David Thiselton

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE’S FESTIVAL OF SPEED meeting is the only one in the country to stage a Jackpot of Grade 1s and this TAB exotic is always well supported.

The first leg is the Allan Robertson Championship for two-year-old fillies and Sheela, one of two possible meeting bankers, runs here. Mike Azzie called her the best filly he had trained since Harry’s Charm, who won seven of her first eight starts in the 1990s including two Grade 1s. Sheela, by new sire The United States (Galileo), has proved it by winning easily on debut despite being squeezed out at the start and then winning the Grade 2 SA Nursery against the boys, beating the talented Smorgasbord with the rest of a well performed field in a different race. In form twice SA champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo takes the ride. The chief danger could be another filly unbeaten in two starts, Sound Of Warning, who is trained by Sean Tarry, who has won a total of twelve Grade 1s at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. This filly recorded a faster time than Good Traveller, second favourite for the Gold Medallion, when winning the Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m here last time out. Stablemate Under Your Spell disappointed in the SA Fillies Nursery but had a tough draw and she had looked all class before that so can bounce back. SA Fillies Nursery winner Heaven’s Girl had been defeated twice by Under Your Spell before that but is improving and can be in the shake up. Super Siri has to be respected coming from Cape Town form. Crimson Causeway and Opening Shower are dark horses to consider. 

In the Gold Medallion Gimme A Prince, whose mother Real Princess won a Grade 1 at this meeting, hardly came off the bit when winning over course and distance on debut and won with ears pricked so he will be hard to beat and is the other possible banker. The Tarry-trained Pyromaniac makes appeal too having won both of his starts well and as one with stout breeding he should relish the testing nature of this course. It’s About Time won well second time out at Kenilworth and is the dark horse. Ambiorix, Gallic Chief and Irfaan’s Boy make most appeal of the rest.

In the SA Fillies Sprint True To Life is in devastating form and can produce her strong on the back of her high cruising speed to win. Vernichey was unlucky in the Computaform Sprint when just a length behind True To Life and she won the Allan Robertson last year so knows her way around this course. Winter Smoke finished a fine third against the boys in the Listed In Full Flight Stakes last time over 1100m here and should be right there.  Ecstatic Green bounced back to form last time and was a narrow runner up in the Allan Robertson last year. Sarah finished second to the smart Celestial Love last time and that puts her in with a shout here. Sweet Future was third in that race and has scope for improvement. Mind Reader is the dark horse as one who has blossomed into a powerhouse sprinter and although all her wins have been over 1000m she has often won going away. Vihaan’s Pie comes off a good win here. Singforafa, Gallic Princess and Tropic Sun are hard to ignore.

In the Golden Horse Sprint Battle Force is officially 2.5kg under sufferance but his merit rating is likely capped as he has been given maximum eight point raises for his last two wins. He is all power and is the one to beat. Vars Vicky has been targeted at this race and makes most appeal as the danger. However, it is as open as usual. Cartel Captain, MK’S Pride, No Laying Up, Chimichuri Run, Ultra Magnus, Bohica, Kasimir and Captain Tatters all warrant consideration.   

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David Thiselton

The Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap, run over 1800m at Turffontein today, is a traditional Vodacom Durban July pointer and this year it could fall to a horse who has already booked his place, the Stuart Pettigrew-trained ExpressfromtheUS.  

He has to carry topweight but regular physiotherapy has helped bring the best out of this horse and his class could carry him to victory with topweight of 61.5kg.

Chijmes produced a late charge over 1400m in his first start for the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard so will be interesting here if the same hold up tactics are employed from a wide draw as he is more suited to this trip. 

Bingwa is drawn well over a suitable trip. He is capable of winning this, having won two of his last three starts and having finished third in the Dingaans and fifth to top three-year-olds four times this season.

Running Brave has Greg Cheyne aboard, a hint that he will ride her in the July. Her last run was all wrong as she did not break well and then took hold of the bit and over-raced. When she settles in front of smallish fields like this, she proves difficult to overtake, so she has a fine chance if bouncing back to her best.

Johnny Hero has a fair draw over a suitable trip and has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight so he also has to be included.

Green Haze lost by a quarter of a length to Johnny Hero last time over this trip on the Inside track and is half-a-kilogram worse off if apprentice claims are ignored and 3kg worse off is they are considered. However, there is a reversal in draw fortunes as he is now drawn in pole. He has won over this course and distance before.

Jet Start is an in and out horse but if it pans out well for her she can beat fields like this. However, a wide draw does not augur well for her.

Pack Leader has become as disappointing on the Highveld as he was in the Cape and KZN but he does have the ability so is another who can’t be ignored.

Shango is a former Dingaans winner who has been beset by problems since then. However, he has his third start after a long rest and gelding so is another who is difficult to ignore. Christopher Robin has not been seen since February but is course and distance suited. He enjoys rain softened ground but is unlikely to get it according to the sunny weather forecast. Oyster King has improved but is way out at the weights and will have to improve again.

