Devonne Govender (www.goldcircle.co.za)
Eight competitive races on the polytrack awaits punters today at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Structuring your bets correctly could be very lucrative in terms of making a good profit on the day. Wildeye looks the key horse in the Catch KZN Racing Via Live Streaming on www.galloptv.co.za Qualified Maiden Plate and could be one of the better bets on the card. He is the short price favourite at 8/10 and looks difficult to beat. Keagan De Melo is in top form and so is the yard and on top of that this jockey and trainer combination have been having many winners lately so there’s plenty to like however it must be noted he does come after a break. The nearest danger could be Elusive Dream however she is carded to run yesterday and was trading at 5/2 so it’s important to check the card changes. Word For Word is improving with every start and should be there again.
Sting Ray is the market leader at 33/10 in the first which looks a very open race. She’s got speed on her side and a plum draw. Gareth Wright rides Real Advisor, she’s having her third run after a layoff and looks a lively contender. Her Royal Majesty will show her customary speed as well and her last run was a tad bit disappointing however she did cut out the speed with Magicallee early in her last race which may have taken its toll. She is much better than her last run on paper and she will there on best form and so will Magicallee. Abbacadabra now gets a reasonable draw in a small field and should be included.
Techno Savvy ran a much better race in his last start. He has pole position now and could be some decent value at 4-1 fixed odds however he may shorten in the betting, another thing to take note of is that he has dropped in the ratings nicely .Warren Kennedy knows him well and another decent effort is expected.
St John Gray is in town and has Sound Of Hounds in the seventh. Her form is consistent and she looks to have strong winning credentials and a strong rider aboard. Patronage is holding solid form and could may well be the biggest danger. Cape Eagle is another who isn’t out of this contest and is another lightly raced individual and very capable.
At The Races
Wide-open race to start. Highveld filly ABBACADABRA won her only start in KwaZulu-Natal but disappointed thereafter upcountry. She is back, could enjoy the poly and do well in this contest. HER ROYAL MAJESTY is quick and has been knocking hard so could get her rewards again. But GIMME A LULLABY was finishing fast when not far off MAGICALLEE and HER ROYAL MAJESTY last time and could turn the form around with improvement to come. BECKONING BEAUTY is back on the poly and a 4kg claiming apprentice could give her the boost she needs. Like most others, she is capable of winning.
WILDEYE brings decent Highveld form into the race and could be hard to beat. He almost won his debut on the poly at the beginning of his career and could finally finish off from where he started. Three-year-old filly ELUSIVE DREAM was improving before being rested. She has drawn ideally and needs to be taken seriously. BUSH FIRE disappointed after a fair run. He needs to travel better but it could get close with WORD FOR WORD if he doesn’t. The latter ran a much better race with cheekpieces fitted, and even though he hasn’t drawn as well could keep on improving.
Duke Of Marmalade filly ROSE PRINCESS made no-show on local debut on the turf but she could show a lot more if taking to the poly. She has run with better in the Western Cape and has drawn well. BLUE SAILS looks a bit better than her last effort against males. She has a strong finish and could be dangerous if getting the race run to suit. LET’S NOT LINGER is back at her happy hunting ground and needs to be taken seriously. She is one from one over the track and trip. BELL JAR was in good form before bleeding in her last start. She could come out firing after a rest.
The two three-year-olds, WONDERING STAR and PASHTUNWALI, could fight this out. The former has shown potential and is still learning what it is all about. He is drawn well on the poly and should make it count. The latter has yet to race on the poly but his turf form is sound and if he does prefer it he could turn in an impressive performance. The one who has been impressing is ROY’S COMMAND who seems to enjoy Keagan de Melo’s handling. The combination are unbeaten but have more work to do as the stakes are upped. Experienced filly LIVERPOOL LEGEND is in good form and need to be considered.
HEY BILL finally rewarded his connections and it was a good win so he could follow up. He looks well placed. SYX HOTFIX won a gutsy race when switched to the poly but is not receiving a lot of weight from HEY BILL in his handicap debut. Could be interesting this finish. FINAL OCCASION has run some crackers on the poly and could be the upset package. TECHNO SAVVY ran a big race at big odds last time and has drawn well again so should be in the firing line again. But the biggest danger could be Highveld raider FLYING GRACE who was beaten in a close finish last time. He has drawn ideally.
FRENCH MASTERPIECE was dropped in distance last time and didn’t run to his best. Now sharpened up he needs to be respected from a good draw on the poly first time. RUNNING FREELY was running after a rest when finishing behind re-opposing SEVENTH SONG and LESLIES PATHTOFAME. The former has drawn in pole position again so should give cheek while the latter has drawn relatively wide. JET CAPTAIN disappointed after winning his debut in the Highveld. He may show more on the synthetic.
Highveld trainer St John Gray has two in the race and both rate with big chances. Three-year-old colt SOUND OF HOUNDS won his first two and was a close-up third in a race where the conditions weren’t favourable. He has scope but stablemate DANCE LESSON, a consistent four-year-old filly could also be anything on the surface first time. PATRONAGE could be best of the locals. He impressed last time, not allowing anything to get close and could complete a hat-trick of wins. PURPLE POWAHOUSE also won his last race and needs to be included in exotics.
After showing very little on the turf WINTER’S DESTINY romped away when trying the poly. It looks to have been the right move to bring her to KwaZulu-Natal and she could reward again, but will need to overcome the widest stall against stronger. FLOWER SEASON coughs on occasion and last time finished lame but she has run well regardless and back on the poly looks a livewire. The one to watch for big improvement on the poly is Highveld filly ZULU WAR CRY who came back to form against males, having dropped in the ratings. CAPRICCIO and MAID IN FRANCE have also drawn well – respect.
