Trainer Lucky Houdalakis saddled winners at Turffontein, the Vaal, and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in a single week at the end of January and is set to continue his good form at Turffontein on Thursday 8 February.
In Race 2, a MR84 Handicap over 2600m, his four-year-old gelding Battleground, bred and owned by Drakenstein Stud, looks a decent soldier ready to strike for the fourth time in his career.
A tried and tested stayer, he has won over the distance and goes into the race on the back of three very good runs in which he finished runner-up twice.
After two consecutive victories at the beginning of the season in Class C events, Battleground tried his luck in two Class B races, with mixed results. Houdalakis seems to have found the perfect race for his charge this time round and a big run is expected.
He does face a number of serious challengers, most notably Positive Attitude, Banha Bridge, and Arlington Action. These three have scored 14 wins between them, so know what it takes to get a nose in front.
Battleground gets the nod with Craig Zackey in the saddle.
In Race 6, the Brett Crawford-trained A Place In The Sun is the runner to beat.
She takes on a few strong boys in a Classified Stakes over 1800m, but is well weighted to be highly competitive. Desperately unlucky last time out, she was beaten just 0.1-length by Gilda Gray when trying this distance for the first time. With that experience gained, she should make amends.
Stable jockey Kabelo Matsunyane will be aboard this daughter of Flower Alley again and he does seem to get the best out of her. The pair
Mike de Kock’s La Moohal is the form choice in Race 7, a MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
This three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding boasts two runner-up finishes and a win from his last three outings, all over this distance.
He is still very much on the up since being gelded and rates a banker bet in a field which he is expected to dominate.
Clive Robinson
