Who Blinked is a must include in the first leg of the Pick 6. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
The Pick 6 will be a big attraction for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting on Saturday at Hollywoodbet Greyville.
In the first leg over 1200m Vibe SA makes appeal as a perennial bridesmaid who found his feet with two wins and a narow second. He could still be ahead of the handicapper off an 84 and his last run can be ignored as he was all over them but could not find a way through in an 1100m event at Turffontein Standside. He has gone close around the turn over this trip before at Turffontein Inside and he is now drawn in pole with Gavin Lerena up, so should be right there. Who Blinked flew home over course and distance last time despite being caught wide early from a wide draw and overracing. If able to find a better position from a tricky draw of eight he will be a big runner. Position Of Power produced a late surge to win on debut over 1000m and will appreciate the step up in trip and off reasonable opening handicap mark of 79 he can be included. Those three can be the sole selections for the risk takers. However, for the risk averse more can be included. African Prince was backed on his KZN debut over 1200 on the poly and is better than that unplaced run based on his Cape Town form so should be in the shake up back on the turf with the man who knows him best, JP van der Merwe, now aboard. Northern Warrior has a lot of ability and can never be ignored. Isikwishikwishi went close over course and distance last time and looks to be improving, but has a tricky draw.
In the second leg over 1400m Educator won well on debut over this trip and is drawn in pole. Vanakkam has done well against useful opposition and gets a handy 2kg from the winners. Quickstepgal and Captain’s Envy fought out a finish over 1100m last time and should both enjoy the step up in trip. Littlemisssplendid has useful form and also has to be considered.
In the third leg over 1400m Tenjiku looks useful and is on the up, so should make a bold bid from pole position over an ideal trip. Malmesbury Missile brings strong Cape form and the form of his KZN debut is ultra strong, so he can go close over what should be an ideal step up in trip. Whispering Death was beaten by Tenjiku on debut but has improved since and looks full of class, although he does have a tricky draw.
THe next leg is the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and last year’s winner and Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King bounced back to his best last time out and will be hard to catch if his massive stride takes him to the front at around the 800m mark. See It Again is also back to his best and should be running on strongly from a good draw. Gladatorian beat See It Again narrowly in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Stakes over 1400m last time and they face each other on the same terms. The race might set up well for him as there looks to be a lot of pace and he has a fine turn of foot.
The fifth leg is the The Gr 2 HKJC World Pool Stakes over 1400m. Lucrative was on the up when winning over this trip in fluent style in January. She returns from a five month layoff, but trainer Dean Kannemeyer gets them fit and she is in pole over an ideal trip. The Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas did not pan out well for Oxalis Gold but she will appreciate the step down in trip. Bevie’s Delight has won the last three times she has run over this course and distance and beat Sohot Sowhat by a head last time and is now 3kg better off. Sohot Sowhat is officially way out at the weights, but her last start win showed her to be potentially top class. Green Sapphire was caught hopelessly wide in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and can bounce back over this more suitable trip from a good draw. Sovereign Grant should be running on. Minogue has class so can’t be ignored from a wide draw with champion jockey Fourie up.
The last leg is the Gr 2 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m. Pomodoro’s Jet is well regarded and has proved why this season with three comfortable wins in succession from 1400m to 1600m. He can prove he stays this trip here from pole position. Pacaya is well weighted on his excellent WSB Met performance and has a plum draw. Madison Valley has had excuses for his last three runs and is capable of a strong finish from off the pace.
Wild Intent ran a cracking second in the Gr 1 SA Derby and can confirm his high position of 15 on the July log. Zeitz had a cracking win over this trip in a Gr 3 three-year-old event in Cape Town, but has the widest draw of all. Regulation is 4,5kg under sufferance, but is on the up and has a good draw. Underworld ran a cracking third in the WSB 1900 and if it pans out as well this time he could be in the shake up, but he has a tougher draw. Hotarubi is a frustrating sort but very capable on his day and is well drawn. On My Honour has not been disgraced against top drawer competition after three wins in succession. He should stay the trip on pedigree. Those are the ones that make most appeal
This is just a guide, because taking all of the horses mentiioned maing all of the horses mentioned will culminate in a huge permutation.
