Cosmic Speed, pictured winning the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe last year, can add the Gr 2 WSB Guineas to his Hollywoodbets Greyville record. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Champions Season starts on Saturday with three traditional Gr 2s which have attracted top class fields and the three to beat could be Gladatorian, Spumante Dolce and Cosmic Speed respectively. Read to the end of the article to see other exciting happenings at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the day.
In the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes Gladatorian has both speed and class as he has won at Gr 2 level over 1200m, was an unlucky second in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile and has won up to 1750m. He has drawn five out of the 12 runners and should make a bold bid under Sean Veale. Cafe Culture went close to the champion Gimme A Prince in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m and stays this trip. Lucinda Woodruff started her Champions Season campaign in fine style and this Var gelding is a big runner from pole position. Montien is a dangerous front runner who should enjoy the 1400m trip as one who was caught late in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate over 1600m after going out fast. A draw of eight will allow him some time to get to the front. Questioning is an admiral sort and has speed and the stamina to stay this trip, but does have a tricky draw of seven. Great Plains has won a Listed race over the course and distance and is drawn well in four. He comes off a good third in the Big Cap and is not far off Eight On Eighteen on Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas form, although his subsequent well beaten effort over the same distance in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate does put a bit of a question mark on that form. See It Again is full of class but lacks gatespeed and this is on the sharp side, so from a low draw this will be a bit tricky, but he should be running on strongly. The Real Prince, a full brother to the former winner of this race, Gimme A Prince, won in fine style over 1600m last time and looks to be coming into his own, but he has a tough draw of eleven. Royal Aussie is the Drill Hall trophy holder but is 3kg worse off with Gladatorian from that race for a mere 0,55 lengths beating so will have his work cut out. Cousin Casey was an unlucky second last year, but returns from an injury enforced layoff and has drawn widest of all, so is probably best watched on this occasion. Texas Red, drawn nine, ran a good third in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m behind two top class sorts in Main Defender and Cosmic Speed. He was 2,40 lengths clear of Barbaresco, who is capable of better than that a and has a fair draw of six. Anfields Rocket is capable but unreliable and has his second run after a layoff.
In the Gr 2 WSB Guineas Cosmic Speed is drawn well and should be fit from the Gauteng season. He is a weight for age Gr 1 winnner in open company over this trip and represents an in form yard. Eight On Eighteen has not run since back to back wins of the Gr 1 WSB Met and Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and his runner up finish in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guuineas over this trip might be a bit questionable as the winner One Stripe won with a lot in hand and proved that next time out when putting more than eleven lenegths between himself and Guineas third-placed Great Plains. However, Eight On Eighteen oozes class and is highly progressive so those factors might pull him through running fresh over this sharper than ideal trip. Sail The Seas challenged Eight On Eighteen in the Cape Derby, but the latter found extra readily. Sail The Seas was an immature, progressive type during the Cape Summer and should start coming into his own so could be upset material. Cats Pajamas is a Graded winner over 1200m and has class, but this will be a test to see whether he gets a mile. Isivivane has won his last two over 1200m and this half-brother to Gr 1 SA Classic winner Red Saxon will relish the step up in trip. Zeitz won the Gr 3 Politician Stakes in fine style and might enjoy this trip more than the 2000m of the Cape Derby, where he disappointed, so he could earn. Legal Counsel makes a big step up in class, but he did beat La Pulga over 1800m at level weights and that formline gives him a chance of being involved. On My Honor is held by Eight On Eighteen and Great Plains on Cape Guineas form.
In the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas Spumante Dolce has a tricky draw of eleven, but has a lot of class and improvement to come, so this Vercingetorix half-sister to Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water could come through under Gavin Lerena. Green Sapphire also has a tough draw, but is on the up and could still be anything. VJ’s Angel is a Gr 1 winner over this trip and is drawn in pole, but needs to bounce back from a poor run in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes over this trip. Oxalis Gold won the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m in fine style, suggeesting she enjoys the coast. She should relish the step up in trip on pedigree, although she did fail in her one previous attempt at this trip, but that was on the Highveld. Little Suzie is a progressive type and should be a player in the Champions Season, but she does have a tough draw. Scarlet McCaw and Give Me Everything could be players too, although neither has a favourable draw.
Aside from the high quality horse racing, fans have so much more to look forward to at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Stand a chance to win a 2-Night stay in the junior suite, including breakfast, at the fabulous 5-Star Radisson Blu Hotel in Umhlanga (worth R25 000) by entering the Independent On Saturday Race&Win competition which closes prior to the running of Race 5 at 13:58. The ever-popular Win-If-You-Lose draws, with prizes valued at R40 000 sponsored by Tote and World Sports Betting, will take place after races 3,4,& 9.
The professionally supervised KidsZone caters for the young one’s and if you fancy your talent as a budding race commentator, then you can try your luck in the “Karaoke Commentator’s Competition” which will take place throughout the afternoon in the Lightning Shot Bar – you never know your luck, you could walk off with 50” UHD 4K Smart TV!
The race meeting on Saturday starts at 11:40 with the running of the novel World Sports Betting Dash over 400m down the Hollywoodbets Greyville straight and, with a field of ten runners to face the starter, this annual crowd favourite should deliver another terrific “speed spectacle.”
It should be a cracking days racing in cloudy but not rainy weather conditions as KZN racing hails in an exciting new era.
