Today’s meeting at the Vaal could see Highveld race fans off to a good start for the New Year.

In the first race over 1000m Due Diligence made a fair debut when plugging on from a handy position for second. She should come on from the run and is the best of those to have raced.

However, she faces a couple of well bred first-timers. Indigo Moon by Indigo Magic is a full-sister to the Listed runner up Prince Of Orange and is a half-sister to twice Grade 3-winner Astro News. She represents the flying Paul Peter/Warren Kennedy combination. Varina should have plenty of precocious speed being by Var out of Hidden Beauty, who won the SA Fillies Nursery and later finished runner up in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes among other successes.

In the second over 1000m Dubawi Princess is a strongly built daughter of Willow Magic and after a slow start was green and tailed off on debut over this course and distance. However, she took off late and was flying at the finish to close the gap to 5,35 lengths. With a better start she will be hard to beat. Tsitsikamma Girl should have precocious speed being by Captain Of All, whose Grade 1 wins included the Gold Medallion, out of a Listed runner up over 1000m by Var. Fire And Ice by Noble Tune is a half-brother to Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Mississippi Burning and he ran on well last time for third so could place again with first time blinkers on, although he does have a low draw which is sometimes unfavourable on this course.

In the third over 1400m Dual At Dawn is a long-striding colt by Pomodoro who stayed on well over this 1400m trip on debut and she is the one to beat. Friends Forever is a big horse with scope for improvement and can reverse form with Crazy Charlie.

In the first leg of the Pick Six Zig Zag has some substance and stayed on over 1200m on debut. She will relish this step up in trip and it’s not a strong field. Curious and Semper Fi look the best of the rest.

In the fifth over 1400m Nebraas is a big, long-striding sort by Vercingetorix and after a powerful finish over 1200m on debut she is going to be hard to beat here over 1400m. Trend Master has been knocking on the door and has faced some useful sorts so is also a must include.

In the next over 1400m Miss Khalifa is tipped without much confidence. Her best form over this trip is relatively good and she has Warren Kennedy up but she does gave the sometimes unfavorable number one draw. Oceania did well over 1160m last time and now runs over a course and distance she has won over. However, it is wide open and Maddox Tune, Peaceontherocks, Serendipity and as many others as possible must be included.

In the seventh over 1000m Lady Of Steel won well on debut and is the one to beat, although Florence, who has improved dramatically since a layoff could well get the hattrick. Anne Boleyn won well second time out and must be included and Tigermil and Malteza warrant consideration.

In the eighth over 1000m Land Of The Brave has proved to be best at 1000m as he has plenty of natural pace and stays on. The filly Seemyvision is in fine form and will be dangerous. Aristachus is open to improvement and with Gavin Lerena up can also be included.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m Moroccan Flame is the one to beat on her last good third in a Graduation Plate. The concern is she is still immature and was quite keen early in that 1600m race so will need to settle better over this step up in trip which will suit her on pedigree. Her good draw will help and Gavin Lerena stays aboard. Jive Express went close last time over 2000m off this same mark. Evening Bell will relish the step up in trip but has to overcome a wide draw. Those looking to play it safe can also include all of Jacko Boy, Always Red, Rabia The Rebel, Pretty Ballerina, Sammi Moosa and Destiny’s Game.

By David Thiselton

G G’s Dynasty is something of a Hollywoodbets Scottsville specialist. He arrived in KZN to join Brett Crawford’s Summerveld yard a maiden winner and seemingly having lost his way and his first local start did not give away much of what was to follow. But since then he has never been out of the first two in six starts, four of those wins, and three at Scottsville.

He was sent out a short-priced favourite for The White Horse Function Room Handicap yesterday and never looked like losing. Peter Muscutt, Crawford’s Summerveld assistant, said prerace that his only concern was that GG’s Dynasty was a small horse with a big weight but the gelding made light work of his burden, coming clear over the final 400m to win as he liked leaving Walterthepennyless and Williams Landlocked in a tussle for second with the former prevailing by a short head.

The Michael Roberts-trained filly Be Happy was another comfortable winner as Warren Kennedy punched her out hands-and-heels winning by an ever increasing 2.75 lengths. “I knew she had a big chance,” said Kennedy. “She finished just over two lengths behind Whizz of Odds and she is a smart filly who will probably be going for the features this season.”

