David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a competitive meeting today and this is illustrated by how tough most legs of the Pick 6 are.

In the first leg over 1400m, Wisteria Walk is the best weighted and runs over an ideal trip. In this small field down the straight she will be closer to the pace than she was when dropped out and running unplaced last time out in the Grade 2 Joburg Fillies and Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m.

She has not run since that event on October 3 so is unlikely to be at her peak, but her class could pull her through. Sidonie likely went a touch too fast early last time out over 1600m but she still stayed on for a fair fourth in a good field. She could appreciate the drop in trip and will be dangerous if able to dictate.

Querari Ferrari’s run on Saturday over this trip heralded a form return and she is second best in it the weights so will be a threat. Empress Josephine ran on well last time out over this course and distance and is right up with Querari Ferrari at the weights. Invisible was beaten 1,75 lengths when receiving 1kg from Wisteria Walk over 1450m last September but now has to face her at level weights. Those five make most appeal.

In the next race over 1100m, Persica has a shout if able to find a nice position with cover as she has a good turn of foot. The Fifth Wave’s chances were compromised by a low draw last time over 1160m and she has a shout here. May Queen disappointed last time over 1200m but on her best form there is nothing between her and Persica at the weights and she will enjoy this trip. Those three make most appeal but it is a wide open race and more can be included.

In the seventh race Eden Roc has a fine chance on the form of his Merchants runner-up finish last time. He would probably prefer 1200m but has never actually tried this trip before and is versatile and classy so should go close. Bold Ransom is a progressive sprinter who was beaten a head by Eden Roc in the Merchants and is now 1.5kg worse off so he looks held but is nevertheless the chief threat.

In the eighth Dubawi Princess has always had promise and was not disgraced last time from an unfavourable draw. Bella Black, who is much improved, was just behind her from an equally disadvantageous draw. Desert Pride is better than her last run and must also be included. Brooklyn Bridge is knocking hard and is 3kg better off with Desert Pride for a 2,75 length beating. Laetitia’s Angel drops down to the trip of her last win. 

The last race is a competitive fillies and mares handicap over 1200m. Olivia S has run well in both of her Gauteng starts since moving from Kimberley and now has her third run after an eight-month layoff. The well bed Frankel filly Lagertha is still a maiden but comes off two good 1000m runs against the boys and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Royal Lily has fallen to an attractive merit rating and although she has become disappointing the yard are in form and an up turn in her form here should see her go close. Hear The Trumpet is none to consistent but if reproducing her penultimate run over course and distance she can be involved. The Villa Grand is also an interesting runner stepped back up to this trip. Her previous two runs over this distance were against much stronger opposition. Samoa and Emerald Crest have to be considered too.

Andrew Harrison

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE Monday poly meetings with reduced stakes were introduced to give displaced Kimberley trainers time to find their feet and to assess where their horses fitted into the new environment.

They started off well enough with Cliffie Miller and Tinie Prinsloo coming good and starting to hold their own but two KZN casualties have been Jarett Rug and Sarel Von Willingh Smit.

Rug pointed out that most of his string were already KZN ‘chuck-outs’ and were not competitive. Added to that was the current state of racing and the country in general, so new owners were hard to come by. Rug has since pulled up his grub stake, cut his losses and moved to Port Elizabeth.

Justin Snaith has no such problems and Silver Palace can get punters off to a good start at today’s meeting.

Silver Palace has been coming along nicely and although he has not been out since November last year the form of his last race has panned out. With the best of the draw he must have a strong chance. Alfredo is struggling to win but has good recent form over course and distance. He is quick on his day and can make all.

The second sees a seriously moderate line-up but Stone Of Destiny has only had three starts and appears to be coming along the right way. Given further improvement he should make a bold bid in this company. Morse finished just behind Stone Of Destiny when they last met. He battled in the Cape but this is his third run for Garth Puller.

Emerald Palace and Diamonds And Toads look the principal runners in the third. Emerald Palace has been costly to follow but she has been running consistently. Nathan Kotzen has booked a 2.5kg claimer in Thabiso Gumede and she gets another chance. Mike Miller is having a good run of late and Diamonds And Toads has only twice not earned a cheque. The blinkers go on for the first time and she rates the biggest threat to Emerald Palace.

Santa Vittoria is long overdue and Glen Kotzen’s mare should make a bold bid in the fourth. She meets a modest field that includes the luckless Bell Jar. She appears handicapped by her diminutive size but now has the best of the draw and a useful claimer up. Veterans Pina Colada and Skyfire both have chances in this company if anywhere near their best form.

The fifth has a rematch between Dream Destiny and Ontopoftheworld. Dream Destiny was run out of it late by Ontopoftheworld when starting favourite but the former is 3.5kg better off including her apprentice allowance. The latter surprised but appears to have come to form and has a chance again. Mrs Hotline has been up against stronger at recent outings and goes well this course and distance.

