TO say that today’s Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting lacks a little quality is an understatement but without those horses in the lower echelons being given a chance, horse racing would be much the poorer. And for owners with those horses in training, they all need a bite of the cherry.

That said, in an effort to cut down costs on a card that has many races to keep punters guessing, Secret Is Ours in the fourth and Broadway a race later could provide anchors.

The cleverly named Broadway has a blue-blood pedigree and made a promising debut when racing green at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.  There should be plenty of improvement to come from Lezeanne Forbes’s colt when he lines up in the fifth and he is up against a host of struggling maidens.

With expected improvement he could prove difficult to beat.

It must have been a difficult decision to geld Secret Is Ours given his pedigree but evidence is that it was the correct move. Secret Is Ours has had two outings since and is finally adding some lustre to that pedigree and was a close-up second last run. He meets very little of note in the fourth and could possibly be another banker on the day with only Montana Sky overdue a change of fortune. Tienie Prinsloo’s runner gets his chance here. It may prove prudent to keep an eye on the betting.

In the first, Crimson Causeway was only run out of it late when making her debut and should tighten up considerably from that outing. Danse Milord has been a little costly to follow but did have a wide draw in her poly debut. Red Juniper is also likely to come on lengths from her debut and with Anton Marcus aboard Federica any market support is likely to prove significant.

The second is just a case of ‘what will get me through the PA’ in a seriously open race. Beat It is an older mare taking on males but she has been dropping in the ratings and did well from a difficult draw last run. Florence has been coming on nicely and was a close-up second last start and could prove the best of the Clinton Binda stable trio. Hampton Court, Life Goes On and Stanton Street are others to consider.

In the third, Perfect Display is lightly raced but her best effort has been on this surface. The tongue-tie stays on and she may be the one to beat although Airbuzz and Princess Sabrina should be included as insurance.

Another weak field faces punters in the sixth. Proud Warrior was well beaten by Fever when last they met but he takes a four-point drop in the ratings which can make him competitive again. Smart Sox enjoyed it back on the poly last run and a repeat can see him back in the money while Fever has made steady improvement in blinkers. He takes a small rise in the handicap but can go in again.

The seventh is not easy either. Sea Sponge is an old hand but never far back. This may just be his best chance of a third win. Philispiel was a recent maiden winner but has come to hand of late and looks progressive while Straight Up is always thereabouts and comes from an in-form stable.

In the last, Enrapture has the best of the draw after two wide marbles. She found some inspired betting support last run and should go close. The tough mare Colour Of Light is due a change of fortune and was a touch unlucky last run and should be right there again. Hereinafter was much improved in blinkers last outing and Marcus retains the ride while Not Now Pussycat has not been too far back and has a better draw.

David Thiselton

Muzi Yeni not only had a fine day as a jockey on Saturday, scoring a double including the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m on the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Vars Vicky, but also as a tipster as he tipped the Pick 6 among other exotics in his Johannesburg newspaper column.

Yeni made Vars Vicky a banker in his column and the Gary Player Stud-bred Var gelding pulled it off by the skin of his teeth, deservedly, as runner up Bohica’s hanging antics in the final 100 metres have to be weighed up against Vars Vicky having to be eased at a crucial stage.

Vars Vicky, who runs in the colours of prominent Mauritian owner Vicky Veeramootoo, came into the race with a record of four wins from 1000m to 1450m in seven starts.

His last defeat, over 1400m, was too the exciting unbeaten colt, Paisley Park.

On the downside his last defeat in a sprint was by 4,25 lengths by Winter Stories, from whom he was now going to receive 4kg.

However, that race followed a four-month layoff and he likely needed it. 

Winter Stories was then scratched to make his task easier.

He was still officially 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse True To Life, but this filly was then also scratched and he went into the race 3.5kg under sufferance with the now best weighted Singforafa.

On the plus side he had won his last two starts over 1450m and 1200m respectively in impressive style and was clearly on the up.

He also had a nice high draw of 12, which is favourable by trends.        

Vars Vicky jumped well enough and got a tow from the long-striding Bohica, who jumped from draw eight.

He moved in at the 300m mark but Yeni then had to ease him as Bohica and Gallic Princess started drifting in different directions, closing a wide open gap.  

This left Yeni having to rebuild his momentum from the 220m mark and having to make up at least two lengths on Bohica. 

Vars Vicky displayed his fine action to eat into the lead. 

Bohica hung right over to the inside under a left-handed stick between the 100m mark and the 20m mark and this enable Vars Vicky to get up on the line.

Gallic Princess was a well beaten three length third ahead of Eden Roc and Singforafa. 

