Trainer Johan Janse Van Vuuren will have a lightening raid at Greyville on Monday, getting in an out quickly with runners in Races 1 and 2 only.
Abbacadabra comes up in Race 1, a MR 67 Handicap over 1000m on the Polytrack and it would be wise to ignore the recent form of the Judpot filly as she seems to reserve her best for racing at the coast.
As temperamental as they come, she never showed when jumping from a wide gate last time, but she did meet top-class Tanzanite Queen in her penultimate start in a race which was probably a bit too far for her. However, she has won her only race at Greyville and although that was on the turf, her action suggests she could enjoy of the Polytrack this time, especially against a weak field.
Van Vuuren’s runner in Race 2, Wildeye, looks an even better bet. He made his debut on the Polytrack at Greyville and ran a cracker but has since disappointed after returning to Joburg. However, his recent form has a bit of quality and the gelding may have needed time to mature.
In his penultimate start he finished ahead of improving Captain Of Grit who subsequently won and should win more, and that kind of form should see him turn in a spotless performance against the low quality field he meets in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1400m.
It is interesting to see trainer St John Gray bringing some runners to KwaZulu-Natal as he rarely makes the trip. He sends three-year-old Wondering Star and useful mare Liverpool Legend in Race 4, a MR 67 Handicap over 1700mm, and the pair look capable of fighting it out.
The form is there but the stable elect looks to be the former on riding arrangements as S’manga Khumalo gets the ride.
Gray’s best runner on the day has to be Sound Of Hounds in Race 7, a MR 76 Handicap over 1400m. Like Wondering Star, he is a three-year-old son of under-utilised stallion Bezrin but one that has improved with each start. He was beaten as favourite last time but was not well in under the conditions of the race and was only beaten a neck.
Again Gray has a back-up in the form of another four-year-old filly, Dance Lesson, who runs like the poly will be right up her alley, but Khumalo is on Sound Of Hounds.
Flying Grace in Race 5 for Clinton Binda and aptly named Zulu War Cry in Race 8 for Fanie Bronkhorst could make it a dominant day for Highveld trainers.
Clive Robinson
