Andrew Harrison
Punters found winners hard to find at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. But the simple fact of racing is that lowly handicaps are the most difficult races to call with any certainty. Horses with issues – mentally and physically – but blessed with some ability, may be feeling their oats on the day and surprise both trainer and punters.
As celebrated short story writer Damon Runyon so famously wrote, “that’s racing.”
It started in the card opener. Top two in the betting, Seventh Song and Rodriguez, played up in the gate and both were scratched by the course vet.
This left the way open for all takers and it was the lightly raced Quest For The Best (14-1) who continued apprentice Thabiso Gumede’s hot streak for Duncan Howells as he sent the Winston Chow home-bred up the inside to a comfortable victory.
The third kept the starter busy as Mezzyoona burst through the front of her gate a fraction before the button was pushed and the call went out for a false start. The flagman in front of the stalls was already headed for the outside rail when the button was pushed but to his credit he was back in position and out with the red flag, none of the runners overdoing it.
The finish prompted a race review as Serino Moodley allowed the winner One Night In Paris to shift ground to the outside, hampering Sea Of Tranquility with Muzi Yeni forced to snatch up. Space Oddity was also a victim of interference. In spite of all the running around, the Stipes were of the opinion that the result would not have changed but Moodley will be taking an enforced holiday.
S’Manga Khumalo’s services are becoming more in demand on the local circuit and he booted home a double for Gareth van Zyl. Deep Global (9-1) finished with a rattle to claim the opening leg of the Pick 6 and a powerful ride saw Another Love (18-1) just get the better of Maidens Prayer two races later.
Smart William was the only tote favourite to arrive on the day under a driving ride from Donovan Dillon but was relatively easy to back at 22-10.
Ashton Arries is back in the saddle after lengthy lay-off due to injury and he added the final nail in the coffin for most Pick 6 tickets in the eighth. He took the shortest way home on the lightly weighted Rocky Coast (29-1) to score for Frank Robinson with favourite Fireonthetrack only getting going late to snatch second head of Double Gemini.
