Punters will be looking to round off the year with a bulging wallet or at least some cash in their accounts to start the New Year but they face a competitive card on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly track on New Year’s eve.
Many will be banking on a trio of three-year-olds to see off what is an eight-raced card of mostly geriatrics, or to be more politically correct, seasoned veterans.
The first of these comes in the fifth, a Class 4 Handicap over 1800m where Gareth van Zyl saddles Salani Kahle. The three-year-old son of Master Of My Fate made a fairly inauspicious debut behind Pied Piper but turned on the afterburners second time out as he smashed the opposition by six ever-increasing lengths.
Admittedly it was not the strongest of line-ups but Salani Kahle lived up to his name as he said good bye to the ever consistent but luckless Intro. He does look progressive but should he not run up to expectations then things get tricky.
The year older Out Of This World goes well on the poly and was narrowly beaten last time out and the step up in trip will suit. Fellow sophomore Green Glow disappointed last run after two good wins for Dean Kannemeyer but he did have the steadier f 62 kg to shoulder and can make amends. Garth Puller saddles the dark horse in Fine Admiral who has improved recent form and has his peak run after a lengthy break. He could feature at long odds.
Mike and Mathew de Kock will be hoping for a New Year send-off with a double with Curious Girl in the sixth and Kanaal Skater in the next.
Curious Girl shed her maiden at second time of asking also beating the luckless Intro, but by under a length. However, this was just her second outing after making a promising debut and the switch of surface could see her improve even further. Danger could be Andre Nel’s charge Spring Kiss who is seldom too far back and has dropped further in the ratings. She is generally consistent and should be competitive again. Zena Rose is one to watch as she has come down four points in the handicap and drops in class. Hearts On Fire is another who has come down in the handicap and her best recent effort has been on the poly.
Finally the De Kock’s send out the three-year-old Kanaal Skater in the seventh who has won three of his last four. He does take on stronger opposition but they are mostly well exposed older runners and he looks progressive. Best of them could be El Rey Viene and Bank Street.
El Rey Viene is holding form for Duncan Howells and he could be better suited to this shorter trip and rates a strong winning chance along with Bank Street who disappointed in the soft turf last run and Stuart Ferrie has him back on his preferred surface.
A tough handicap rounds off racing for the year and veteran eight-year-old Count Marsh could oblige. Robbie Hill’s charge goes well on the poly and S’Manga Khumalo replaces a string of apprentice riders which should help his cause. Cappallino has consistent form over shorter for Wendy Whitehead but meets a modest line-up from the best of the draw. Nine-year-old Purple Powahouse is struggling for his next win but is over his preferred course and distance and should feature.