Earlier, Yeni rode Running Brave in the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m The top mare had to carry second topweight of 60.5kg against the boys but had most of the field beaten on the form of the WSB Summer Cup and Grade 3 London News Stakes. However, Yeni’s warning that a lot of runners should be included told a story that the gallant Fanie Bronkhorst-trained mare would likely need the outing after her tough campaign in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Yeni himself put the whole field in his suggested Pick 6. She duly ran well below par, finishing unplaced, and Yeni reported he had felt something amiss with her in the running. The race was full of horses who were perhaps past their best or had bigger fish to fry, so the fact that the 76 merit rated Phillip Vermeulen-trained Savannah Storm, who was officially a whopping 13kg under sufferance, won the race, under Marco van Rensburg, was perhaps not as much of a surprise as it had first seemed. The Sudden Storm gelding had won his last two and in his last start beat the classy three-year-old Puerto Manzano, although he had received 6kg from him.

A stranger result at first sight might have been the Sean Tarry-trained Aryaam gaining bold black type by winning the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m under Lyle Hewitson despite having previously failed to win her maiden in four attempts. However, this hard-knocking Dynasty filly had every right to win Saturday’s race as it was a handicap and she was in the handicap carrying 54kg. Therefore, the only question should be whether the race deserved Listed status. Such a black type three-year-old event should not be a handicap in the first place, but as the merit ratings ranged from 88 to 72 it is likely to be downgraded to Non-Black Type anyway.

The winner of the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m, the Alec Laird-trained Louis The King gelding Pamushana’s Pride, has now won four races including his last three and looks as if he could justify being a bold black type horse in time. His regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo just got him up from Baymax and Ushuaia.

The Non-Black Type Gold Rush Sprint was won in cosy fashion by a classy sprinter in the making, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Celestial Love, under Warren Kennedy. This What A Winter filly was receiving 8.5kg from the disappointing favourite Forever Mine and beat him by 4,5 lengths and she was receiving 6.5kg from the speedy Valyrian King and beat him by a length.

Yeni also won the last race on the Paul Matchett-trained Act Of War gelding Battle Force, who has now won three in a row and looks to be going places.

Yeni’s R800 Pick 6 suggestion returned a cool R53,953.30.

Andrew Harrison

PICK 6 punters will have to play big or take chances at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. This is not an easy card starting in the opening leg.

Hello Tomorrow can get them off to a winning start. She has had her chances but in this company she looks more than capable. Her last run is best ignored and her best recent effort has been around a turn. What A Splash has done all of her racing down the Scottsville straight and does not have the best of draws although it is a small field. But the opposition is no great shakes and she can go one better.

The fifth is difficult and could be a case of go big or take your chances. Bayview Express has been up against much stronger at recent outings and drops to a lowly handicap. That and Anton Marcus may be enough to see Yogas Govender’s charge home. Lowan Denysschen sends out High Green who has drawn wide but loves this course and distance. You can ignore his last start when squeezed out badly when looking to make his run. Mighty Smart has a lot in his favour as he stays the trip, has a useful claiming apprentice up and a light weight from a good draw. That said, he’s battling for his second win. Origami showed up well first run out of the maidens. He has made steady improved and appears to be maturing.

The sixth is another difficult handicap. Al’s My Daddy was never in the hunt in his local debut on the poly but his Cape Town form on the turf is better. With only 53kg to shoulder he could be the right one. Gentleman’s Wager smoked home from a wide draw on the poly last outing but he got a six-point raise in the handicap which is concerning. Also his best form seems to be on the poly. Spring Fling has jumped from a 72 to an 84 MR in just two starts but he rocketed home at his last start and may only now as a 5yo be finding his best. Peaceful Day returns from a lengthy break but has shown up well against stronger in the past and any market support must be respected.

Spydas Corner is still on the up and although he takes on a strong field he could be your exotic bet banker. Narrowly beaten last start, he may just have been short of a run. He has a light weight and the blinkers are exchanged for cheek pieces. This race should tell how good he is. Good Rythm is in cracking form and should be in the money even though he takes on a smart field. Pearl Of Asia has always been smart and proved it last run with a comfortable win. He took the maximum six-point hit in the handicap, the one concern is that his best recent form has been down the straight. Sunset Eyes is a top sprinter but has not been out since November last year. Anywhere close to his best he should be hard to beat.

It may prove prudent to load up in the eighth. Gardenia won at long odds on debut and made no show first up out of the maidens. She has been rested but definitely has ability. She’s A Keeper has only had two starts. She made a useful handicap debut and looks progressive but she takes on a host of younger fillies with potential. Calulo gets a stronger rider aboard while Purple Moon Rising looks to have some scope. Boogie Shoes, Magnetic Dime, and Simply Russian are all worth scrutiny.

If you are through to the last leg of the Pick 6 you will probably be looking at a substantial payout.

Ruby Sky has made steady improvement and is lightly raced and she appears to be coming to hand. Another Love has only missed a cheque once in six starts but has been up-and-down the distance charts which is a worry but the blinkers may have solved her problem. Just The Wind has not been too far back on the poly and the switch to turf may help. The name Meghan is topical at the moment and might be a sentimental inclusion. The filly has put in two decent sprints of late and although the draw is a concern, she does look capable.

