Barend Botes, S’Manga Khumalo and Qui Pro Quo have been tipped to follow up on their Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship victory by winning the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
At The Races
1 11:45 AM – Tabgold Fm 80 Handicap
Hollywoodbets Durban July day has arrived – Bet with TAB, MASSIVE POOLS are expected, and Jackpot 1 starts in Race 1. Juvenile LOCK AND KEY gets tested against her elders. The daughter of Master Of My Fate could not have been more impressive on debut and Richard Fourie sticks with her. FLAMBOYANT FLYER has run some fair races on the Highveld and with a 2.5kg apprentice claim and plum gate could make a decent local debut. RANI OF JHANSI is getting there steadily. It looks the right race. NETTLETON could show more on the Polytrack first time. VIHAAN’S QUEEN can follow up on a gutsy win.
2 12:25 AM – Omoda Mr 96 Handicap
The first of two BiPots – get your bets on timeously. THE GREY KING has shown bags of class and may have what it takes to make a solid poly debut. He is unbeaten in two starts over the distance on the turf. PRINCEOFGREEN ran a nice race after a rest last time and could be anything on the surface. He has drawn in gate No 1 again and can take advantage. QUEUE WING showed something like his best in a race filled with class last time. He could be dangerous from gate No 2. DIANI should relish the longer trip while GOOD TRAVELLER could also be looking for it on the poly.
3 1:05 PM – Splashout 2200 (Grade 3 Handicap)
The start of TAB’s Place Accumulator and a healthy pool can be expected. Three-year-old HLUHLUWE is also carded as a reserve in the big one but if takes his place in this could show his class. However, he needs to settle better in the early stages. MASTER FUEGO could take advantage carrying 7.5kg less than his fellow 3YO. He has done little wrong. PONTE PIETRA would be deserving. MUCHO DINERO is capable, RED MAPLE can fly up again.
4 1:40 PM – Dstv Gold Vase (Grade 3)
The start of MEGA P6 bet – a whopping R20 MILLION pool is likely! DOWN TO BUSINESS won the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup in style and could follow up. He beat RAISEAHALLELUJAH by 1.05 lengths and is 0.5kg worse off and the latter has come out to win well so it should get close again. However, INDIAN OCEAN wasn’t far behind the pair and is weighted to finish in front. She runs like she could see out 3000m. EXPLOSIVE BOND has also given signs she has a decent race in her. She carries a light weight and jumps from a decent draw. NONE OTHER and ONE WAY TRAFFIC could also be in the fight.
5 2:20 PM – Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper (Grade 2)
Trainer Barend Botes has a powerful filly in the form of QUID PRO QUO and she could add this Grade 2 event to hrr Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville success. She may be hard to catch from gate No 1. GIMMIE’S COUNTESS looked a bit unlucky just behind QUID PRO QUO and is also a high quality sort in the making. She could get the right breaks this time. VJ’S ANGEL has turned in powerful performances upcountry but along with LITTLE BALLERINA who has won in both the Cape and on the Highveld, has to do it from a wide draw. Doesn’t end there, nice race!
6 3:00 PM – Durban Golden Horseshoe (Grade 2)
TRUTH will come out from a wide draw but he has been impressive in both starts and may still show how good he is. GREAT PLAINS has been amazing over 1400m, twice from wide draws and he should go further in time to come. But a wide draw against some of the best around could prove tough. The Gold Medallion form is tested. Winner of the Grade 1, PROCEED, should have no problem with the trip but he has drawn widest and will need a bit of luck. Stablemate COSMIC SPEED, runner-up in the Grade 1, could have better luck from gate No 2. Most are talented – watch out.
7 4:00 PM – Hollywoodbets Durban July (Grade 1)
The ‘JULY’ QUARTET is expected to sail to R15 Million so is worth getting involved in. GREEN WITH ENVY has done everything asked of him so far. Is he made of the quality needed for a three-year-old to carry 56kg and win over 2200m? We will soon find out. FLAG MAN took him to the wire but will need luck from a wide gate. SEE IT AGAIN rarely runs badly and has the class but will it be his day? ROYAL VICTORY has dominated on the Highveld and is drawn in gate No 1. He can win anywhere and he could do it for KwaZulu-Natal. Met winner DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE is one of many that can score! Get your bets on.
8 5:00 PM – Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1)
The Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes could be a rematch between RASCOVA and DOUBLE GRAND SLAM. The former had her way in the Grade 2 SA Fillies Guineas but there are other frontrunners that could spoil it for her. DOUBLE GRAND SLAM has drawn well and will have every chance. But the Grade 1 has attracted the best around including SILVER SANCTUARY who showed great versatility to win the Grade 1 TAB Gold Woolavington over 2000m last time out. RED PALACE impressed last time but she too is dropping in distance. If MRS BROWNING gets the distance she could be a player and so too game mare HUMDINGER.
9 5:40 PM – Post Merchants Stakes (Grade 2)
With Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint runner-up AT MY COMMAND and third-placed stablemate I AM GIANT having drawn wide the race takes on a open look and it may pay to go wide in the exotics. CRUISE CONTROL, who finished fourth in the abovementioned race, has drawn well and could enjoy himself up front. He should have every chance. MELECH, who wasn’t far behind could be the dark horse from a plum gate. Watch out for CAFE CULTURE who has secured gate No 1 and has Richard Fourie up. He is a hard one to pass once in front. TEFLON MAN and ROYAL AUSSIE must be respected. More can upset.
10 6:20 PM – Compendium Insurance Brokers Listed Handicap
Another race where bets like the Trifecta and Quartet should pay well. GET IMPRESSED did well to win over the course and distance despite over-racing. He may settle better and follow up. FORMAGEAR didn’t give of his best over further last time. He is dangerous over this distance so must be included. Stablemate THE SHEPHERD had Dave The King ahead of him and Royal Victory behind him last time and could stay 1600m. NARINA TROGON should have a big say on current form but that is if he can overcome his wide gate. ON THE HORIZON could be on the up. More with earning potential.
11 7:00 PM – Brentford FC Pinnacle Fillies And Mares Stakes
CAPTAIN PEG could be the value option. She has the form to run well over the course and distance especially as she has drawn well for the in-form yard of trainer Stuart Pettigrew. But SHANTASTIC has run two decent races in a row and would be deserving. Best weighted TROPPO VELOCE just needed her last run. She should come on in leaps and bounds and make a race of it. SHIPHOLIA loves the poly but again showed she can mix it with the best around and must be taken seriously. JUST BE LEKKER, WONDERFUL, LE PREMIERE and BALTIC SECRET need to be respected as well.
12 7:40 PM – Gagasi FM – Mr 90 Handicap
Nice speed race to end. CHOCOLATE SOLDIER is getting better with time. He should have a big chance from gate No 1 if taking to the poly. BLACK EGRET is proven on the surface and is holding form. He has also drawn well and rates a serious contender. Watch out for KINSHIN SHA who shows good pace and could be looking for the surface. He could turn the form around with AMBER ROCK this time but the latter is capable and needs to be respected. YAMADORI won easier than the margin suggested fitted with blinkers but has drawn widest this time. RIDE ON and ESQUEVELLE can be included as well.
