Andrew Harrison
RAIDERS have come to own today with Paul Peter, Corne Spies and Ashley Fortune all sending runners down from the Highveld.
Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy are often a deadly combination and they team up in the first three races on the Hollywoodbets Greyville card. The poly track is an obvious attraction for many out-of-province runners which gives an added dimension to the form.
The Peter-trained Space Race will have her supporters in the card opener after showing steady improvement in her three outings and she is the early 18-10 favourite with WSB.
However, this will be no push-over with the locals likely to provide plenty of opposition. Indigo Moon was narrowly beaten over course and distance at her last two starts and proven on the synthetic surface is always a tick in the right box. Umkhomazi is another that has been coming along the right way and from a good draw is sure to be in the mix.
These three would pear to be the principal contenders with Umkhomazi favoured ahead of Indigo Moon and Space Race.
Peter and Kennedy can have better luck on the second where Queen Anne’s Lace should have a bright chance. She was running on nicely over the distance in her last Turffontein outing and with a good draw she is heavily favoured by the books at 7-10.
Yogas Govender’s filly Siwa Oasis has pulled another wide marble but jumped from the same wide draw when going down narrowly over course and distance last time out. She has not been out since mid-December but fit and well she should make a bold bid.
Kennedy has another fine chance of making it into the winner’s enclosure when he partners Gavin van Zyl’s filly Rock Flight in the third, opening leg of the Pick 6. Lightly raced, she has finished in the money in all three of her resent starts, the last over course and distance when starting favourite. She can redeem herself here and is a strong fancy to get the better of the recently consistent Golden Duck who has had 17 starts with out a run on the board.
One generally ignores runners from the Spies Yard at your peril, regardless of their current form. Zernez is one of those runners whose recent form is moderate to say the least but she has been jumping from wide gates. She has a better draw this afternoon in her poly debut, a 2.5kg claimer up and the blinkers come off.
Peter and Kennedy team up with recent maiden winner Lotus who had been improving nicely with each outing before landing the odds in a work riders maiden. Peter appears to have picked the right race for her handicap debut and she should have a strong chance of following up on her maiden win.
Wendy Whitehead has been tasting success of late with the majority of her runners putting in forward showings. Monty Mariemuthoo, the principal behind Monty Racing, is a shrewd judge when it comes to buy horses in training and is also agent to Muzi Yeni who partnered the filly in her last two races.
In the fifth, Naoshima will try and make it four wins on the bounce and although useful this could be mission impossible. Both Wildly In Love and Magicallee are better off at the weights, especially Kom Naidoo’s filly Magicallee. She has been a touch disappointing since runner Naoshima to withing two lengths when last they met but is now 7kg better off. She is quick and the switch to the poly could bring out the best in her.
Wildly In Love has been dropping in the ratings but the experiment with blinkers last time out did not pay off and she was all at sea. The blinkers are off and a light weight coupled with a more experienced apprentice could pay off.
Umzinduzi has taken to the poly and Justin Snaith’s filly and take the step up in class in her stride in the sixth although she faces plenty of opposition. Ashley Fortune makes the trip from the Vaal with Raeesah, her only runner on the day, and she caught the eye when four lengths back to the winner over the Vaal short-cut. Lyle Hewitson stays aboard with a handy galloping weight.
The Spies-trained Decadent Lady is back over a sprint on the poly and must come into the reckoning as does Purple Moon Up.
The name General Franco, bought for a tidy sum given his pedigree, raised a few hackles with the inference that he was named in honour of the Spanish fascist leader. The early hype surrounding his ability has also quietened down and in 10 starts he has only managed a single victory.
However, he made a promising local debut when going down narrowly to the useful looking Spydas Corner and he could go on to pay some of his way this afternoon but is up against two hard-knockers in Good Rhythm and Coldhardcash.
Louis Goosen’s runner has been a model of consistency but lumps the grandstand in spite of apprentice Kyle Strydom giving him 2.5kg relief.
Coldhardcash had all the makings of a top sprinter before breathing problems surfaced but he loves the poly. Of concern is the 1200m-trip, which could find him wanting over the final furlong.
The last is an open handicap where iron horse Puchini steps out for the 120th time looking for his twelfth win. He is over his best course and distance but the likes of stable companions Theravada and Gentleman’s Way could be a tad too quick for him.
