The Gr 2 Betting World 1900 turned out to be the best pointer to last year’s Vodacom Durban July so will be watched with keen interest by punters tonight, although it is overall a slightly weaker contest than last year’s event according to official merit ratings.

The Listed East Coast Cup over 2000m is another classy race the purist can look forward to.

Big things were expected of Greek Legend in the three-year-old classics last year, but he was side-lined with a suspensory injury. He showed his class last time out at Turffontein over 1600m when rocketing home from a seemingly beaten position to end the unbeaten record of Chepardo. Trainer Mike Azzie regards him as “way better” than his 91 merit rating, so he could overcome his official weight disadvantage. Judging by his relaxed gait, he should not be bothered by the new course or running under lights, and his usual blinkers should help too. His tremendous turn of foot should make him suited to the track and a false rail of three metres should ensure his good draw of two is favourable. He is a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag so should have no problem seeing out the trip.

Master’s Eye is an eyecatching individual and having looked at the stands for virtually the entire length of the straight at Scottsville last time, the fitting of blinkers make him an interesting contender. He has a good draw and gets the trip.

Solid Speed possesses a touch of class and although best suited to further his easiest career win was over tonight’s distance on the Greyville poly.

The Conglomerate stayed on quite well in the IOS Drill Hall and will be ideally course and distance suited, but has a tricky draw.

St Tropez has class and being by Silvano should come into his own this season. He has won returning from a layoff before.

Dynamic should be cherry ripe and the yard would have made him a big runner from a better draw.

Master Switch won well over 2000m last time, beating Greek Legend comfortably, but the latter likely needed it in his first race for six months and will now be 3,5kg better off.

Halve The Deficit will be a big runner if reproducing his Vodacom Durban July run off this lowered merit rating. He wasn’t disgraced in the Premier’s Champions Challenge last time and is better suited to Greyville.

His stablemate Gold Onyx is well known for his short run in and can never be written off at Greyville.

Serissa should ensure a good pace for his stablemates.

Last year’s winner Dynastic Power jumps from an even wider draw and has it a bit tougher at the weights but has enjoyed a good preparation.

King Of Pain has proven class, but is unpredictable. His best career victory followed a similar layoff.

It Is Written will be a runner provided he settles in his first attempt at this trip as he tends to be a bit headstrong, but has a fine turn of foot.

Night Shadow is 4,5kg under sufferance but has been an immature sort who is on the way up and there is not much between him and both Dynastic Power and It Is Written.

The selection is Greek Legend to beat Master’s Eye with Solid Speed, Halve The Deficit and St. Tropez next best.

The East Coast Cup could also produce a good value winner in Zante. Her fourth place finish in last year’s Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 was against some of the best of a vintage crop and she had too much to do when finishing strongly in the Scarlet Lady last time over the too sharp 1750m.

Gallica Rose has plenty of class and will be a worthy favourite over an ideal course and distance.

Deputy Ryder is also course and distance suited and seems to thrive in KZN.

Intergalactic is an improving sort who is proven over the trip.

Tonya is also on the way up and caught the eye last time when winning well at Scottsville over 1950m.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

There are some good horses in the other six races on the card, which starts with two interesting Juvenile Plates over 1400m.

Secret Captain was green and far from tuned up when running on to win over 1200m on debut at Scottsville and will appreciate the step up in trip in the first. He is likely to improve and will need to in order to beat Misty Birnam and Lee’s Star.

Sail will relish the step up in trip in the second and can exact revenge on Princess Analia.

Alexis thrives in KZN and loves Greyville so is the one to beat in the third over an ideal 1400m with Marcus up from a good draw.

Paterfamilias has shown this season why he has always been well regarded and can win the fourth running fresh over too sharp a trip, but if he fluffs his lines his stable mate Night Trip can go in.

Captain’s Vista caught the eye with a fluent finish to win a 1600m maiden at Scottsville and from pole position has a chance in the seventh over 1400m as he should progress. The step down in trip might not be ideal and Fantasy Art and a few others could also be included.

Lookamee looks likely to relish the course and distance of the last and is well drawn with Marcus up.

