Happy Verse has been tipped to win the Winter Country Championship 1500 Final (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Hollywoodbets Durbanville Saturday Formguides And Selections
Race 1
5 MAGICAL PLACE has run two great races in succession, this will be his first run around the turn at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, if he handles the track, he will be very hard to beat in this race. 2 DIGBY has been rested and gelded, he stayed on really well last time behind Rhydian on the 13th of May up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, if he doesn’t need the run badly on Saturday, he should be right there in the finish from a good draw. Majority of this field are first timers, watch the market closely, watch them in the parade ring, and watch them move down to the start. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 2 – 1 – 12)
Race 2
4 HAZEL GREEN showed good improvement to run a cracking second behind Wander Dune on the 26th of July, she is certainly improving with more racing, from a good draw on Saturday, she will go very close to winning. 9 ONE DANCE moved up like she was going to win in her last start behind Gimme What I Want, she finished her race nicely for second, unfortunately the wide draw in this race won’t make life easy for her, if she gets some luck in running, she will be very dangerous in the finish. 1 NEBULOUS ran a fair race behind Wander Dune on the 26th of July, she was beaten eight lengths by the winner, from a good draw, she could finish amongst the places. 2 MISS WILLIAM has been rested for 79 days, she is much better than her last performance, if she bounces back to form on Saturday, she could trouble them all. Again, watch the first timers closely, they are very well bred. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 9 – 1 – 2)
Race 3
7 NIGHTRAIN has run two lovely races in succession, he is a beautiful colt with lots of ability, if the race works out for him from a tricky draw, he will take lots of beating. 9 DELTA PRIDE absolutely took off to run a super race on debut, he finished like a train for second behind Sardinia Bay, if he can beat the tricky draw on Saturday, he will go very close to winning. 6 USA DANCER stayed on nicely for fourth on debut behind his stable companion, he will improve tremendously from his first run into his second run, watch him closely. 10 OCEAN SKY has been rested for 116 days, he has some fair form, the bad draw and the long rest will make it tough for him, but he could sneak into the Quartet with some luck in running. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 9 – 6 – 10)
Race 4
1 WANDER DUNE quickened up like a smart filly on debut, she was just off the speed early, and then powered home late to win a great race, from a good draw on Saturday, she will take lots of beating again. 6 WILD APPLAUSE won in terrific fashion last time, she settled beautifully in running, and then kicked on well to win by just under two lengths, if she can bring her recent form to Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the weekend, she will be right there in the finish. 8 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT stayed on really well late for third behind Wild Applause on the 26th of July, she is a beautiful filly with a great action, if she can get some luck in running from a wide draw in this race, she could easily finish amongst the places. 2 LHASA never really runs a bad race, she is honest and she tries hard, from a neat draw, she could earn some money for the connections. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 6 – 8 – 2)
Race 5
5 AZZURRI ran a good race behind What A Fortune over 1400m on the 15th of July, he finished fourth and was only beaten two lengths by the winner, he now drops back in trip to 1250m on Saturday, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be rattling home late, include him into all bets, he can certainly win a race like this. 1 SUN DAZED has been rested for 79 days, his last three runs have been excellent, from a good draw, he should be competitive. 4 COMMANDING could be the value play in this tricky race, he has dropped in the ratings nicely, he ran a super race last time behind Late December, even though he was beaten just over five lengths by the winner, he really caught the eye late, if he can bring that last run to the track on Saturday, he could trouble them all in the finish. 2 FORT RED could be the Quartet horse at a nice price, he ran a fair race on the 22nd of July behind Late December, he has dropped significantly in the ratings, he has a good draw, and he has no weight on his back. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 1 – 4 – 2)
Race 6
2 SHE’S MY WORLD looks to be a decent filly in the making, she ran a nice race behind her stable companion on the 26th of July, she finished second and was only beaten just under two lengths at the wire, the yard thinks highly of her, from a good draw, she must have a serious winning chance in this field. 7 PEACE OF MIND is much better than her recent run, she is very speedy, if she gets to the front with no challenges, she could be hard to peg back. 8 EASY MONEY looks to be in a great space at the moment, she has run some fair races in her last three starts, even though she tackles stronger here, and she has a wide draw to beat, with some luck in running, she could finish amongst the places with no weight on her back. 1 WORLDLY could be a nice Quartet horse from a neat draw, he ran a better race last time behind Mont Loisir on the 22nd of July, he has dropped even further in the ratings, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 7 – 8 – 1)
Race 7
9 ELEGANT NOBLE stayed on well to win a great race on the 15th of July at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he was given three points for that impressive victory, champion apprentice Brevan Plaatjies knows this individual well, if he can beat the tricky draw on Saturday, he should run a massive race, include him into all bets. 1 ARIOVISTUS won in tremendous fashion on the 21st of June, he was well supported in the market, and he quickened up smartly to win by just under one length, even though he has gone up in the ratings, from a good draw, he must be respected. 4 BATON ROUGE fought hard to win well on the 22nd of July, he was given five points for that gutsy win, even though he will need a career best effort to win again on Saturday, he is in great form at the moment, and he should run a big race. 11 KWITE A KING has been rested for 70 days, he never runs a bad race, and he tries exceptionally hard, he will be switched off early from a bad draw, and he will be doing some good work late. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 1 – 4 – 11)
Race 8
3 HAPPY VERSE finished his race off beautifully last time in the Grade 3 Langerman behind Absolutely Yes, he ran fifth and was only beaten just under three lengths in a competitive field, he is a lovely looking colt with plenty ability, from a neat draw, he will be very hard to beat in this field. 2 LADY LOOK ALIKE is as honest as they come, she is consistent, her form is rock solid, and she gets the services of Richard Fourie in the saddle, she must have a good each way chance from a good draw. 5 ARBITRATION was a touch unlucky not to finish closer to the winner last time, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be doing some good work late, include him into the play at a fair price. 6 CARRIACOU needed his last run badly, he finished midfield and was beaten just under thirteen lengths by Late December, there is no doubt that he will improve tremendously on Saturday, watch him closely as he steps up in trip to 1500m. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 2 – 5 – 6)
Race 9
5 WORLD WARRIOR finished powerfully for second behind Note To Self on the 22nd of July, he will love the step up in trip, and he gets a decent draw, if he handles the track, he will go very close to winning the lucky last. 2 YAMAZAKI has run two excellent races in succession, he moved down to the gates beautifully last time, his form is very good, and he is still improving with every run, there is no doubt he has a big winning chance from a good draw. 3 GETUPANDGO ran a much better race on the 29th of July behind Sierra Sagrada, if he can build on that performance, he should be amongst the places. 4 BUGLE BOY never runs a bad race, he should enjoy the 1500m trip at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, include him into all bets, he will be competitive. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 2 – 3 – 4)
