Punters face a well-filled card on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. The programme is headed by a Graduation Plate over 1200m where Cats Pajamas looks the one to beat in spite of not having raced since winning the Umkomazi Stakes at the end of last season where he put a smart field to bed over course and distance.
He jumped to a 110MR rating after that victory and he looks very well in at these weights especially since Frank Robinson has booked Rachel Venniker and her 1.5kg allowance for the ride.
Cats Pajamas has improved in blinkers and given his last showing he should be the one to beat.
However, he is up against a promising Highveld raider in Buffalo Storm Cody. Tony Peter’s colt has only had four starts, winning on debut and most recently finishing runner up and a beaten favourite on the Turffontein inner track where he had the widest draw. He was beaten four lengths by Cats Pajamas in the Umkomazi Stakes and is now 3kg better off which should see the pair finish a lot closer.
Gareth van Zyl looks to have a promising gelding in the form of Luhamba Phambili who garnered a 98MR rating for his debut victory. He was well fancied last run in a Pinnacle Stakes and was far from disgraced when two lengths back to the speedy Lunarcam. He gets 3.5kg from Cats Pajamas.
In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Carl Hewitson’s runner Syrian Steel has made rapid improvement in her last two starts and was narrowly beaten last time out. However, Perfectly Picked has been knocking on the door for some time now and it could be now or never for Wendy Whitehead’s charge.
The fourth is a Middle Stakes with a number of runners in with chances. Red William has the best of the draw and the step up in trip should suit. French Trip showed up well first run out of the maidens and his first two runs for Duncan Howells have been top drawer. Richard Fourie was confident that Allaroundtheworld would stay a trip and Gary Rich’s runner gets his chance here as he goes 2300m for the first time.
The sixth is a wide open handicap with many in with chances. Pritti Victory has been holding form well since arriving from the Cape and is back over her preferred distance. Ubukhwebenzana has won her last two over course and distance and is on the up. She takes a steep rise in class but only has 52kg to shoulder. These two could be the pick in a tough handicap.
The seventh is another competitive handicap but Escapologist finally got it right under Cole Dicken who has a good rapport with the mare. It will be difficult to go back-to-back but she could again have the better of Petit Verdot who is hunting her fourth win which should not be far off.
Vihaan’s Queen and Off Limits are others to consider.
Bom Bom can round off the afternoon for Whitehead. He had a difficult draw to contend with last time out but was in good form prior to that. Pongola was much improved last run and will be competitive in this line-up. Papa C has a fair weight to shoulder but does come off a lengthy lay-off which is a concern.
