Punters face a tricky card loaded with tricky handicaps but there are still a few betting opportunities. One of these could be Frank Robinson’s mare Love Bomb in the sixth. She was decidedly unlucky behind War Empress last Wednesday as she never got a clear run and was finishing like an express train. This trip should suit.
Should she not run up to expectations it gets difficult. Lady Heist has slowly been making her way back to form after a break. She was second best last run behind the smart but not always reliable Malcom’s Dream but she gets a 4kg claimer aboard here and can go one better. Duncan Howells has two useful runners in Contra Fiscum and Mission Rocks. Contra Fiscum shed her maiden by eight lengths when making her poly and stable debut and the surface obviously suits. Muzi Yeni is back aboard Mission Rocks that has the best of the draw and is over her favourite course and distance.
Gareth van Zyl’s gelding Bowie looks a fair proposition in the eighth as he has been up against stronger at recent outings. He has the best of the draw and goes well on the poly. He rates the one to beat. The grey Voldemort ran into serious interference last time out and that run is best ignored. He did appear to be running on when badly ‘taken out’ and can do better here. Morgan La Fay takes on males but her form has been consistent and her last two wins have been over course and distance.
In the card opener Irish Luck gets first time blinkers and makes his poly debut. He has top weight but the Howells runner meets a modest field. Griffin Park has his first run for his new stable and has some fair Highveld form that should be good enough to see him competitive. Foreign Lady takes on males but has shown some recent improvement in blinkers while Shiny Silva has patchy Highveld form and makes her debut for a new stable. The tongue-tie goes on and she can improve.
The second is a difficult handicap but Stanley Park has been in good form in blinkers and Garth Puller has booked 2.5kg claimer James Lihaba for the ride. Clinton Binda has two live runners in Esquevelle and Dontshootthebarman. The former took on stronger at his last two and can do better here while Dontshootthebarman goes well on the poly. Donquerari and Lunarcam face off again where Donquerari 1kg better off on their last meeting. It could pay to load up in this leg of the exotics.
Blue Horizon is likely to start at the top of the boards for the third. Weiho Marwing had two winners last Wednesday and Blue Horizon made good improvement in first time blinkers. The stable has come well of late and a repeat should see her go close. Off Limits improved nicely second time out and making her poly debut. Louis Goosen’s yard is in mustard form of late. Joan The Wad will be looking to break a string of fourth placings and she could prefer this trip.
The fifth is another wide open handicap but Ancient World has shown some promise in his six starts for Mike Miller. He was close-up at his last two and met a promising sort in The Shepherd last time out. Sleek As Silk takes on males but has been close-up in her recent starts. Her last win was on the poly and the extra should suit. Laudato could be held by stable companion Banzai Pipeline but he is lightly raced and is two wins have come on the poly. Banzai Pipeline is both course and distance suited but got a three-point rise in the handicap for his latest win. Eventador and Cyber Time both merit consideration.
Goosen saddles Rodriguez in the fifth who goes well over course and distance and has been taking on slightly stronger of late. Sundance Kid has also been taking on stronger and not far behind. The extra furlong should suit Wendy Whitehead’s runner. Fireflare was a recent maiden winner but that form has been franked and he does look progressive while Action Stations was a beaten favourite at his last two and is over his best course and distance
The Hollywood Syndicate was one short of 50 winners for the season last FfWednesday and Purple Powahouse could crack it if nothing arrives in the interim. The seven-year-old is a little long in the tooth but has been knocking on the door of late. He has drawn well and loves the poly. Phaka Imali also races in the Hollywood silks and although he has a tricky draw to contend with, he goes well over course and distance and has been consistent. He should make another bold bid. Mccartney is 2kg better off at the weights with Phaka Imali on their last meeting. His last run in the soft is possibly best ignored and he has done well on the poly. Trafalgar Square does seem better over a furlong shorter but has not been far back at recent outings and has a money chance.