The sixth has ‘upset’ written all over it. Paul and Beth Gadsby’s runner Rain Dance did not feature on the turf last run but had put in two improved efforts on the poly before that. A Whole New World appears to be finding his feet and was close-up from a wide draw last time and should have a decent chance in this company. Racing in first-time blinkers, Proud Warrior made no show over much further last start. His two best recent efforts have been on the poly and the blinkers stay on. Perfectly Putt is another to consider after finding marker support last run when dropping in class. He goes the extra furlong here.

In the seventh, Hot Money does not have the best of draws but has been in good form of late and enjoys the poly. To The Max was a narrow winner last start but the drop in trip should suit while Gingerspathtoglory only has 48kh to shoulder form a good draw. She had a tough gate last run. Not Now Pussycat is better than her last run. She goes well on the poly and has improved with her new stable.

The last is another minefield. Bravo Zulu has been a soldier for Louis Goosen and is always game but while one can dice, slice and dissect the form of this race, the betting could prove your most reliable guide.

Andrew Harrison

THE corner table in the owners and trainers lounge at Hollywoodbets Scottsville may well have been empty today, but all would have been there in spirit as News Stream slipped home to win the Michael Roberts Handicap.

Most always the first people on course, Mary and the late Avison Carlisle, seldom missed a Scottsville meeting and it was somewhat fitting that News Stream, a home-bred by the Carlisle’s, sported the silks of the Kinmount Racing Syndicate, named after their Kinmount Stud in the KZN Midlands.

It was also somewhat fitting that News Stream is trained by Mark Dixon who shares a ring at Summerveld with Michael Roberts who was on hand to point out the trophies and that jockey Ashton Arries was mentored by Avison Carlisle who was the then chairman of the South African Jockey Academy.

It was always going to be a tricky race with a host of well performed light weights in the race thanks to a couple of Gavin van Zyl’s ‘heavy weight’s’ topping the handicap.

Trip To Africa, and the only filly in the race, Mary O set the early fractions at a fairly sedate gallop with favourite Baby Shooz and Mr Fitz in close attendance.

Once homeward bound the field concertinaed quickly into a race-callers nightmare with the field spread across the track. Mr Fitz looked to be going best of all up the inside rail but Arries threaded News Stream through a gap between the tiring pair of Baby Shooz and Mary O and made good use of his 52kg to win going away with Mr Fitz staying on for second and top-weight Marchingontogether finishing an excellent third.

There is an on-going debate as to whether same trainer couplings should be brought back for the exotic bets as in the past. The rules were changed ostensibly because Stanley Greeff and Andy Smith between them once used to saddle the majority of horses in each PE race where they once reigned supreme.

A further rationale was that by removing the couplings, spend would be bigger and exotic dividends would pay more to those who included all the horses from an individual stable, the supporting argument being that this would be countered by fractional betting. Given the recent plethora of Pick 6 carry overs, I don’t think that argument holds much water.

Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith now rule the roost in PE and, although dominant, they do not have as many runners in individual races. In Cape Town the less fancied of the bigger stable’s runners often upstage their more fancied stable companions.

So, the pertinent question is, does an ailing institution like the tote benefit from big payouts to a few, or smaller payouts to more?

The opening leg of yesterday’s Pick 6 did not have much concrete form to go on but if one was forced to choose between Lezeanne Forbes’s pair of Fat Cigar and Legislate’s Dance for your Pick 6, Fat Cigar would hardly have come into the equation for those with limited spend.

Andrew Harrison

MICHAEL ROBERTS, a sporting legend and one of the finest jockeys ever to don racing silks, will once again be honoured at Hollywoodbets Scottsville tomorrow. Scottsville was the course where he rode his first winner in 1968 and sent him on his way to 11 South African Jockey Championships. Later, in his 17-year stint in the UK, he became only the sixth foreign rider to win the UK championship where he was also the first rider to crack the 200-winner mark.

Roberts has his name on his trophy, five times as a jockey and a trainer, his first win when riding for brother-in-law Robin Watkinson, but he will be a spectator in the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap.

Peter Muscutt has always rated Baby Shooz who has only once finished out of the money in 10 starts. Since being gelded in June last year, he came up short of a run behind surprise winner Frank Lloyd Wright and then disposed of Desolate Road next time out.

More recently he finished under a length behind Mount Anderson but was a touch unlucky as he cast a shoe in the running.

He has only once been further than 1600m and that was back in February last year when he scored comfortably over 2000m. So tomorrow’s 1800m trip will hold no fears and with only 53.5kg to shoulder he should make a fist of it.

Shane Humby does not run them often but Mr Fitz had an enforced break towards the end of last season as the stable battled a hoof abscess. The five-year-old is now over it and he has smart form leading into this race. He finished a length behind Baby Shooz two runs back giving the winner 1kg and was then run out of it late by Mount Anderson in the Christmas Handicap.

He is currently in a good space and also has a light weight to enhance his chances.

Duncan Howells has always held Trip To Africa in high regard but a persistent virus the plagued the yard last season saw the stable hit an extended ‘flat’ spot. Trip To Africa is only now showing what he is capable off and could be some way ahead of the handicapper which will make him dangerous.