Kennedy opened his afternoon’s account with Vernichey for Gareth van Zyl in the Maiden Juvenile Plate. The daughter of Vercingetorix put up a pleasing barrier trial and found mountains of support to start deep in the red. It was money not misplaced as she quickened away from her field to win as she liked. Ziva De Grace, who had the benefit of a race, matched strides in the early part but proved no match for the winner.

Favourite Explosive Beauty is proving to be something of a handful and blew her chances at the start of the third. It is seldom that Anton Marcus gets his mount left in the gate but Paul Lafferty’s filly gave her field start and although making up a lot of ground she could only manage fourth as apprentice Thabiso Gumede took full advantage of his 4kg claim to get the Louis Goosen-trained Uptotrix to reverse the form of their last meeting.

Calvin Habib is becoming a regular visitor to KZN and turned in a polished performance, producing Andre Nel’s runner Room At The Top with a well-timed finish to out-gun recent maiden winner Joseph Jagger and long-time leader and favourite Sea Sponge in the last few jumps.

Suzie Woo has been building for another win and replacement rider Gareth Wright made no mistakes as he kept Shane Humby’s mare fighting to the line; Bint El Malak and favourite Purple Persuasion both given every chance.

By Andrew Harrison

Sachdev at 7-1 could be the answer to a tricky-looking Cape Guineas at Kenilworth tomorrow when the appearance of Sun Met favourite Hawwaam in the Premier Trophy will be a major attraction.

Richard Fourie’s mount might not have the most obvious credentials – he flopped in the Cape Classic and was beaten in the Concorde Cup – but in fact those two performances hold the key to his chance here. His blood was found to be wrong – indicating an infection – after the Classic, so much so in fact that Justin Snaith had to ease off him and he lined up for the Concorde quite some way off peak fitness.

Yet he produced an explosive turn of foot and was only caught in the last stride by King Of Gems and the Concorde (together with its Selangor predecessor) is a good guide to the Guineas. With a better preparation, it’s not hard to see him turning the tables and even winning.

Snaith also has a strong contender in Captain Tatters who ran Silver Operator to a dwindling four-tenths of a length in the Cape Classic and looked the more likely of the pair to benefit from the extra furlong here. Yet he is a 15-2 chance and Silver Operator is 3-1 favourite, and badly drawn to boot.

Part of the reason is the reputation of his rider Anton Marcus and the five-time winning record of trainer Vaughan Marshall, but there is also the remarks they made in the immediate aftermath of the Classic. Marshall pointed out that it was the colt’s first run for seven weeks while Marcus said he should have sent the horse on sooner and that he will be far more effective on the summer course as well as suited to a bit further.

It’s worth noting that seven of the last ten Cape Guineas favourites have been beaten. That said, the race usually goes to one of the fancied runners and only twice in the last 17 years has the winner started at a bigger price than 5-1.

This year looks more open than usual. King Of Gems accelerated every bit as well as Sachdev in the Concorde and, although he started almost completely ignored at 55-1, there was no fluke about his victory. He has already been backed from 16-1 to 11-1.

His trainer Brett Crawford has his horses in top form and stable companion Macthief (13-1) was a close-up third in the Concorde despite clipping heels in the back straight. Interestingly Kilindini is the shortest priced of the stable’s trio at 10-1 despite being beaten at odds-on last time.

Sean Tarry saddles a quarter of the field (and he normally does all the saddling himself) including last Saturday’s big winner Pure State but Eden Roc is the highest rated and at 10-1 the shortest priced. He hasn’t quite hit top form this season but his trainer certainly has.

Merit ratings gained in Durban at two often don’t stand up elsewhere at three but it’s worth noting that African Warrior’s top-rated 115 was earned in the Matchem at Durbanville. Forget last time’s muscle-strained flop. The 13-2 shot is second favourite.

It’s almost impossible to see Hawwaam getting beaten. At least it would be if nobody told you what a terrible record favourites have in the Premier Trophy – all but two of the last 14 got stuffed. If you don’t fancy risking your money at 2-7 Twist Of Fate was only 1.6 lengths behind Hawwaam in the Daily News, he receives a kilo, is racing on home ground and his new trainer is on fire. You can get 13-2.

By Michael Clower

Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock look set for a field day at Turffontein tomorrow but with both trainers having multiple runners in all the races that they are contesting, it will be for punters to sort the pick of their runners.

