Clinton Binda sends just two runners to Turffontein’s Inside track on Thursday, 10 July — but both look solid chances to deliver a 100% strike rate for Hollywood Racing under jockey Calvin Habib.
In Race 2 over 1200m, Habib partners the promising two-year-old Umzingeli Wenyathi. The Buffalo Bill Cody colt showed big potential when outrunning 25-1 odds on debut to finish a close fourth in a winners’ race over 1000m. He then improved further to run third over the same trip on the Standside. The extra 200m should suit this progressive type, who has little exposed form but doesn’t need major improvement to get off the mark for connections. Habib has ridden him in both starts and sticks with him here.
Stablemate Nkwenkwezi — Xhosa for ‘Star’ — lines up in Race 5 over 1600m and is overdue a win after finishing second five times from 10 starts, including her last three. The daughter of Erupt was narrowly beaten when making the running in two strong recent efforts: first when caught late by Scars Of War over this trip on the Standside, then when nailed close home again over 1500m at this track. A repeat of either of those pace-setting runs should be enough for Nkwenkwezi to finally break through and complete a well-deserved double for the Habib–Binda–Hollywood team.
Elsewhere on the card, Empress Wu (Race 3) and Bumps Last Grind (Race 4) also appeal. Both are consistent maidens with multiple runner-up finishes and look ready to shed their maiden tags soon.
Clive Robinson
