See It Again won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 last season after a fine second in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas. Can he bounce back to his best on his home course? (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Gr 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville is one of only two races in South Africa that made it on to the IFHA’s Top 100 Group 1 races in the world last year, along with the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, and it should do so again this year considering the quality of the field that lines up tomorrow (Saturday June 8).
The race jumps at 15H20 and has attracted a lot of betting interest, with See It Again shortening in to 9/2 at one stage before drifting this morning to 5/1 with the sponsor, while Lucky Lad came back in to 9/2 and the two joint-favourites Main Defender and Sandringham Summit both firmed to 33/10.
Main Defender has swept all before him this season and last time out was an impressive 2,75 length winner of the Gr 1 wfa HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, where he beat Dave The King by an easy 2,75 lengths. His exhilarating turn of foot will be a valuable weapon at the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville circuit. He has had an interrupted program due to being scratched from the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, but has always run well fresh and has a plum draw of three.
Lucky Lad produced a finishing run in a Gr 1 Golden Horse sprint over 1200m last Saturday which can best be described as breathtaking. He had no luck in running the first time he tried 1600m, a trip he should get on pedigree. His wide draw should not disadvantage him as he will likely be dropped out anyway, with the hope can finish as well as he did on Saturday.
Dave The King has run well at this track on three occasions from 1600m up to 2000m and he has become more settled as a gelding, so could do even better. He has an enormous stride which he likes to use and over this trip he is not going to be easy to catch in the straight. His draw of six should give him enough room to get to the front.
The 132-rated See It Again is at his best over middle distances, but he won the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes over this trip in impressive fashion after a layoff and will be out to repeat that effort. He has been working well following two disappointing runs in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and WSB Met in Cape Town, where is is surmised he might have been suffering from an underlying virus.
Sandringham Summit was an easy winner of the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over this course and distance as a two-year-old, beating Main Defender by two lengths. However, he was beaten last time out in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas over this course and distance, which summed up his season in which he has performed well, but not quite up to expectations. He has a fair draw of four and if bouncing back to his best can contest the finish.
Gimmeanotherchance has a lot of class and is capable of producing a fine turn of foot if covered up in the running, so a pole position draw is just what he wanted. He has consisently proved to be just behind the best this season, so would be a surprise winner, although he could represent good place value.
Snow Pilot won the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in a below par renewal. He was 0,30 lengths behind Sandringham Summit last time out in the WSB Guineas, so is up against it here. However, he should have come on from that last run and will give his all, although draw ten makes it tough.
Al Muthana won this race two years ago and was a 1,40 length third last year to top class Charles Dickens, but his form has dipped since.
Royal Aussie comes off a win in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at this course. He finished a fine third in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, when finishing strongly, and could earn here.
Cousin Casey has been a disappointment since his superb two-year-old season, but his second in the Drill Hall last time gives hope he can reproduce his best here back on his favourite stamping ground. He at last gets a good draw in a Gr 1, which adds further hope for his supporters, who will be expecting his tremendous turn of foot to be at its best.
Bingwa is capable of top class performances, but needs things to go his way and has his work cut out from a wide draw.
Gladatorian is in form and is a dark horse, because he is bred to go this trip, but this is the first time he is trying it.
Itsrainingwilliam is in good form, but this is a big step up in class and he looks well held by Dave The King.
The selection is Main Defender to beat Lucky Lad with Dave The King, See It Again and Sandringham Summit next best.