De Kock saddles two runners in the opening leg of the Pick 6 with stable first-call rider Callan Murray possibly on the pick of the stable pair. Stage Dance has her third run after a break and has improved with each run. She should be spot on for this event. Victoria Page and Stage Dance both contested feature races last term with some success. Victoria Paige is the more consistent of the two but has not been out since July which could count against her. That said, Stage Dance is not the most reliable but is smart on her day.

Tarry saddles the filly Keep Smiling in the fifth and can put one over her male rivals given her light weight. She has hardly been out of the money in her nine starts and Tarry has engaged Warren Kennedy, the log-leading rider who can make the weight.

Spero Optima is lightly raced and followed up his maiden win with a good second and is the most likely danger while Owlinthetree found his best form last run but has to give lumps of weight to the filly.

Tarry holds another strong hand in the sixth. Montreal Mist just needed her last run and breaking through the font of the stalls before being re-loaded will not have helped. She had smart form before that and can get the better of stable companion Spiritofthegroove who has been trying further and may find this a tad short at this stage of her career. A Tarry trifecta is on the cards as Tropic Sun showed up well first run out of the maidens in useful company and cannot be discounted.

De Kock can return the compliment in the seventh where Vaseem may be the stable elect of his four runners. He was an end-to-end winner over a sprint last run but is his only attempt at ground he was galloped into. He looks ideally suited to this trip. Virtuosa won his last two and Alameery and Your Place Or Mine all look progressive while Al Borak is unbeaten since being gelded and will have his supporters.

Frosted Steel and Flying High look the principal contenders in the eighth. Frosted Steel has been in good form against stronger of late and looks the part while Flying High has been close-up in both starts since her maiden win and goes well over this trip. 

In the ninth, Curious does not have the best draw but was finishing off his race nicely at only his second outing and should improve on that effort. Akwaan has been consistent but now tries blinkers which could bring out the best while stable companion Ghalyoon had his saddle slip badly last run so that is best ignored. He has two useful efforts over this trip to his name and has drawn pole.

By Andrew Harrison

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The 1000-piece puzzle was once a popular pastime that often took days to complete. Punters face a similar conundrum at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening but do not have the luxury of time. They are faced with a tricky card but those that fit the right pieces should be handsomely rewarded.

The scratching of Cherry Road (cast in box) has robbed punters of a possible Pick 6 banker in the first leg but left the way open for Silva Magic who has come good since being put over ground and ran a cracker first up out of the maidens. In Jest franked the Cherry Road form by winning next time out albeit to weaker but she too should enjoy the extra.

The fifth is a difficult handicap over ground where any number of the runners have a winning chance. Gibraltar Green pulled up lame last outing so that run is best ignored as he was in good form before that. He has a light weight from a strong stable. Paybackthemoney put in a below par performance behind stable companion Merlin From Berlin last start but his best recent form has been over this trip. Just Cruised In has a big weight but takes on weaker as does Top Classman who enjoys the sting out of the ground. Merlin From Berlin took a hefty 12-point hit in the ratings for his recent victory and he could battle off his new mark. Je Ne Sais Quoi is a smart filly who should be at home over this extended trip and cannot be ignored in a wide open race.

The sixth is another tricky contest but Rocket Fire, although he has a big weight, has fair form to stronger in recent outings. He is down in the handicap with a good draw and is a must inclusion in all calculations. Truly Wicked has also dropped in the ratings and was not far back from a tough draw last time out. He jumps from pole here with Marcus up. Putchini made no show in his 100^th start but his form before that was fairly solid albeit on the poly but does go well for this rider.

Yaas was as much improved in first time blinkers last time out and jumping from a wide draw. She has drawn on the other side of the track here and could prove the pick in another difficult affair. Sarabi has done little wrong of late and has useful form on the turf which is in her favour. Starlight and Spring Burst are others to consider.

Johan Janse van Vuuren travels his runners up and down from the Highveld between his Turffontein and Summerveld yards and Prince Of Venice tripped to the Vaal for his last outing where he took on a bit stronger than what he meets here. Marcus up is an added bonus.  

The last could rest between Dispicable and Horoscope Harry although they face plenty of opposition.

Dispicable has a tough draw but does seem to be late maturing and still on the up while Horoscope Harry has won his last two and looks to have some scope. He has also drawn well.

By Andrew Harrison

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