Shoot The Rapids will be out to impress the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field panelists in the Gr 3 Winter Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Race Coast
The Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes over 2400m is a tough handicap for punters to work out the form. The race heads a nine-race programme at Hollywoodbets Greyville today where we have another turf/poly programme.
The Winter Stakes may well be a decider as far as a berth in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets July is concerned which makes for more than just added interest in the race. Enflame has done very little wrong in recent starts over ground for Candice and Tammy Dawson and should go close again and along with Tenpenny, is on the outside looking in.
Patrick Kruyer, long-time assistant to the legendary Terrance Millard, saddles Tenpenny who disappointed last run in the soft. But prior to that he had smart Cape form over ground.
Contracted rider for Greg and Gina Bortz, JP Van der Merwe, usually rides the Bortz-owned Native Ruler, who has good form in strong company, although he is yet to go this trip. However, Keagan de Melo has been declared as the gelding’s rider for the Hollywoodbets Durban July which would account for him riding Native Ruler in the Winter Stakes. Van der Merwe rides the Bortz-owned Tenpenny in the Winter Stakes and has his name penciled in as the rider of another Bortz-owned borderline horse for the July, Regulation.
Shoot The Rapids is another July hopeful looking to boost his form. Nathan Kotzen’s gelding stays well and was runner-up at his last two. Kotzen has booked Richard Fourie for the ride which is a big bonus. Holding Thumbs may just have needed his last run but this trip will suit Glen Kotzen’s runner better and he should put in another good shift.
Sean Tarry is a dab hand at keeping older horses on the boil and surprise package could be Future Pearl. The gelding has patchy form of late but he has dropped markedly in the ratings and on his day has the ability.
It is a highly competitive card with no stand-out bets so punters will need to do their homework.
In the card opener, Highveld visitor Tanareef found good market support on debut and although he was a well-beaten fourth it was in good time and from the best of the draw from a top stable he should be right there. Lenoxx was narrowly beaten last time out after being unlucky at his previous start but has improved with each outing and should now be at his peak. Just behind Lennox was Deonarie who made his debut at long odds. Drawn along-side each other there should be little in it. Kid From The South found some support on debut and was not far back in soft ground. Any market support must be taken seriously.
Sweet Green may be one of the better bets on the card. Justin Snaith’s filly was a beaten favourite at her last run after a smart debut. She has been rested but does look progressive. Pacific Mood has the widest draw but showed up well when racing green on debut. The experience should bring her on lengths. Queraristinyferari has only been firing on five cylinders and has been a beaten favourite at her last two. Her last run was on the poly and the switch back to turf could bring out the best.
In the opening leg of the PA, canny operator and former champion trainer Ricky Maingard’s runners are unbeaten since arriving in KZN and can continue that trend. The grey comes from steady Cape form and will be a big runner if taking to the poly track. Gary Rich is in a purple patch and Light The Fire was not far behind recent Gr2 winner Viking Leader in his penultima start and was second behind Maingard’s Pritti United last time out. Barry’s Boy was caught late when trying the poly for the first time and gets some relief from the saddle and will be a threat.
The opening leg of the Pick 6 is wide open but Wendy Whitehead holds a strong hand with three competitive runners. Best may be Definitely Yes who although having a wide draw he has shown up well in both starts from similiter gates at his last two on the poly. With a useful 4kg claimer aboard he looks to be the stable elect. Peter Muscutt saddles Little Boy Blue that enjoyed his poly debut and finished ahead of Definitely Yes but is now 5kg worse off in the handicap for a two-length beating. Nathan Kotzen’s runner Bangladesh won well first run back from a lengthy break. He does appear to have problems but fit and well, he looks progressive. Whitehead also saddles Gorgeous Guy who has dropped in the ratings and has the best of the draw. He has been consistent on the turf and the switch to poly could bring out the best.
In the fifth, Mohave Prince has won three of his last four starts and second on the other for Garth Puller. He got a five-pound penalty for his last win but Puller has booked Rachel Venniker with her 1.5kg allowance and he can follow up. Gimmefabulous has been up against much stronger at recent outings and takes on males again but looks capable in this field. Uzwano is 1.5kg better off with Mohave Prince taking in Venniker’s allowance but he has drawn wide that could make the difference. Officer In Command has been dropping slowly in the ratings but with a senior jockey aboard he should do better than his last two.
The sixth is a wide open handicap with only a few of the runners having tried the trip. Day Two shed his maiden over the distance and is lightly raced. He showed up well first run out of the maidens on the poly and the switch back to turf could suit. No Pressure was touched off last run and has shown up well in two starts since his maiden win. He should stay this trip well while likely outsider Intuitive Spirit stays the trip and has a light weight. He could be the surprise package.
There are many in with chances in the eighth but Cats Pajamas will be in line for some of the features in the next two months but he is a class act and the drop in trip and a big weight may not be enough to hold him back. Circumbendibus has come good since arriving in KZN and has been in cracking form of late. The trip suits and he gets 2.5kg relief from the saddle in apprentice Sifiso Bungane who knows the gelding well. King Of The Gauls has a difficult draw but is quick and cannot be written off.
In the last, Black Eagle comes with smart Cape form and Sean Veale knows him well. He was a beaten favourite on the poly last run and can go one better on the turf. Serengetti Sun is lightly raced and takes on males but will be a threat. She ran a smart race behind champion Asiye Phambili last time out and with a two-pound drop in the handicap she should at least be competitive in another tough race. Miss World made a winning debut for her new stable over course and distance and only got a three-pound raise in the ratings. She is ultra consistent and can go in again.