Howells can get the afternoon off on a winning note where he saddles Irish Belle, the only filly in the race. She is exceptionally quick and looked to be headed for a comfortable victory last time out. However, the last furlong found her out and she had to be content with her fourth successive runner-up berth.

She drops a furlong to what should be a more suitable trip given her recent record and with apprentice Thabiso Gumede claiming 2.5kg she could prove difficult to beat.

Tristan Godden landed a double on the same course last Wednesday and he has a bright chance on the Alyson Wright-trained Preferential in the sixth. The filly has been in mustard form since being tried in blinkers, winning twice from three outings and a close-up second in the other.

However, she will face strong opposition from the enigmatic mare Diamondsandpearls.

She has a mind of her own and not the easiest to get fit but appears to be in a good space at present and will give this field a hard race.

Legislate’s Dance can fire up the first leg of the Pick 6 as Lezeanne Forbes’s colt has improved with every outing and could prove a little too classy for the older opposition. He has only had three trips to the race course and he looks ideally suited to this trip. The blinkers come off Raiseahallelujah although he has been disappointing while Galabier made a promising start to his career for Gareth van Zyl and is sure to improve.

Silent Crusade is the best weighted in the eighth, a conditions race, but her best recent form has been over further. However, she has plenty of class which along with a favourable weight could see Mark Dixon’s mare home. Hawker Typhoon is lightly raced and jumps in class but both wins have come on this course and she carries bottom weight. Linear is not the easiest, being a bit of a head case, but is smart. She was not disgraced in a Highveld feature last start and she must have a good chance in this line-up.

The last is a wide-open handicap where exotic bet punters are advised to load up. Star Of Joburg has been up against much stronger at recent outings and not been far back. Nathan Kotzen has declared blinkers and a tongue-tie which could see a couple of lengths improvement which could be enough to take the honours.  Quant Master has improved in blinkers recently and is useful on his day while the ‘lurker’ could be Greenlighttoheaven.

Gavin van Zyl tried him over 1750m last time out but the gelding had shown early promise over sprints and drops back to 1200m tomorrow.

Andrew Harrison

CHASE MAUJEAN was a relieved man after successfully appealing a R60k fine when found guilty of an unsatisfactory ride on the Argentinian-import Puerto Manzano. The gelding got up to dead-heat with stable companion and hot favourite Thumbs Up.

Maujean gets a chance to put the record straight when Puerto Manzano lines up in the third on the Turffontein stand-side track this afternoon. Johan Janse van Vuuren rested his charge after that sprint debut and today he tackles 1600m, a trip that should be more to the gelding’s liking.

Puerto Manzano was finishing like a train on debut and although he takes on a strong field first up out of the maidens, he does look to have some talent and the handicappers have lumbered him with an initial merit rating of 92!

Sean Tarry is set for a lucrative afternoon with his runners in with chances in many races and the biggest threat to Puerto Manzano could come in the form of Tarry’s runner Have A Go Jo. A son of the former Tarry-trained Willow Magic, Have A Go Jo showed tremendous acceleration when winning over course and distance last time out. He copped a five-point penalty for his second win and will be in receipt of 2kg from Puerto Manzano.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6, Tarry saddles Chariot Master who will have plenty of supporters after a good showing over course and distance at only his second start. He was asked to make all the running that day by stable rider Lyle Hewitson but he cast a shoe in the dash for the line that forced him to give up his lead. Given that he may well have gone on to win had he not lost a shoe, he rates as a winner without a penalty.

Candice Dawson teams up with Muzi Yeni on Smuts who has been making steady progress since being gelded. He was running on nicely behind Namib Desert last time out and he looks a better proposition over this extended trip.

Also in the line-up and one to keep an eye on in the betting is Governors Glory, Mike de Kock’s runner staying on nicely for third on debut. The experience and the extra furlong will could in his favour.

Tarry and De Kock go head-to-head in the first leg of the first jackpot with Aryaam and In Limbo possibly the pick of the field. In Limbo, sister to Hawwaam and half-sister to Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat will not die a maiden and made the expected improvement at her second start after a fairly modest sprint debut. Like her siblings, she should improve as she steps up in distance and this 1600m should be to her liking.

Aryaam has finished in the money in all three starts and like In Limbo, should prefer the extra furlong. The two have drawn alongside each other so it should be an interesting tactical battle between Callan Murray and Hewitson.

Tarry has pitted his filly Trattoria against males in the sixth and she may well prove up to the task given that she carries bottom weight in this Novice Handicap. As a four-year-old she was a late starter, given that this will be only her fifth start, and on debut finished five lengths adrift in third behind Thumbs Up and Puerto Manzano. Three runs later she skated home by five lengths when sent a mile for the first time. She does take on considerably stronger here but looks smart and with Joshwin Solomons claiming 2.5kg, she only has 49.5kg to shoulder. Push Off, Call Me Master and stable companion Invincible Warrior look to be the main dangers.