Gladatorian (closest) just pips See It Again in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and this pair could finish one-two in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge too. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is the headliner at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday and with a top class field of 12 lining up it will be one of the best races of the Champions Season.
There are also two other Graded features to look forward to as well as two Listed two-year-old events.
There looks to be a lot of pace in this year’s Gold Challenge so it will be an intrigung contest and will give the closers a chance to come from off the pace.
Last year’s winner Dave The King started the season with two well below par runs at altitude, but after a layoff in which time a solution was found to his particular issue he bounced back to his best last time at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, easily winning the same 1500m race he won in the build up to last year’s Gold Challenge. He usually jumps well and has a particularly long run in, so his number two draw will suit his style. From a front-running or handy position he is let loose some 800m out and his massive stride then carries him resolutely to the line, so he is hard to catch when at his best. However, the jockeys of the opposition are aware of his strengths now and he is unlikely to have it as easy as last year when being sent for home rounding the final turn on the back of a slowish pace.
See It Again is full of class, but was patchy after his gelding at the beginning of the season. However, he proved in his last start over a too sharp 1400m that he is now over the gelding and back to his best as he failed by the shortest of shortheads after breaking well for a change and running on from a handy position. He is ideally suited to 2000m, but has beaten the best over a mile before, albeit in a Gr 2 event. He has drawn well in three and gets on well with his new jockey Raymond Danielson and the likely good pace in the race will give him a fine chance of winning over a distance short of his best.
Gladatorian beat See It Again in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Stakes over 1400m last time and they face each other on the same terms. He has a tricky draw but relaxes well and runs on well and enjoys this trip. This lightly race five-year-old might well have the race set up for him as there looks to be a lot of pace in the race.
Cosmic Speed beat older horses in the Gr 1 wfa HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over this trip at Turffontein and has the class to go close. Five times champion trainer Sean Tarry combines with leading jockey Gavin Lerena from a fair draw of five.
Montien is a top class front runner who will probably have no option but to seek the lead from a wide draw and he might give Dave The King a nice tow. However, he stays on resolutely and is ideally distance suited so is a leading player.
William Robertson has had a tremendous season over sprints, but this classy six-year-old packs a devastating finishing kick and has gone close over this trip at the tougher Turffontein track before, althought not in this class. He has won a Gr 2 over 1450m though, so is the dark horse.
Oriental Charm is a courageous handy to front-running sort and although he is at his best over middle dstances he won a Gr 2 over this trip earlier in the season in fine style. His wide draw might make it difficult for him to find a good position, so he is a contender to set the pace.
Great Plains was third in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and a narrow third behind Gladatorian and See It Again in the Drill Hall. He is a closer so is also a player especially with champion jockey Richard Fourie up.
Cafe Culture is classy and capable of staying on from handy positions over 1400m, so he is interesting in his fist try at further. His sire Var was a European champion sprinter and his damsire Dynasty was a champion from a mile up to 2200m, so he might take well to the distance.
Royal Aussie has finished third in the Gr 1 wfa L’Ormarins King’s Plate over this distance before and is capable of a strong finish, so will likely be dropped out from a wide draw.
Purple Pitcher is yet another handy to front-running sort and is capable of finding extra when challenged although he would prefer further.
Fire ‘N Flames can produce top class performance, but he is a touch outclassed here.
Gladatorian could have it set up for him and is selected to beat See It Again with Dave The King, Montien and Cosmic Speed next best.
The Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800 is an important pointer to the country’s premier race, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, and the field of 13 will mostly be out to use this race as a means of earning a berth in the Hollywoods Durban July, so it is going to be a keenly fought affair.
Pomodoro’s Jet is well regarded and ha proved why this season with three comfortable wins in succession from 1400m to 1600m. He was number 20 on the first July log and will need a big run here to book his place. He has only run three times beyond 1600m and was not disgraced. He is by July winner Pomodoro out of a Captain Al maiden who never ran beyond 1400m. However, he was only 3,20 lengths back in the July consolation race last year over 2200m, so should stay this trip from pole position.
Pacaya is well weighted on his excellent WSB Met performance and has a plum draw. He is none too reliable but has won a Gr 2 here over 1900m before so he could go close from a plum draw.
Madison Valley went close in the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein when storming through from near the back after jumping from a wide draw. He was then rested and his two subsqeunt 1600m races were intended to bring him on for the WSB 1900, but a nick on his back caused subseqeunt leg swelling and he had to go on a course of anti-biotics to get rid of the infection. He then ran a flat race in the 1900. He is way better than that and look for a stong finish from this rangy type after being dropped out from a tricky draw of eight.
Wild Intent ran a cracking second in the Gr 1 SA Derby and can confirm his high position of 15 on the July log, although it won’t be easy from a wide draw.
Zeitz had a cracking win over this trip in a Gr 3 three-year-old event in Cape Town, but he was beaten last time in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m in February and has not run since, so it is a tough ask from the widest draw of all.
Regulation is 4,5kg under sufferance, but is on the up and has a good draw over a course and distance he proved was right up his alley last time when winning over 1900m here in cosy style.
