVING LAS VEGAS
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R150,000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: COSMIC HIGHWAY (1) could be the pick of the Dean Kannemeyer trio with stable and contracted Kaya Stables rider Keagan de Melo aboard. He has had one sprint-up since arriving in KZN where he caught the eye when running on late from a wide draw and the step up in trip could be what he’s looking for. Peter Muscutt was trying for QUASIFORSURE (14) to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July field but it became fairly obvious that the trip was out of his compass after two starts further than a mile. He is back over his preferred trip this time around but barrier 14 is not in his favour. He does, however, have a smart turn of foot and given the right pace he will be a big runner. LORD WILLIAM (6) has been trying further in feature company finishing third in both races that he contested. He is more effective over this shorter trip and has a strong winning chance. CAPTAIN FONTANE (5) is seldom out of the money and his last win was over course and distance. He is highly regarded in the stable and with strong heavy-weight rider in Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard he should put in another bold showing. MERIDIUS (8) has been in good form on the Highveld and is over what looks to be his optimum trip. He took a six-point hit in the handicap after his last win but his stable is in very good form.
Selections:
#1 COSMIC HIGHWAY, #14 QUASIFORSURE, #6 LORD WILLIAM, #5 CAPTAIN FONTANE
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R300,000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Most pundits gave Sean Tarry’s filly BLESS MY STARS (7) very little chance in the Hollywoodbets Durban July but ran well above most expectations to finish third behind Winchester Mansion and star colt See It Again. She had smart Highveld form prior to that against her own sex and she does look to be the obvious choice in this line-up. HOLD MY HAND (9) has not been far off in the three features that she has contested during Champions Season although the Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m appeared to be just beyond her compass last time out. The drop in trip will suit and she should prove a solid threat to Bless My Stars. DAWNOFANEWDAY (5) was a game runner-up in the Track and Ball Oaks and may have found the trip just a little too far. She has better form over this shorter trip although she did get a six-point shunt up the handicap for her Oaks showing. SILVER DARLING (10) ran a shocker in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and it is best two draw a line through that showing. The stable has not had a happy Champions Season by their high standards but on her Woolavington Gr1 showing over course and distance she is in with a good chance. SAARTJIE (1) ran well below form in the Gr1 Woolavington and is better judged on her narrow defeat in the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas over a mile on this course. She has the best of the draw and Corne Orffer is up from Cape Town to ride.
Selections:
#7 BLESS MY STARS, #9 HOLD MY HAND, #5 DAWNOFANEWDAY, #10 SILVER DARLING
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R700,000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: This has the makings of a brilliant contest. LUCKY LAD (13) does not have the best of draws but was a facile winner of the Gr1 Gold Medallion. He is unbeaten and has hardly been challenged in this four starts to date. Giving others hope is that he steps up to this trip for the first time from a draw that has beaten some of the best in the past. On the other hand, the unbeaten MAIN DEFENDER (5) has won both starts in good fashion for his new stable and given his pedigree the step up in trip should be right up his alley. He also has the benefit of a favourable draw. SANDERINGHAM SUMMIT (14) has draw one outside of Lucky Lad and came from an almost impossible position when winning the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. He has an electric turn of pace as he showed when coming from last so the draw may not be too much of a disadvantage. These three look the main contenders but Sean Tarry has a second string to his bow in the form of LONGSWORD (2) who although only having shed his maiden last time out, he does have a good draw and comes from a strong stable.
Selections:
#13 LUCKY LAD, #5 MAIN DEFENDER, #14 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT, #2 LONGSWORD
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R1,000,000, 14:10GMT+2
Race Summary: This is a tough contest but GIMME A PRINCE (4) can seal top honours as the season’s best sprinter with victory in this WFA contest. He is over his best trip and was a cracking winner of the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint carrying top weight in a handicap beating his smart younger rival THUNDERSTRUCK (6). There is a 5.5kg turn around in the weights in favour of Gimme A Prince which should in theory confirm the Golden Horse result. A more likely danger is ISIVUNGUVUNGU (9) although Peter Muscutt’s charge has been confined to 1000m. He was beaten by Gimme A Prince in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship but has subsequently win the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. If he can see out the extra furlong, he could turn the tables on his rival although he has a wider draw to contend with. GLADATORIAN (1) caught most by surprise when winning at lengthy odds when getting the better of Thunderstruck. He is 2kg worse off at the weights with Thunderstruck but does have pole position draw.