By David Thiselton

PICK 6 C/O – FAIRVIEW Friday 20 May 2016.
Race 4 @ 13h15. Net Carryover: R131,360.
Estimated Pool: R750,000

PICK 6 C/O – GREYVILLE Friday 20 May 2016.
Race 3 @ 18h05. Net Carryover: R300,000.
Estimated Pool: R1,9MILLION

PICK 6 C/O – TURFFONTEIN Saturday 21 May 2016.
Race 4 @ 13h50. Net Carryover: R250,000.
Estimated Pool: R1,5MILLION

PICK 6 C/O – KENILWORTH Saturday 21 May 2016.
Race 3 @ 14h10. Net Carryover: R250,000.
Estimated Pool: R1,3MILLION

PICK 6 C/O – SCOTTSVILLE Sunday 22 May 2016.
Race 3 @ 13h45. Net Carryover: R200,000.
Estimated Pool: R1,8MILLION

QUARTET C/O – SCOTTSVILLE Sunday 22 May 2016.
Race 8 @ 16h35. Net Carryover: R25,342.
Estimated Pool: R450,000.

PICK 6 C/O – FLAMINGO PARK Monday 23 May 2016.
Race 4 @ 13h50. Net Carryover: R100,000.
Estimated Pool: R575,000.

PICK 6 C/O – GREYVILLE Saturday 28 May 2016.
Race 4 @ 15h55. Net Carryover: R550,000.
Estimated Pool: R2,6MILLION

PICK 6 C/O – SCOTTSVILLE Saturday 04 June 2016.
Race 4 @ 13h40. Net Carryover: R550,000.
Estimated Pool: R2,8MILLION

A spectacular aerobatic display over Greyville Racecourse in Durban on Saturday, May 28, including two performances by the famous South African Air Force Silver Falcons, will be part of an exhilarating day of air and ground entertainment that also features two of the most important horse races on the South African calendar, the R2-million, Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the R1-million, Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

The Sky Grand Prix of Aerobatics featuring 10 of the world’s best aerobatic pilots will be the biggest and best air display ever over the central Durban area which, in addition to the thrilling aerobatic manoeuvres, will include two fly pasts by Boeing 737-800 airliners, a model aircraft display and skydivers in a combined presentation by Gold Circle, the Daily News and the South African Aerobatic Club.

The air display will get underway at 9am with the gates to Greyville opening at 7.30am. Entrance to Greyville in the morning will cost R220 for adults and R50 for children under 12 and tickets can be obtained from Computicket or at the gate. There will be live commentary and big-screen coverage of the daring air manoeuvres which will be first for the city.

From 1pm, entrance to Greyville will be FREE for the racing fans attending the Daily News Racemeeting which takes place in the afternoon.  Those patrons will also be able to catch the tail end of the high-flying extravaganza with the awards and podium ceremony taking place at the course after the running of the first race.

The pilots will be in attendance at the course to meet the crowd and after the running of the second race the skydivers will make their final drop to close off the pageant.

It is important that the public are aware that due to health and safety regulations there will be no parking in the Greyville Racecourse in-field area and some of the roads in the vicinity of Greyville will be closed.

For those attending, the famous Galloping Gourmet Beer & Braai Festival situated near the Braai Zone will be in action throughout the day but the popular KidZone will be closed.

Entry forms for the fabulous Daily News competition worth R64 000 that offers a two-night stay for four people, inclusive of breakfast, in the magnificent Penthouse Suite at Fairmont Zimbali Resort can be deposited in the competition boxes at Greyville before the running of the 5^th race.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR THE DAY

TIME	EVENT
08:25-08:30	Welcome, Flag raising and FAI Anthem
08:30-09:00	Sky Grand Prix Known Sequence Pilots 1-5
09:00-09:10	Airline Boeing 737-800 Flypast subject to schedule
09:10-09:40	Sky Grand Prix Known Sequence Pilots 6-10
09:40-10:00	Silver Falcons Team Display
10:00-10:05	Results Known Sequence and Unknown Intro
10:05-10:35	Sky Grand Prix Unknown Sequence Pilots 1-5
10:35-10:50	Raptors RV Team Display
10:50-11:20	Sky Grand Prix Unknown Sequence Pilots 6-10
11:20-11:30	Skydivers
11:30-11:35	Results Unknown Sequence and Freestyle Intro
11:35-11:40	Airline Boeing 737-800 Flypast subject to schedule
11:40-12:10	Sky Grand Prix Freestyle Sequence Pilots 1-5
12:10-12:20	Model Aircraft Display
12:20-12:45	Sky Grand Prix Freestyle Sequence Pilots 6-9
12:45-13:00	Silver Falcons Team Closing Display
13:00	FREE Entrance for Racegoers
13:15-13:50	Pilot Meet and Greet
13:55	Race 1
14:05-14:20	Awards and Podium at Greyville after Horse Race 1
14:40	Race 2
14:50-15:00	Skydivers
15:20	Race 3
15:55	Race 4
16:30	Race 5 – Woolavington 2000
17:10	Race 6 – Lonsdale Stirrup Cup
17:45	Race 7
18:25	Race 8
19:00	Race 9

