Punters will need to do plenty of homework if they are to make any money on Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville card. That said, there is always opportunity in adversity.
Racing is on the turf and some competitive handicaps will be testing.
In the first Mia’s Athena found strong market support on debut and was narrowly beaten with the balance of the field well beaten. She can make amends for Duncan Howells with that race under her girth. Michael Roberts sends out Future Flo who has improved with each outing down the straight. Good draw here and rates a big threat to the selection. Kupholiwe was not far back when taking on winners last run in the Cape. Best of the draw and can make the required improvement.
Jade’s Caberneigh was well supported on her poly debut but was very green around the turn. First time blinkers and back on the turf she could land the second for Peter Muscutt. Visiting trainer Weiho Marwing sends out Regina Bellisima who improved in blinkers and a tongue-tie last start. She comes from a strong Highveld stable. Ladies Day finished ahead of Jade’s Caberneigh in a much improved effort last time out and a repeat should see her right there.
The third is a tricky maiden. Majestic Reign has drawn wide but has shown good form on this course. First time blinkers and can go one better. Fibonacci takes on older but was not far back in a Cape Town feature after making a fair debut. The stable is off the mark in KZN and from a good draw he should run well. Venerable was not too far back in two Cape starts when taking on stronger. He should have a strong chance on his best form.
A tricky Pinnacle Stakes faces punters in the fourth. Silver has been contesting Cape features of late and had had a warm-up sprint in first time blinkers and can do much better over the extra furlong. Quasiforsure is a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry and a win here will help his chances of making the final field. He comes off some smart Cape form but has drawn wide. Mister Master Starter arrives off a smart recent outing over the tricky Durbanville course. He has drawn a little wide but is in good form and Dean Kannemeyer is back from Cape Town to oversee his KZN yard. Imilenzeyokududuma comes off some useful Cape form and there may not be much between him and stable companion Quasiforsure. Pearl Of Asia has been costly to follow but had a difficult draw last start and was running on strongly so has an upset chance.
The fifth is a wide open handicap. Visiting Tizona made a smart debut for Tony Peter. He had shown some useful Cape form and although taking on a competitive field he could still improve. Kannemeyer sends out the lightly raced Rosh Kedesh is lightly raced and only recently shed his maiden. He does look to have plenty of improvement to come and is one to watch in the betting.
The sixth is another wide open handicap but Cheely Laddie has some consistent Cape form over the distance. He has a good draw and must be a strong contender. The Tony Peter-trained Suryavarman showed up well first start for his new stable. He is lightly raced and should have more to come while Shifting Path improved in his last Kenilworth run. Blinkered for the first time he could surprise. Asaruludu took on a useful field first up out of the maidens. He is lightly raced and should come on from that.
Eye Catching has been taking on slightly stronger of late and was narrowly beaten in her KZN debut for Vaughan Marshall. Back on the grass with a claiming apprentice up she can go close and hopefully help out in a minefield of a handicap. Diana The Huntress has the widest draw but won well at just her second start and looks progressive. Blazing Kiss is seldom far back and all of her recent form has been in the soft. With some firmer going she could be even more competitive. Alyson Wright saddles Fashionigma who has been close-up in her last two on the poly. She has done well on the turf and from a good draw must be in with a strong chance. The last is another wide open handicap.
Tin Cup showed signs of life when switched back to turf. The stable is in form and the form of his last run has held up. He has a good chance if he stays the trip. Veteran galloper Tom Bombadil stays the trip well and is holding form. He took on stronger last run and was a close-up second. Papa C was a tad fortunate to win last time out but he stays the trip well and the form has held up. Zakho has shown his best form on the poly but he did improve in blinkers last run and is one to watch.