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. He found a handy position with cover in the 1900 before staying on but it will be harder here from a tougher draw, although Richard Fourie up will give him every chance.
Hotarubi is a frustrating sort as he does not always put it in, but on his day he has the class to be involved here from a good draw.
On My Honour has not been disgraced against top drawer competition after three wins in succession. He has not been tried beynd 1600m, but on pedigree he should stay being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a High Chaparral mare.
Thunee Playa ran a fair fifth in he WSB 1900 and is capable of earning again, although he is not as well drawn.
Litigation is perfectly distance suited and went close in a Gr 2 over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this season. However, he has not run since being well beaten in the WSB Met in January. He has not placed in two previous starts in Graded middle distance races at this course.
Ponte Pietra is capable on his day but is usually in and out and is currently off form.
Winter Games is in fine form but a wide draw is against him particularly as he has never been tried over this far before, although he has placed in lesser company over 1700m before.
They are selected in the order mentioned.
The HKJC World Pool Stakes over 1400m looks to be ultra compeitive and not an easy race to decipher.
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 over an ideal trip from pole position she could be the one to beat under leading jockey Craig Zackey.
The Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas did not pan out well for Oxalis Gold as she met some jostling early on, but she still stayed on quite well. She jumps from a draw of seven out of thirteen over a preferable trip and could be right there.
Bevie’s Delight has won the last three times she has run over this course and distance and although she has a tough task at the weights that can be alleviated by her good draw. She beat Sohot Sowhat by a head last time and is now 3kg better off.
Sohot Sowhat is officially way out at the weights, but she looks to be a potentially top class filly and can prove it here from a good draw over an ideal trip. Last time she raced in a much lesser class but after being dropped out to last from a wide draw she swept past the field to win by an easy 1,80 lengths and it takes a top class horses to do that at the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville circuit.
Green Sapphire was caught hopelessly wide from a wide draw last time in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and a line can be drawn through that run. Before that she won well from the front over this course and distance in a Gr 3 three-year-old event and from a good draw here she should run well if employing the same tactic.
Sovereign Grant ran on well over 1200m last time and has a better draw here over a suitable step up in trip, so she could be in the shake up.
Minogue is a classy filly who has won twice over this course and distance and she has done well in three runs after a layoff of nearly a year. She has a wide draw but champion jockey Richard Fourie is an eyecatching booking.
Scarlet Macaw has the widest draw of all but has a good turn of foot so can be dropped out before running on and might earn.
Summer Lily has some fine form over this trip in the strong centre of Cape Town but does have to overcome a wide draw and this is her second run after a short layoff.
Be Merry led in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guines and finished a 0,90 length third, but she will have a tougher task getting to the front from a wide draw over this shorter trip, so the race might not pan out well for her.
Callmegetrix has been in fine form in Cape Town. However, she does have a tough task at the weights with Scarlet Macaw on their last meeting over this trip.
Magical View looks held by Green Sapphire and she has a wide draw.
Sonic Jet look well held by Bevie’s Delight on their last meeting.
They are selected in the order mentioned.
In the Listed Ridgemont Devon Air Stakes 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 Listed Hollywoodbets Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes 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.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 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.
The tenth and last race on Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day is a class 4 handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and looks to be competitive. Daphne’s Daughter has some useful form in the strong centre of Cape Town and will enjoy the step back to the minimum trip, being out of a fast Var mare, so she could go close from a plum draw. Siesta Sunset was not disgraced in the Gr 3 Strelitzia stakes first time out the maidens and could make a bold bid here from pole position against older horses. Tara Star is knocking on the door and over a suitable trip from a good draw and with Richard Fourie up she should go close. Ayuwi Yuwi is in hard-knocking form and should also be involved from a middle draw. Million Voices has always struck as being a useful sort and he had a cracking win the last time he ran over this course and distance, but he does have a wide draw here. Midnight Fusion is capable and from a good draw might bounce back to form. Lady of Vix is better than her last start and could be involved in the finish here. Gaelic Dancer was not disgraced last time over this trip on the Highveld, but does have a tricky draw. Hurricane Cat is a speedy but limited sort, who will be distance suited and could earn a cheque. Ruby Rising won well last time over this trip in the maidens and starts off with a reasonable merit rating, but does have a wide draw to overcome.
Predatrice won well on debut but has been in poor form since then and will need to bounce back. All of her previous runs were on the Highveld and the coast can sometimes bring the best out of a horse. Jane’s Vision has dropped a couple of points so might be more competitive than recent, but a wide draw makes it tough. They are selected in he order mentioned.
In the first race over 1600m Matcha Mint is the stand out on form and has Richard Fourie up from a good draw.
In the second race over 1600m Plus Four is in fine form and could have more to come and JP’s Palace is a promsising sort who can be involved if able to overcome a wide draw.
The first leg of the PA is ultra tough, but the Chill In The Air has a fin form chance based on his last start and the other pair who make appeal ae Bombers In The Sky and Sacha’s Dream.
