One Way Traffic saunters home in the Gr 2 Vodacom 2200 last year (Candiese Lenferna).
The Justin Snaith-trained One Way Traffic will be looking to book his place in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with victory in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, although winners of this race are not assured of a place in the big one.
This five-year-old gelding comes alive in KZN and like most progeny of Dynasty loves Hollywoodbets Greyville due to his fine turn of foot. Last time out he ran on strongly in the WSB 1900 from last after being dropped out from a wide draw.
He will probably have to be dropped out again from another wide draw, but over this trip it should be a touch easier to pick them off.
In fact, he was dropped out to last in his career best performance, in the Gr 3 Vodacom 2200 on July day last year, and he simply sauntered past the field to win easing up by three.
His time was 0,79 seconds quicker than the July time that day.
He does have a tougher task here off a six point higher merit rating, but he looks cherry ripe.
The Sean Tarry-trained Future Pearl is a typically progressive three-year-old gelding by Futura and looked a future staying star in the making when waltzing home by 3,25 lengths in testing going in the Gr 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m in his last start. He was raised six points for the win but still only has to carry 53kg in the Lonsdale on Saturday. He had the blinkers removed for that start and they remain off. As a horse who won his first handicap over 1600m in comfortable fashion as recently as November, the step back down to 2400m should not worry him. S’Manga Khumalo is up from a fair draw of four and he should be a big runner too.
Shango is the sort capable of popping up, especially at this course where he has never run a bad race, and he is actually the defending champion here. He has a plum draw of three, one better than last year, and is off the same merit rating of 108. He won over 1600m in December to show he retains ability as a six-year-old.
Rex Union has a good staying record in KZN and was a narrow third in the Gold Cup last year, so he has to be a player here carrying just 52kg, although his draw of 8 out of 13 is tricky.
Sensico Unico has always had exciting potential as a stayer and this big son of Twice Over should be coming into his own. He should have benefited from his first start in KZN and is a runner here too.
Queue Wing enjoys Greyville, because he has a fine turn of foot and he only has 1,95 lengths to find on Rex Union from their meeting at Scottsville over 2400m. Queue Wing is entitled to improve from that showing, because it was his first ever attempt at a staying trip. He can be dropped out from a wide draw considering his turn of foot.
Aragosta is a former SA Derby winner. He has not set the tracks alight lately and has to carry top weight, but his class means even with topweight he can’t be written off.
Good Council has five lengths to make up on Future Pearl on SA Derby form and is only 1kg better off, but might enjoy faster going than he had last time and he is drawn well in two.
Raiseahallelujah has consistent form over this trip and is 3,5kg better off with Good Council for a 2,25 length beating in March, although the latter will have improved since then being a three-year-old.
Gr 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers winner Salvatore Mundi is an enigmatic sort, who is capable of producing a top class staying performance on his day. He does seem to reserve his best for Hollywoodbets Kenilworth though.
Otto Luyken has shown promise and although he is way out at the weights he is bred for this trip and well drawn.
Sea Master has some good KZN form up to 2300m and faces his acid test, although he is 1,5kg under sufferance.
Crimson King is 2kg under sufferance but if he recaptures his earlier staying form, which earned him a merit rating 17 points higher than it is now, he could play a part from pole position.
