Dean Kannemeyer and Duncan Howells could go home with much of the spoils at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Both seasoned trainers have serous chances in five races on the eight-race turf card but as all seasoned punters know, nothing is ever that easy in racing.
Kannemeyer can get the ball rolling in the card opener with Real War. The Clifton Stud-bred son of Act Of War has made steady improvement and looks primed for this. Of concern is a wide draw but he should at least be competitive. Yogas Govender sends out Cosmic Captain in opposition and the gelding has not been far back in recent sprints but he does stay this trip well. He has a competitive draw and should be right there. Fortune Hunter made a promising enough debut on the poly for Paul Lafferty starting a lengthy odds. He has the best of the draw and with expected improvement he could make a race of it. Deputy Chief has shown some ability but was a touch disappointing last run. He gets first time blinkers which could see him make good improvement and he could be worth following in the betting.
The second is a wide open maiden. Michael Roberts has been puzzling over the best trip for Future Flo who often flatters to deceive. He drops from 1950m to a 1000m dash but has shown some form over the trip. A wide draw is not in his favour but sprinting may well be his forte. Kola Tonic was in need of his last effort. He has shown some ability and does not face a strong field. Mo King was doing his best work late on the poly last run but he was in a modest line-up so that form might not work out.
Howells’s afternoon starts in the first leg of the Pick 6 where he sends out Zena Rose. The filly has made steady improvement and the step up in trip will suit. However, she will not have it all her own way in an open event but should go close. Greenlitealltheway was a well-beaten fourth when making her local debut but will much prefer this trip and is one to watch in the market. Mike Miller’s runner Sweet Reunion is proven over the trip and has the best of the draw. Long Street finished ahead of Zena Rose when last they met but she is well exposed and her younger rival does appear to have more to come.
Kannemeyer appears to hold the key to the fifth with Spelling Bee and French Flame who both look well in, in this set weights contest. There was little between the two when last they met but judged on jockey bookings, Spelling Bee would appear to be the stable elect. Forgiveness takes on males for Mike de Kock and has her second start after a lengthy break. That run should have brought her on and she only has 52.5kg to shoulder. Plaza Accord was a beaten favourite last run and has been a little disappointing but the step up in trip could bring out the best.
The fifth is an open handicap with many in with chances. Gareth van Zyl sends out Vihaan’s Bomb who bids for his fifth win in succession however he is down in trip and judging on jockey bookings, stable companion Natyam may be the stable elect as he has run two good races since coming from the Cape and is more at home over this trip. Kyomai was struggling off a high mark on the Highveld but showed good improvement off a more competitive mark last time out. He has only his third run for Tienie Prinsloo with first time cheek pieces and only has 54kg to shoulder. Blackberry Malt has found form of late and although he got a two-point rise in the handicap for his recent second, he should be competitive again.
Another competitive handicap faces punters in the sixth but Princess Palace was backed in off the boards last time out and landed the gamble for Howells. She won well enough to suggest that there is more to come and can follow up. She’s A Bomber was well supported on debut and duly obliged. She makes her debut for Alyson Wright but has not been out since mid-June so may just need the run. Avernian Princess took an age to get off the mark for Kannemeyer but has not been out of the money in five starts. She was close-up in her handicap debut and from the best of the draw takes on slightly weaker. She’s A Machine has her second run after a lengthy break but caught the eye when racing over shorter last time out. She is one to watch in the market.
Howells has another strong chance in the seventh as Twenty One May ran a blinder on his seasonal debut, finish just under three lengths back to the speedy Lunarcam in a Pinnacle Stakes. The handicappers have not been kind and he now races off a mark of 92. This race should tell if they were right or wrong. Also off a high mark after just two outings is Boom Shakalaka. After one promising start in the Cape he was sent up to KZN to John Buckler and he made short work of the opposition in his Maiden win. He copped an 89 rating but has the best of the draw and can follow up. Of the older runners, Master Josh is back over a more suitable trip but does have a big weight in spite of Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance while Gorgeous Guy showed some of his better form last run and can feature.
The last could boil down to sorting out the form behind recent winner Rugger Lover with many of the runners finishing close up. Tara’s Star finished closest but Darryl Moore’s filly got a two-point penalty for her effort which should put her in line with Miss Ladyaterix and Icy Lancaster who escaped the handicappers axe while Grey Fantasy got a two-point drop along with Vision To Achieve who got one-point relief but has since finished down the field. Making most appeal is Million Voices who made a smart seasonal debut and looks the pick of the Mike Miller pair ahead of Grey Fantasy.
