South Africa Horse Racing Previews: GREYVILLE POLYTRACK@2023.01.18
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Poly, R80.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: The shorter 1200m may suit FIRE TONIC who just barely lasted 1400m in his penultimate. He was beaten as short odds favourite then on the poly. COTTON RON found FIRE TONIC’s stable mate Captain Rocket too good last time. After finishing second best he can go one better. Filly VIVIR MI VIDA did a bit much when returning to the poly last time. She can improve on that. MASTER OF DEFENSE has also run well on the poly and could be a better horse over the sprint distance. OLYMPIC STANDARD carries a light weight and has shown potential, so can upset.
Selections:
#2 Fire Tonic, #3 Cotton Ron, #5 Vivir Mi Vida, #6 Master Of Defense
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Poly, R80.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: SKY CAFE is holding form nicely on the poly. She found one promising sort too good last time but could be the one to beat this time. STEALTH ATTACK’s last form line when fourth is working out very well. However she has a wide draw to overcome after having the best of the draws then. Wide draws badly affected FRENCH PRINCESS in her last two races. She can get a lot closer in this heat as she seems to prefer the poly. All of ISIPHETHO, MADAME ZABRE and VERMACILLI could start to show more in a weak maiden.
Selections:
#3 Sky Cafe, #8 Stealth Attack, #6 French Princess, #4 Isiphetho
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Poly, R80.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: MVULAZANA is worth another try on the poly especially over the shorter trip. She is also 9,5kg better off with KINGSMEADS KRYSTL for a 1,20-length beating. LUNA ECLIPSE will be the one to catch as she likes to ‘bowl’ along in front but may be at her best over 1600m. Still, she must be respected. LADY MACBETH did everything but win her last start but could enjoy a faster pace here and may get the job done. KINGSMEADS KRYSTL and recent maiden winner PRINCESS JO have wide draws to overcome but demand respect. The latter has scope for good improvement.
Selections:
#1 Mvulazana, #4 Luna Eclipse, #3 Lady Macbeth, #9 Princess Jo
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Poly, R80.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: MAC HARDY gives the impression he would go better over a longer distance which he tries here. He has draw one and should have every chance. CRESTED EAGLE hasn’t run badly on the turf but is now back over his best course and distance and could give his connections something to smile about. COUNT MARSH has climbed up the ladder winning three of his last six and has been ultra consistent. But he is only 0,5kg better off with CRESTED EAGLE for a 1,60-length beating and will have his work cut out. HIGH VELOCITY and GENTLEMAN’S WAY should be right there on form.
Selections:
#1 Mac Hardy, #7 Crested Eagle, #8 Count Marsh, #5 High Velocity
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Poly, R80.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: BLACKWHITEDYNAMITE should be cherry ripe. He has run two good seconds in a row and it appears that the drop in distance was his downfall when beaten in a close finish by specialist Justaguything. SON OF SILK came on nicely in his second run after a rest to finish a length off the winner. He has drawn well again and should have no excuses. CAVALIERI is finally back over the course and distance he won his maiden over. He ran a nice race on the turf last time and could threaten. Recent maiden winners RUGGER BUGGER and ROY’S JULY MAGIC could improve.
Selections:
#7 Blackwhitedynamite, #1 Son Of Silk, #6 Cavalieri, #5 Rugger Bugger
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Poly, R80.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Tough looking lower division handicap and it may pay to go wide in the exotic bets. EBONY BAY didn’t show much prior to winning his maiden when jumping at double figure odds. He could follow up with a winning handicap debut. MISS LIALAH gets going too late but she too could run a good race in this field. RAVENS SWORD won a nice race before spreading a shoe last time. He also jumped from a wide gate and can only improve. QUIZ MASTER may benefit from a less frantic pace over further and could then get away. EXCEED EXPECTATION was rated much higher earlier on.
Selections:
#8 Ebony Bay, #5 Miss Lialah, #7 Ravens Sword, #3 Quiz Master
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Poly, R80.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: ACTION STATIONS did well from a wide draw last time and has now secured a plum gate. He is racing for a yard in good form. ARROW’S MARK held form nicely before a no-show on soft ground. He should benefit from a 1,5kg claim and needs to be taken seriously. FUNKY MUSIC may have found his last two races a bit short. He has won over this longer distance and could fire up again. MAJESTIC POWER ran a fair penultimate and had excuses last time. He could be the surprise package. COROMANDEL is another that has on and off days. He can pop up from stall one.
Selections:
#2 Action Stations, #4 Arrow’s Mark, #5 Funky Music, #7 Majestic Power
Greyville Polytrack, 18.01.2023, Race 8, Gallops, 1900m, Poly, R80.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: STRAIGHT UP rates the form choice. He can go one better after finishing runner-up in his last two. QUESTION MASTER turned in a strong finishing run after being switched off for a change. He could enjoy conditions again and can follow up even if the form line has not worked well. EXCEEDER ran below expectations on soft ground on the turf. He did feel amiss but is quickly tried on the poly where he has run well and could bounce back to form. GUISEPPI’S SONG is the dark horse. He caught the eye in the first day of the new year and could confirm. CHEROKEE TRAIL has potential as well.
Selections:
#6 Straight Up, #2 Question Master, #8 Exceeder, #1 Guiseppi’s Song
Best Win: #3 SKY CAFE
Best Value Bet: #1 MAC HARDY
Best Longshot: #1 MAC HARDY
