Muzi Yeni makes a return to the saddle after breaking his collar bone in a fall last November and has two rides on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday. His first comes in the sixth on the seven-race card where he rides Off Limits for Louis Goosen but he may have to wait for his first win back.
Frank Robinson sends out the progressive Mocha Blend in that race and she could turn out to be something special. The daughter of Ideal World followed up on a promising debut behind the equally promising Meritorious on debut to run out a comfortable winner of her next start. Robinson looks to have a smart filly in his yard and she could prove a little too classy for this line-up.
Robbie Hill could will have other ideas when he saddles Queen Amina. She has the widest draw to contend with and takes to the poly for the first time, however, she made a smart handicap debut for Hill who has engaged Marco van Rensburg as her partner. English Primrose hardly raised a gallop when switched to the turf last time out and Gary Rich has her back on her favoured surface. She should put in a big effort judged on her previous showings. Deryl Daniels has been making the trip out to Richmond to ride work for Doug Campbell and he gets to partner Sascha’s Dream for the yard. The daughter of Flying The Flag has been close-up in all three starts since shedding her maiden and can feature again while Yeni supporters will be hoping Off Limits can get him back rolling.
River Dance has shown his best form on the poly and Stuart Ferrie’s runner looks pick in a modest line-up in the card opener. Bring Back The Magic has the best of the draw and has some fair form over the trip but Darryl Moore takes off the blinkers and has booked Rachel Venniker to take some weight of his back.
Ferrie could start his New Year with a double with Shesarocket who has her first run for the stable and makes her local debut. She has been well supported in the past when based on the Highveld and the switch to the poly could be what she’s looking for. Visiting Corne Spies sends out Radiant Heat who has a much higher rating than Shesarocket but has already had 16 starts. The poly could also bring out the best. Long Street has also been struggling to improve but Tony Rivalland has dropped her in trip and declared first time blinkers so is one to watch in the market.
Runners coming off Western Cape form won two races first up in KZN last Wednesday and Numzaan could live up to his name. He ran well below par in his last Kenilworth start but had fair form prior to that and Frikkie Greyling can add to his growing tally. Assistant Byron Forster has the Andre Nel satellite in good form with a double on New Year’s Day, both runners making their local debuts. Rafiki has been around for some time now and is in good heart. He has also won on the poly and looks a big threat to Numzaan. Future Saint showed signs of finding his better form last time out and has his fourth start for his new yard. This trip should suit.
In the fourth, Green Mile is a lightly raced four-year-old who has come to hand of late and comes from the much in-form Nel stable. He makes his poly debut but looks well capable in this line-up. Dean Kannemeyer sends out Freddy Slater who has disappointed at his last two after showing signs of improvement. He too makes his poly debut and will go close on his best form. Deserto looked well in need of his last effort when making his debut over a sprint. He goes a mile for the first time and is definitely one to watch.
La Vida Loca found a good one in Mocha Blend last time out, finishing a distant third when trying 1900m for the first time. She can do better over this shorter trip in spite of being drawn wide. One gate inside of her is the visiting Messalina who has been lumbered with top weight. She has shown signs of coming to her peak and should be a big runner in this field Maiden field. Dee Day is seldom too far back and returns to her favourite surface. The stable has a good record with longer-priced runners and this daughter of Lancaster Bomber could get it right this time around. Rachel Venniker stays with the lightly raced Miss Rebecca who has the best of the draw and can feature.
Ferrie could bookend the meeting as he sends out three runners in the last, best of which could be Hippocrates who is over his best course and distance. He has started favourite at his last three outings and last time out was no match for the much improved Future Flo. Tristan Godden stays with the ride. The grey Voldemort has been holding form well and the stable is in good form. He has the best of the draw to help his cause. Ferrie also saddles Lions Eye with stable rider Sean Veale aboard. He disappointed in his handicap debut after showing improved form with a switch of stables and he is one to watch in the betting. Fish Eagle has been in the money in all three starts for Gary Rich. However his recent form has been over a mile and he drops back to a sprint.