David Thiselton

THERE were doubles for  riders Lyle Hewitson, Richard Fourie and S’Manga Khumalo and for the yards of Wayne Badenhorst/Barbara Kennedy and Robbie and Shannon Hill at the eight race Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting yesterday.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1500m, saw a jockey strike with Hewitson extracting extra out of the Glen Kotzen-trained Elusive Fort gelding Bush Tracker to beat the odds-on favourite Hasta Manana. Both had performed well against promising horses before but on a line through Chollima it had pointed to Hasta Manana, who now has three seconds from three starts.

In the second the Badenhorst/Kennedy-trained 20/1 shot Capetown Beauty ran without cover in second place but she must have been relaxed in the good hands of champion apprentice elect Kyle Strydom as she found extra late to win by 0,60 lengths from the running on outsider Ballygood with 91/20 first-timer Alittlebitnaughty next best.

Badenhorst/Kennedy then made it a quick double when Owlette came from the box seat to win the 1400m fillies and mares Maiden comfortably in her third start at odds of 25/4, beating the 2/1 fabourite Bella Siccome by 1,10 lengths, under Ryan Munger.

In the next, a fillies and mares maiden plate over 1000m, the often placed Paul Gadsby-trained Airbuzz found a strong finish to win comfortably at the 12th time of asking at 25/4 odds under Fourie.

S’Manga Khumalo gave the Tienie Prinsloo-trained Miss Generosity a finely judged front-running ride in the next over 1000m to win by 0,40 lengths at odds of 91/20.

Hewitson claimed his double in the next over 2000m when extracting extra from the Hill-trained Deorsa in an exciting duel in the closing stages to win by 0,40 lengths at odds of 5/3.

The Hills scored a quick double in the next over 1700m when Fourie rode a superb front-running race on Sea Master to win easily. The once much touted Lion’s Head’s win last time proved to be a false dawn as he was back to his disappointing ways and finished unplaced.

Khumalo was at his best in the last over 1200m on the Nathan Kotzen-trained Loving The Victory as he eased her around the field from a wide draw and her wide run did not stop her winning by 3,10 lengths at the tenth time of asking at odds of 20/11.

David Thiselton

THE Vaal straight course has an interesting eight race meeting today.

Raising A Storm ran on well when stepped up to this trip last time and her high draw might be favourable so she looks the one to beat under the good workrider Joe Gwingwizha. PIck A Lily is by speed influence Willow Magic out of a Kahal half-sister to the Grade 1 Champions Challenge winner Pick Six, so she has a chance of enjoying the step up in trip having landed a few moderate places over sprint trips. Zulu Warcry has become consistent at this level and stays the trip so could also be in the shake up. 

In the second race Bella Chica has plenty of speed and will relish the step down in trip. She has a 4kg claimer up and could land her second career win. Team Gold kicked on well from the front to win second time out and can reverse form with the horse who beat him narrowly on debut, Bronco Blitz. Aunty Lizzy was green when beating an uninspiring field on debut and looks capable of improvement. 

In the third over 1000m Cold Fact, a winner of her first two starts, can bounce back to winning ways as this is her easiest task since then despite having to carry topweight. Social Image also has her easiest task for some time and is capable of blitzing a field over this trip so will be a big threat, although Cold Fact did beat her at these same weights by 3,75 lengths over 1100m. On Cue should enjoy the step down in trip and is another in with a winning chance. 

In the fourth race over 1400m the in form Mike de Kock yard can claim another victory through Power Ranger, who is by Silvano out of the SA Oaks winner Pine Princess. He is a full brother to the unbeaten two-year-old Pyromaniac and has a nice middle to high draw over a step up in trip he will relish. Grimaldi is talented but has issues and this trip is probably his optimum so he is also one to include from a high draw. Light Warrior has the ability to run on well over this trip, especially if finding cover and with Khumalo up should be right there too.

In the fifth race over 2800m Zeal And Zest won well in his first start for Barend Botes over 2400m and although carrying topweight he is officially the best weighted horse in this Middle Stakes event so can follow up. However, beyond him it is wide open although one to note is the front-running Brand New Cadillac who will have an opportunity to dictate from pole position. 

In the sixth over 1000m Ace Of Spades is a progressive sort who looks capable of rising above his current mark of 83. Retallick is a two-year-old but is a big horse who can mix it with the three-year-olds here having done well against his own age group. Lagertha is ultra consistent and should be right there again for an in form yard with Khumalo, who has won twice on her, aboard. Country Squire is also capable of being in the shake up as the form of his win over this course and distance in March has worked out well. Touch Of Fate should have benefited from his last start and Yeni is an eyecatching booking, so he can feature over his optimum trip. 

