Greyville has a nine race meeting on the polytrack tomorrow and there look to be a few opportunities for punters.
In the first over 1000m Rebel Rose has a lot of pace and is the one to beat having been unlucky last time against a good sort and having gone too fast before that also against a good field, both on the tough Scottsville track. Royal Rose is well regarded and is interesting dropped back to this trip from pole position. Aphrodeity’s Rain by Argonaut is interesting on debut for the often on the mark Wright/Delpech combination.
In the second over 1200m Soldier’s Bride was baulked late last time and can reverse course and distance form with Ichkeria from similar respective draws. The frustrating Burfi has a good draw over a suitable trip with a top class 1,5kg claimer up and the blinkers have come off.
In the third over 1400m Qeyaadah will relish the step down to this trip from pole position, having pulled over 1600m last time when just failing at Scottsville. Mr O’Neill will go close if settling better than he did last time from a wide draw over this course and distance. Without A Doubt has a good chance if able to find cover from a wide draw as the form of this talented long-striding sort’s last race has worked out well.
In the fourth over 1400m Black Hall Bar should enjoy the step down in trip and could win from start to finish under a top class 1,5kg claimer. Joy To Joy is well drawn and will be running on but strikes as one who would prefer further so might not catch Black Hall Bar like she did last time over 1600m. Film Star is by Black Minnaloushe out of a Galileo mare who won a Listed race at Fairview over 1600m and from a pole position draw must be considered.
Executive Power (Nkosi Hlophe)
In the fifth over 1400m Executive Power has a good chance if able to get to the front from a tough draw. Purple Mountains finished fourth in the Gr 3 Cape Classic over this trip and has now come down to a competitive merit rating so has a chance with Marcus up from pole position. He should have come on from his last run when a bit keen over this trip at Scottsville. Never Settle is well regarded and course and distance suited. Kiss Me Hardy is in fine form and should be running on. Sabadell was caught wide last time and with better luck could earn.
In the sixth over 1400m Arctica returns from a three month layoff, but he won well last time in his first run after gelding over this trip at the Vaal. The pole position draw will suit his handy style perfectly. Delpech is an eyecatching booking. Hyaku took well to poly last time when winning over 1600m and enjoys this trip, so should be right there despite a six point raise. Nineteen Fourteen is an honest sort who jumps from a good draw over a suitable trip with a 4kg claimer up. Tipo Tinto is better than his last run and should be running on after being dropped out from a wide draw over an ideal trip. Do Be Snappy should earn over an ideal trip if overcoming the draw.
In the seventh over 1900m Overly Impressed has always struck as one who would improve with age as well as a step up in trip. Anton Marcus remains aboard after the horse was given a mere 60 merit rating for her running on win over 1600m last time following a slow start. Lady Linda won hands and heels when sent to the front over this trip in a maiden last time. It would be no surprise to see her following up off a lenient merit rating of 64. Fashion Secret runs off a mark 28 points lower than her sand rating and strikes as one who would enjoy the step up in trip from pole position.
The eighth over 1900m is open. Zilla got going too late last time over this sort of trip at Scottsville and the strong jockey Sean Veale should suit her down to the ground. Ruby Gem gets first time blinkers on and proved she enjoys this trip last time when baulked in the straight at Scottsville. She is a galloping type who enjoys the poly and Anthony Delpech will help her overcome the draw. Jet Turbine is the one to beat if reproducing her poly form, but has to bounce back from a poor run on the turf. Aventurine set a slow pace when running a cracker in a KZN Breeders event over this trip when way out at the weights and a will go close with a repeat, but she is now drawn wide as opposed to pole in that last race. Sword Storm is capable of a strong finish from off the pace, so is likely to be dropped out from a wide draw. Tigeress Dance is bred to appreciate this trip and has a big chance if settling better than she did last time, but the concern in that regard is the tricky draw. King’s Lady can’t be ignored as one who stayed on over 2000m here in her penultimate start.
In the ninth, a maiden over 1950m, Sambora should win if repeating his last run over course and distance when way out at the weights against winners in a KZN Breeders event. The faster pace of a non-maiden race favoured him, but such is the strength of his finish he should be able to mow this field down in the straight even behind slow fractions. His good draw will help his cause. Mighty Mississippi could pose a threat as he looks likely to relish the step up in trip and as a galloping type he could lead from pole position and stay on. For Ever is widely drawn but can do better than last time when not finding the clearest of runs in the straight over 2000m on the poly and finishing 2,5 lengths behind Sambora.
David Thiselton
