At a tough Polytrack meeting at Greyville on Wednesday 12 November, there are four runners worth keeping an eye on.
The first is Plum Pudding. Trainer Andre Nel has his runners in good form, and this daughter of Silvano has been giving her backers plenty to cheer about all year.
The five-year-old mare runs in Race 5, a Middle Stakes race over 1800m. She has won three of her five starts this year and was runner-up in the other two. Plum Pudding did well to finish runner-up behind Go Grayson Go, as she does seem to be stretched by the 2000m distance. This will be the first time that jockey Calvin Habib rides her, but she does not look a difficult mount, and she can add another win to her tally.
Trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock send out Spaarne Rivier in Race 7, a Class 5 Handicap over 1600m. This Hawwaam gelding showed good improvement to win his second start and may be better than his rating suggests. That win was his first taste of the Polytrack, and he won easily. This longer distance should not be a problem, and Callan Murray retains the ride.
Earlier on the card, Drielandenpunt in Race 1, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, and Xiphos in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, both look hard to oppose.
Drielandenpunt has only had three starts and showed improvement when third over this course and distance on 22 October. He should prove to be better than the mostly struggling rivals.
Xiphos has been runner-up in all three starts in which he has worn blinkers, and with a little luck in running, he could finally get the job done over a course and distance that suits him.
Clive Robinson
