David Thiselton
It is Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and the Jackpot will consist of three Graded races and a Non-Black type event so should be well supported.
The first leg is the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.
Crown Towers could bounce back to his best over an ideal course and distance. This horse needs to get to the front to produce his best as he can then use his big action and he is able to keep up a good tempo all the way to the line.
Last time his chances of reaching the front were scuppered by the horse drawn inside of him, Share Holder, who had the same idea and he not surprisingly did not run to his best form.
He is drawn seven out of eight this time and none of the horses inside of him are types who will want the lead so it could pan out perfectly for him and he should make a bold bid.
Tree Tumbo is drawn well in two and should be running on strongly at a course he has won at and over a suitable trip. Tristful ran second in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 last year and off a competitive merit rating from a good draw he should go close as he this will be his third run after a layoff.
In the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m, Zarina will have benefited from her last start when finishing strongly from a wide draw for fourth and she has a reversal of draw fortune with the horse who beat her by 0,30 lengths in the WSB Guineas, Freestate Star.
Wisteria Walk has class and this looks to be an ideal trip as she does have plenty of pace too. She looks to be the chief threat to Zarina.
Wylie Wench will be an interesting contender from pole position as she has pace and a kick and could well be better than her 99-merit rating.
Freestate Star ran on fluently in the WSB Guineas and can also be considered for wider permutations. Two others who warrant consideration are Zimbaba, who if producing her best is capable of mowing this field down. Rio’s Winter is drawn two and comes off a good fifth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and this trip should be ideal as she was runner-up in last year’s Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
In the big one, The Grade 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Seeking The Stars could cause an upset. He is capable of setting a high tempo from start to finish and should be cherry-ripe. His draw of two and Grant van Niekerk aboard will help too.
Rainbow Bridge has tended to run a relatively flat race in his second run after a layoff but has found the perfect partner in Luke Ferraris and it will be no surprise to see him fetching Seeking The Stars considering his outstanding Drill Hall win over a trip short of his best.
Jet Dark is full of class and although he hasn’t run since his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate win he did put up a fine gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville recently.
Belgarion proved when winning the WSB Green Point Stakes he enjoys this trip running fresh so is also one to consider.
In the Rising Sun Durban Dash over 1100m, Spyda’s Corner has a wide draw but is on the up and is capable of running on from off the pace so should be right there.
Speed Machine has class and will also be a big runner in his third run after a layoff.
Slalom Queen is well drawn and if bouncing back to her best also has a shout having dropped to a competitive merit rating. Captain Oupie has been disappointing in his last two starts but has a fair draw and enjoys this course so can be in the shake-up. Ziva La Winter has a far draw and is one from one over this course and distance so can also be considered.