Selections:
#4 GIMME A PRINCE, #9 ISIVUNGUVUNGU, #6 THUNDERSTRUCK, #1 GLADATORIAN
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 3200m, Turf, R1,000,000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: FUTURE PEARL (3) has cracking staying form and is a winner of the Gr2 Gold Bowl and the G2 Gold Vase, both races over marathon trips. He carries a half-kilo less than he did in the 3000m Gold Vase, a race that he won with plenty in hand. He has a good draw and he must have a strong chance of earning stayer of the year of he can pull this one off. Given the compress weights for this year’s race, last year’s winner SHANGANI (6) is in with a fighting chance of lumping 60kg to victory. He has been lightly raced since his last win and caught the eye when running on for fourth in a slow-run Track and Ball Derby. He should strip at his peak. Lyle Hewitson teamed up with NABRAAS (7) to win this race two years back and will be aboard Sean Tarry’s runner again as he takes a break after the Hong Kong season. Nebraas has been a little off form of late but stays well and Tarry has a knack of priming his horses for the occasion. ARUMUGAM (4) ran way below form in the Gold Vase after finishing second to Future Pearl in the Gold Bowl. Young apprentice Kayden Brewer gets on well with the gelding and it could make all the difference to his chances here.
Selections:
#3 FUTURE PEARL, #6 SHANGANI, #7 NEBRAAS, #4 ARUMUGAM
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R1,250,000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: SEE IT AGAIN (11) and Charles Dickens are streets ahead of the three-year-old rivals this season, the former over a middle distance and the latter over a mile. Victory for Michael Roberts’s charge could well earn him top honours in the end of season awards. He ran a tremendous race when touched off in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, giving his older rival 3.5kg. If he has recovered from that race which is always a lung-buster, then he should have this at his mercy. Something of an unknown, even given her record is the filly PRINCESS CALLA (10). She sprint and goes a mile comfortably but the question is whether she can step up the extra furlong against male opposition. There is no doubting her ability but this will be an acid test. AL MUTHANA (12) was completely out-pointed by Charles Dickens in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and although this race is a furlong further, on a line through Charles Dickens he should not be able to match See It Again. DAVE THE KING (1) was no match for See It Again in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 but you write off a De Kock horse at your peril as this 1800m trip will be right up his alley.
Selections:
#11 SEE IT AGAIN, #10 PRINCESS CALLA, #1 DAVE THE KING, #12 AL MUTHANA
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 9, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R700,000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. DISTANT WINTER (4) may just have needed her run in the Gr2 Golden Slipper behind Mrs Geriatrix as she had some smart Cape Town form before that. The Slipper run should have brought her on nicely and from a good draw she should make a bold bid. Sean Tarry has another lively feature runner in LET’S GO NOW (2) who has won her last two over the trip which is always a bonus in these races. She also has the benefit of a good draw to add to her chances. EGYPTIAN MAU (9) has been up against the best in recent features. She took on males in the Gr1 Gold Medallion and may well have finished closer except for find interference. Richard Fourie takes over in the saddles and she will be a big runner. BAVARIAN BEAUTY (3) has shown up well in her three sprints and given her pedigree should enjoy the step up in distance. She too has a favourable draw.
Selections:
#4 DISTANT WINTER, #2 LET’S GO NOW, #9 EGYPTIAN MAU, #3 BAVARIAN BEAUTY
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE, 30.07.2023, Race 10, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R150,000, 17:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Tough handicap to finish off the day. AFRICAN SKYLINE (7) has only once finished out of the money in 17 starts which is something of a remarkable record. He has finished runner-up in his last three and should finish close-up again from a mid-gate draw. MISTER MASTER STARTER (1) has warmed up nicely after two starts in Champions Season and from the best of the draw should see him close although the one concern is that the 1000m trip may be a touch on the short side. PRAY FOR RAIN (4) won well first run for his new stable, but that was on the poly. Lyle Hewitson rides for his father and a win would be a fitting end to the day. LOVE IN WINTER (8) has come good in two starts on the poly when trying blinkers. The blinkers have been removed but Vaughan Marshall’s colt only has 52kg to should which will make him competitive.
Selections:
#7 AFRICAN SKYLINE, #1 MR MASTER STARTER, #4 PRAY FOR RAIN, #8 LOVE IN WINTER
Best Win: #1 COSMIC HIGHWAY
Best Value Bet: #4 DISTANT WINTER
Best Longshot: #9 HOLD MY HAND
