Turffontein-based Weichong Marwing, former champion and internationally experienced jockey turned trainer, spent many years under the guidance of South African training legend Ormond Ferraris so he definitely knows his way around a racehorse.
With his brother Weiho, a top class trainer in his own right, having stables at Summerveld, the Weichong-trained Purpleninjaturtle will not have to travelled far to the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Purpleninjaturtle’s last run was on the poly but the colt ran an absolute cracker when touched off by the highly rated and unbeaten Sovereign State last time out with the form also to be solidly franked. He switches to the turf but could still prove a cut above some fairly useful opposition.
Miss Arlberg jumps from the next door gate at two for Michael Roberts and takes on males. She was a recent maiden winner but has improved with every outing leading up to her maiden win and she gets lumps of weight from her male rivals. Peter Muscutt saddles Bevies Delight who has taken a big drop in the handicap and can do better than her recent form would suggest. Do not leave out of any exotic bets.
In the card opener, Vibe SA has put in three smart efforts for Gareth van Zyl including a narrow loss last time out and could be hard to beat. Gary Rich sends out possibly the biggest threat in Yannakis who ran no sort of race last time out. But that was his first run after a move to Summerveld and he has shown potential. Cotton Ron is battling but always game and should crack his maiden some time.
Sean Tarry saddles Lady Greensleeves who has been knocking at the door for some time now and possibly one of the better bets on the card. She is distance suited in a field with shallow form and should make a bold bid. Biggest threat could come from Minogue who has a difficult draw but has run two crackers for Wendy Whitehead, a stable in form. She goes the turn for the first time that may be of concern.
King Pelles can get the PA off to a flying start. He started at long odds on debut but came within a head of causing a major boil-over. He should come on lengths from that run and the extra furlong should suit. Of the others, Van Meijel has drawn wide but has put in two good efforts over the trip. He was a beaten even money favourite last start and can make amends. Bennie In The Area was second best last run to what looks to be a smart sort in Mexican Pete. He is moderate but should make an impression in this line-up.
If Benni In The Area wins, Gary Rich could make it a double with Free Will in the opening leg of the Pick 6. Free Will has made steady recent improvement and was a close-up second last time out. Rich appears to have picked the right race. Frank Robinson had a good August with seven winners and Lady Is A Champ ran the best race of her life when touched off last time out. That was on the poly which may be of concern. I’m Divine has shown signs of coming to hand on the poly and can finish in the money.
The fifth is a tough handicap but Richard Fourie and Peter Muscutt have developed into a formidable setup and they team up with Averni King. Touched off in a desperate finish last time out he can go one better. Pirate Prince has been in good form for the stable of Alyson Wright and jockey Muzi Yeni and was not far behind the highly rated Addabar last time out. Cyber Time got caught in a pocket last run and with only 49kg to shoulder virtue to apprentice Brevan Plaatjies and some luck in running he could oblige at long odds.
Princess Ozma has been around the block as far as trainers go but took on males last run and has also been up against stronger of late. The stable is in form and at best has a bright chance in the seventh. Mark Dixon will not have been impressed by the handicappers jumping Hot Strike up five points for a dirty fifth last time out but that was in stronger company than what she meets here. She has come to hand at recent starts and looks primed for this in spite of her handicap. Givers Grace is never far back and did well to stronger on this course last time out.
The last is another tricky handicap. Buster Keaton started at long odds last outing but was narrowly beaten from a tough draw. He has a better gate here and should be competitive. Winter Waves has had to navigate difficult draws of late and another here but he is never far back and has taken a three-point drop in the handicap. Magwinya has been improving slowly on the poly and can do much better back on turf while Drogarati has come down slightly in the ratings and with a 4kg claimer up can make an impression although his recent turf form is not great