In the seventh over 1000m Bold Ransom is the joint second best weighted and was not disgraced in the Computaform Sprint so he can make it three wins in three starts over this course and distance. Epic Dream is another one who has to be considered with a 2.5kg claimer aboard over a course and distance he has won over as he is only 1kg under sufferance with Bold Ransom if the claim is ignored. Double “O” Eight has plenty of pace and a good kick so is also going to be dangerous as one of the joint second best weighted runners. Rivarine is the best weighted runner and although he finished last in the defence of his Computaform Sprint title he can feature back at this level where his good cruising sped followed by his devastating turn of foot will be more impactful. Valyrian King is pacey and can never be ignored at this fast track. Mombela is capable of running on  strongly and is another to consider. 

In the last race over 1400m Now You See Me has proven herself competitive off her current sort of mark and she looks the one to beat, although her draw of five in a 16 horse field could be tricky. Little Rain is distance suited and should be in the shake up too.  Dubawi Princes has always struck as one who would enjoy this trip so now that she is in a good vein of form she is interesting stepped up to it again. Me Time could be a runner too if low draws are not disadvantageous. Bebop is another with a low draw who has a form chance. Big City Girl, Laetitia’s Angel and Milan’s Princess warrant consideration too.    

David Thiselton

JOINT VODACOM DURBAN JULY favourite Got The Greenlight will not have another run before the big race and will thus have to defy 87 years of July history as the 1934 winner Sun Tor was the last horse to have come back from a longer break to win the big race.

However this bit of trivia does not overly concern trainer Joe Soma.

Got The Greenlight will have been off the track for 63 days (9 weeks) by the time of the race on July 3, having not been seen since winning the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on May 1.

Sun Tor’s previous race before winning the July on July 7 1934 was on January 27 1934, when finishing eleventh in a one mile handicap at the Auckland Park race track, meaning a break of 161 days (23 weeks).

Sun Tor was trained by Jackie Angles and ridden to July glory by fourteen-year-old Albert Rugg, who is the late Uncle of current Port Elizabeth trainer Duncan McKenzie and the grandfather of another PE-based trainer Jarett Rugg.

Soma was quick to point out Wylie Hall, first across the line on July 5 2014 before losing the race on a controversial upheld objection, had gone into the race straight from his fourth place finish in the Champions Challenge on April 26, a break of 70 days (10 weeks).

Got The Greenlight put in a good gallop on Sunday and Soma added he was very well.

He would have liked to have got another run into him but there was no suitable race.

He said, “There is a 1400m Pinnacle Plate, but that would not make sense to run in, it would just be putting him at risk. Then there is a 2400m Pinnacle which would obviously not be an option. There is The Jubilee but he would have had to carry 64kg. Perhaps The Jubilee should be made into a conditions race because as a handicap it is just catering for lowly rated horses to try and get into the July. There is also of course the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but winning that almost automatically makes you the July topweight. After winning the appeal against his merit rating I could not put him in the Gold Challenge. I might be mad but I’m not stupid!”

Soma said his aim until the July gallops on June 24 was too just keep the horse sound and happy and not do anything out of the ordinary.

He said whether he was going in off a one month break or a two month break he would be confident of having him at this best on the day.

He added, “The forced layoff might be a blessing in disguise. I don’t think the July on the new narrower track with 18 horses is as hard a race as it used to be.”

The bay has only had three runs the whole season so is going to come in fresher than a most of the opposition.

Furthermore, Soma confirmed Got The Greenlight continues to improve both in performance and as a specimen.

He said, “He is filling out into his frame and has improved especially through the middle and in the quarter.”

Soma is also proud of another accolade that can be bestowed on Got The Greenlight and that is being the first horse for many years to win Grade 1s as an entire at the ages of two, three and four. The last to have done this was probably Quarrytown between 1979 and 1981 and greats to have achieved or surpassed that feat include Sea Cottage (every year from two to five), Elevation (every year from two to six) and Archangel (every year from two to five).

Got The Greenlight has stayed on a 124 merit rating despite winning two Grade 1s in his last two races so looks to be well handicapped. He is effectively carrying only half-a-kilogram more than he did last year as he carries 55kg this year as opposed to 53kg last year and the official weight for age improvement expected from August last year until now is 1.5kg.

Got The Greenlight has a turn of foot that few can match so is ideally suited to the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track. He tends to take his foot off the pedal when he hits the front which presents a workable problem for regular rider Muzi Yeni but on the other hand has likely helped keep his merit rating down as he never wins by far.

Soma was impressed by the first three in the Daily News 2000, Linebacker, Rascallion and Kommetdieding, and mentioned Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again and Belgarion as the others he most respected.

However, the horse he most fears is the likely topweight Rainbow Bridge, whom he said had seemed to have improved since being ridden by Luke Ferraris.