Spirit Of Levana was one of the standouts of last season’s two-year-old crop of fillies and she can make a winning seasonal debut when she lines up on the turf in the Beach Beauty Mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
Glen Kotzen’s filly has not been out since bumping champion Quid Pro Quo in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at the end of last season. However her form prior to that was top class. She has been rested but she gets first time blinkers and if she brings her A game she could be difficult to beat.
Barend Botes, who still has Quid Pro Quo under wraps, will know exactly what he is up against as he saddles Care Forgot who was a winner over course and distance last time out and she has been consistently in the money. She has a neat draw and Rachel Venniker is riding with great confidence of late. An unknown quantity is Mike de Kock’s charge Destiny Of Fire. She won narrowly on debut but gave the impression that it was a trip on the short side. She got a hefty 81 rating for that short-head win and the mile could vindicate the handicappers assessment. She’s A Machine won like a machine for Stuart Ferrie last time out and although she takes a steep rise in class she is fit and well and has a smart turn of foot.
Supporting the feature are two Pinnacle Stakes sprints over 1200m. In the first, the Servotech Pinnacle Stakes, Good Traveller is taking an age for his next win and got some relief from the handicappers last time out although that is of no consequence in this set weights event. His last run is best ignored after two forwards showings and he only carries 54.5kg courtesy of Rachel Venniker’s allowance so Michael Roberts should be fairly confident of his chances. Garth Puller sends out Captain Bombshell has a difficult gate to overcome but is consistent and could have the measure of Pray For Rain given that Carl Hewitson’s charge is a tad suspect over this 1200m trip. Common Grounds returns from a break and may need the run but Darryl Moore’s charge is more than useful on his day and if racing fit, should have a say.
In the MBET.co.za Pinnacle Stakes Quasiforesure is the class horse in the race and well weighted but Peter Muscutt’s charge has not been out since contesting The Mercury Sprint. He also has the widest draw to contend with but his class could be the telling factor. African Skyline looks well weighted when taking in the 4kg apprentice allowance and from a good draw he can be a factor. Proud Master is in mustard form and tries for his third win on the bounce. He does seem better on the poly but does have a good draw as opposed to Coin Spinner who was a length behind him when last the two met. Tony Rivalland has booked 2.5kg claimer Brevan Plaatjies so it could be a toss-up between the weights and the draw.
With nine races carded, the PA starts on the third race with hardly any form to go on which will make the first leg something of a guessing game and the betting could be your best guide. Whereverilaymyhat does seem better than his last two efforts on the poly and a switch back to the turf could help Alyson Wright’s lightly raced gelding. Got The Word needed his last run and can do better this trip with a run under his girth. The Golden Goal made some improvement for Doug Campbell when tried in blinkers for the first time. He had shown little up until then and from a wide draw he could struggle. Captainship is drawn one outside of The Golden Goal but did find some market support in a modest debut and can come on with the experience.
The first leg of the Pick 6 could fall the way of JP’s Palace who has shown up well in both sprints and Darryl Moore has stepped him up a furlong. He has finished both of his races off well and the extra should suit. Freddy Slater made marked improvement on his modest debut when stepped up to a mile. A repeat effort should see him in the money again. One Armed Bandit improved nicely second time out behind the promising Industrialstrength. Paul Lafferty’s runner should also enjoy the extra ground. Meerkat Moon has come on steadily for Mark Dixon and although a well beaten second last time out, the winner was quietly fancied in his handicap debut.
Byron Forster, assistant to Andre Nel, saddles Selukwe in the eighth. The gelding has been holding form well and was rewarded last run with a smart win beating Field Marshall who has since come out and franked that form in good style. The drop back to a mile should not be too much of an issue from the best of the draw. Duncan Howells saddles Kitchakal who ran no sort of race when favourite last run after showing up well first run back from the Cape. With that run behind him he can do much better this time around. Marco van Rensburg has been doing well since joining forces with Gareth van Zyl and Wiccan Warrior was far from disgraced behind the useful Gladitorian last time out in spite of getting lumps of weight. His last win was over course and distance. Spelling Bee was run out of it late by the well-fancied Forgiveness last start giving the winner 5kg. He has drawn wide which is a concern.
Mike Miller could hold the whip hand in the last with Warrior Royale and Twilight Bay. Both improved nicely at their second starts and both should enjoy the extra furlong. Judged on jockey bookings, Warrior Royale could be the stable elect. Terminal Velocity disappointed when favourite from a wide draw on the poly after a promising debut. He is better drawn here and although back from a break he should be competitive in this line-up. Mike de Kock’s filly Flying Hafla makes her local debut after two starts over ground and although well beaten she was in the money on both occasions.