 

MJ Byleveld went within a neck of winning last year’s Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and is ironically aboard the horse which beat him, Dynastic Power, in Friday night’s renewal at Greyville.

Byleveld’s mount from last year, Power King, famously went on to win the country’s premier race, the Vodacom Durban July, albeit with Stuart Randolph aboard, while Dynastic Power found himself in the Milnerton yard of Vaughan Marshall at the beginning of this season after the retirement of his former trainer Stan Elley.

Byleveld said Dynastic Power had come on from his SA Champions Season pipe opener at Scottsville and added, “He is doing very well, we’re very happy with him.”

The defending champion was drawn a tricky 12 last year and now has to overcome the widest draw of all in the 16 horse field.

However, Byleveld said the five-year-old Dynasty gelding, who appears to thrive at Summerveld, had enough pace to find a handy position from there.

Last time out, in the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, Byleveld sent Dynastic Power to the front due to the lack of pace and after relaxing well he stayed on bravely for a 0,2 length third.

A similarly slowly paced race would possibly suit him as it would prevent him from having to use up too much energy early from the wide draw.

In last year’s race he was caught two-wide in about sixth place, but did have some cover and found a strong finish.

Last year his 98 merit rating saw him near the top of the 99 to 95 band of merit ratings and having to carry only 54kg.

This year in a slightly weaker race overall he is off a 101 merit rating, which puts him near the bottom of the 104 to 100 band, and he has to carry 58kg. He is officially 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses in the race, who are all of Gold Onyx (107, 60kg), Halve The Deficit (103, 58kg), Master’s Eye (103, 58kg), Solid Speed (103, 58kg) and St Tropez (99, 56kg).

Contrary to most seasons, the 1900 turned out to be last year’s best July pointer as third-placed Punta Arenas went on to finish runner up to Power King in the big one.

By David Thiselton

Anthony Delpech opted to ride Solid Speed from a choice of two Gr 2 Betting World 1900 contenders from the Dean Kannemeyer yard and this has left Stuart Randolph to deal with the talented but headstrong It Is Written.

Delpech felt Solid Speed had a “tough task”, despite his current status as 9/2 favourite with the sponsor, citing the 1900m trip as being “a bit too short for him”.

The tough five-year-old Dynasty gelding did win a good race over 1600m at Scottsville in his SA Champions Season pipe opener last time out, when staying on strongly to beat Dynamic, and Delpech said, “Yes, he is the sort who can come out and run well fresh. He has ability and is not without a chance tomorrow night.”

Solid Speed has a high strike rate, having won exactly half of his 14 career starts. He recorded a hattrick at Greyville last season, winning his pipe opener in a 1900m handicap with ease, before winning both the Highland Night Cup and the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m.

He is now off a 103 merit rating, his highest mark to date, and is officially the best in at the weights together with four other horses. He jumps from a tricky draw of 10. Delpech concluded, “He has been doing well at home (Sumerveld).”

It Is Written was unlucky last time out in the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville, having been hampered late before flying up for a neck second.

Randolph said the key was whether he could switch the five-year-old Dynasty gelding off or not. He said, “He has a tendency to over do it, so you’ve got to be careful, but if he settles he should see out the trip. He is probably most effective from 1400m to a mile, so I will be hoping for a true run race.”

It Is Written did settle well from a good draw of two in the Sledgehammer, but Randolph said it had been “touch and go.”

The pole position draw tomorrow night augurs well for his chances of finding the necessary cover, but the step up in trip could be a problem, because behind a slower pace it will be that much tougher to switch him off. He is 8/1 with the race sponsors and can’t be written off, as long as he manages to relax from the off.

David Thiselton