Owner Sid Moodley has placed his faith in trainer Frank Robinson and they are having some success. Cats Pajamas looks to have a bright future ahead of him and the combination can have a lucrative afternoon on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.
Robinson has another progressive colt in Field Marshal who took to the poly first time on the surface and romped to an easy victory. He was punished six-points for that win but given the manner of victory he looks capable of following up in the first leg of the Pick 6.
A danger could be the Mike de Kock runner Jaham the superbly-bred son of Kingman was a comfortable winner over the Turffontein inner track at just his third start. He only has 53kg to shoulder and if he runs up to his pedigree he should make his presence felt. Riccardo is an old warrior hunting his ninth win. He won comfortably on the turf last run and is holding form well but meets two progressive younger rivals. Robinson has a second string to his bow in The Mikado who has not been far back since shedding his maiden and with a light weight and first time blinkers he is not without a chance.
Robinson has a chance of a quick double with Amor Fati in a Maiden Handicap with very little depth in form. Amor Fati is lightly raced and although going this trip for the first time, his two best efforts have come on the poly. He should stay the trip comfortably and meets a modest field. Michael Roberts sends out the lightly raced Chill In The Air who has shown some ability. This trip should suit and he can challenge the likely favourite. Brave Bomber is showing signs of coming to hand and is one to watch in the betting.
One of the better bets on the card should be Head Girl in the first. She has been costly to follow but she is rarely out of the money and will not get a better chance of breaking her maiden. She has been runner-up at her last two over course and distance and the opposition does not stack up too much. Biggest threat could come from Paul Lafferty’s charge Glamorz who was a smart second to the consistent Future Flo when Michael Roberts dropped the winner back to a sprint. The was Glamorz first run back from a lengthy break and she should strip a lot fitter. Queen Of Ice was much improved with blinkers and a tongue-tie last run and can feature in this line-up.
The second is a competitive handicap but Masterbling has been in good form for Garth Puller since being fitted with blinkers. His last two wins came over course and distance and although he does take a rise in class he only got a two-point raise in the handicap for his last effort and comes in off a handy weight. Love In Winter has been holding form and goes well over course and distance. Happy Analia takes on males but showed up well first time out for Tienie Prinsloo. This will be her first try on the poly but she does look capable. Trafalgar Square is seldom far off them and a win would not be out of turn for Dennis Boch’s gelding.
It doesn’t get any easier from here on. Edge Of Tomorrow made a promising handicap debut for Nathan Kotzen when making her poly debut. The blinkers are back on and this trip should suit when she lines up in the fifth. Drive By is seldom far behind over course and distance and does not meet a strong field here. She is hunting her sixth win for Louis Goosen and can get it right. Blush Of Dawn was not too far back when back to a sprint. Garth Puller is never shy to race his charges over varying distances and he gives 4kg claimer Damyan Pillay a chance. Tony Rivalland sends out Swiss Parade who is better than her last run and regular pilot Mathew Thackeray is back aboard.
The sixth is another tricky handicap. Mike Miller’s filly Skytrix finished ahead of many in this race and there should not be much between them again. One of these was Fort J’Adore who was beaten less than a length. Wendy Whitehead’s mare is now 3.5kg better off and should be able to turn the tables. Poursomesugaronme seldom runs a bad race and was the ham in the sandwich between Skytrix and Fort J’Adore. However, she is 1.5kg worse off with the latter which could herald a turnaround in the result. Littleblackvelvet took on much stronger last run and was not disgraced. She is back in more suitable company but 4kg claiming apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto will have to navigate from the widest draw. Another to take note of is Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Lucrative who has won two of her three starts. She certainly looks progressive and should be included in all calculations.
Nicolette Roscoe operates Dean Kannemeyer’s Summerveld satellite yard and she saddles French Flame in the seventh, a Conditional Graduation, who has only been out of the money once in his last five starts. He was running on well behind the well fancied Forgiveness last time out and takes on slightly weaker. Heaven’s Will is drawn alongside and was a close-up third last run after being friendless in the market. He only has 53kg to shoulder and his last win was over course and distance. Salt ‘N Peppa showed up well when returning from a short break, also starting at long odds. He shed his maiden on the poly and the extra furlong should not be an issue. Savantrix has the widest draw to contend with but does give Kannemeyer a strong second string to his bow.
Alyson Wright is two handed in the last and there should not be much between King Bavarian and Wave Warrior. Wave Warrior was a beaten favourite when last they met and goes well over this course and distance. However, King Bavarian is 1.5kg better off in the handicap and has the better draw with Wave Warrior drawn widest of the 10 runners. Connoisseur is down in class and was a beaten favourite last time out. He stays the trip and should be competitive while Querari’s Dream is lightly raced and may just have been in need of his last outing. His maiden win was over this trip.