In the first, Poppy Of Bayeaux can boost resources. She was well backed on debut but was green and should come on lengths from that effort.

Anton Marcus has stuck with Good Traveller in the second in spite of the widest draw. He was a more than comfortable winner on debut although second-placed Silvery Blue has since finished down the field. Waterberry Lane made major improvement at his second start and came from a long way back to win. He has had the benefit of a trip around a turn.

Promise To Dream can get the PA off to a solid start. He has taken on winners in two of his three starts and the smart-looking War Room has been too good for him. He was close-up in his other start and looks more than capable in this field.

EVEN though this year’s Vodacom Durban July will once again be held ‘behind closed doors’ with no public sale of tickets, the organisers are confident of delivering all the features which make this Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event. “Horseracing, Fashion and Entertainment are the core elements which make up this spectacular event, and even though we won’t have the public at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse again this year, we will deliver an event befitting the 125^th running of this famous race.” said Steve Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive of Gold Circle. “We are fortunate to be able to call on our experience of staging one of the first major ‘behind closed doors’ events last year and to have a title sponsor in Vodacom, with whom we are celebrating our 20^th year, to partner with us through these challenging times.”

The fashionistas would already have taken notice of the “Birds of a Feather” theme released earlier this week, as College and Technicon design students begin their journey to lift the coveted Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award. The DFF Rising Stars Collection will once again compliment the Invited Designer Showcase to complete the 2021 VDJ Fashion Experience leading up to race day.

The Vodacom Durban July returns to its traditional first Saturday in July and the stage is already being set for one of the best fields of thoroughbreds to compete for the pinnacle prize in South African horseracing on 3 July. All of Belgarion (2020 VDJ), Got The Greenlight (2020 Daily News 2000, 2^nd 2020 VDJ), Do It Again (2018 & 2019 VDJ), Rainbow Bridge (2019 & 2021 CT Met), Golden Ducat (2020 WSB Champions Cup), Linebacker (2021 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby), Malmoos (2021 WSB SA Classic), War Of Athena (2021 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic) and the horse everyone is talking about, Kommetdieding, are expected to be among the list of first nominations on 14 April for the historic 125^th running of Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, the Vodacom Durban July.

David Thiselton

THE five feature races at Turffontein Standside tomorrow are headed by the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m in which the unexposed three-year-old Vars Vicky could continue on his winning ways. 

This Stuart Pettigrew-trained gelding has a lovely action and quickened effortlessly last time when winning over 1200m on the Inside course. He still has a potentially suppressed merit rating as he has not been tried in feature class before so now carries the minimum weight of 52kg under the merit rated band conditions. He is in fact 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse but looks capable of rising above his current mark. He has a nice high draw of eleven which is the favourable side by trends. Muzi Yeni aboard is a further bonus.

Topweight Chimichuri Run has landed the worst draw by trends of number one. This did not stop him winning last time but he does have a much tougher task at the weights this time and is in fact 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted. His regular pilot Gavin Lerena has deserted him to ride the best weighted True To Life. However, Chimichuri Run’s class can overcome these obstacles and he should be right there.

Mount Pleasant looked to be something special in his early career but two unplaced runs over 1600m have dimmed his star. He has chance to revive the brightness dropping back to 1200m. A high draw will favour this big-striding individual but against him is his high merit rating of 120 meaning he has to give 6kg to his contemporary Vars Vicky. 

Gallic Princess has proven herself a useful sprinter and if her pace enables her to overcome a low draw she has a shout.

True To Life has a fine record over this course and distance and is not only the best weighted but has a fair draw so should be finishing as strongly as usual.

Others capable of winning if they bring their A game are Bohica, Eden Roc, Singforafa, Golden Belle and Winter Stories.

The Listed Derby Trial could be fought out by three progressive horses Pamushana’s Pride, Invincible Warrior and Earl. Pamushana’s pride and Earl look certain to enjoy the trip and the scopey Invincible Warrior strikes as one who will stay despite there being a slight question mark on pedigree. 

The Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial has attracted an uninspiring field that is not worthy of Listed status although the topweight Ideal Jet does strike as one who possesses some potential. She is the choice to beat the improving Mauby who should enjoy the step up in trip. Keeping The Peace, Traveling Wilbury and Siren Of Greece can also be considered over a suitable trip.

In the Listed Drum Star Handicap Running Brave has them all beaten on form or paper except for Green Haze although Green Haze might need it as it his first run for the Paul Peter yard and Pack Leader is preferred for the exacta. Youcanthurry Love and Divine Odyssey make most appeal of the rest.

The Gold Rush Sprint could see the light-weighted filly Celestial Love upsetting two classy speedsters Forever Mine and Valyrian King.