RACE 1

HAPPY FORTUNE (5) caught the eye when running an absolute cracker on debut and with natural improvement, could be hard to beat. PANTHERA UNICA (8) is running well, should win soon – strong place chance. YELLOW JACKET (1) gets the best draw and can be expected to run a cracker again. CHAKPORI (4) is the value for the quartet. ( 5-8-1-4)

RACE 2

ARTIST’S MODEL (7) ran an absolute cracker last time when snared on the line. He should get it all right today and is a confident first choice. SEE MY FUTURE (4) was fifth on debut and with natural progression, can go close and make a race of it at the finish. AMIGO (11) and DAPPER (6) have solid form and cannot be excluded from any bets. (7-4-11-6)

RACE 3

PERFECTLY PICKED (5) is holding her form and looks ready to win. Her trainer seems to have found the ideal race for her to get it all right in. SYRIAN STEEL (7) is coming to form attractively and has to be taken seriously – each way chance. GRAND OCCASION (11) is improving with racing and can win and WALKIE TALKIE (12) is a must for the trifecta and quartet. (5-7-11-12)

RACE 4

RED WILLIAM (1) is never far off the action and should be able to go very close from gate 1. He might be at attractive odds – each way chance. FRENCH TRIP (3) caught the eye first run out the maidens and could be one to follow. ALLAROUNDTHEWORLD (2) keeps running fourth but can get closer here. He is a big place prospect and could even score! THE MIKADO (4) should be in the first four. (1-3-2-4)

RACE 5

(3) Cats Pajamas returns after a slight break, he was last sighted winning a feature race on the 28th of July 2024. He packs some class and must be respected. (4) Buffalo Storm Cody is very capable and looks very progressive, he will have to be included in all calculations. (1) Warrior Of Royalty bounced back to best after being gelded and is one to watch. (2) Luneluck has plenty scope to go well after an impressive maiden win so has to be thrown in. ( 3-4-1-2)

RACE 6

(9) Pritti Victory returns after a short break but was in top form prior to that. She may run well fresh and must be included in everything. (7) Ubukhwebezana is holding solid form and will have a massive winning chance. (1) Stormy Choice jumps from the best draw with a light mass will be there. (8) Red Roses Too is a very honest type and must go into everything. (9-7-1-8)

RACE 7

(8) Escapologist won a gutsy race in the last start, although she has a tricky draw, she is capable of a big finish and must be respected. (4) Petit Verdot has been running consistently and will have a huge winning chance. (1) Vihaan’s Queen has the best draw and is always there in the mix, she will have the run of the race from that draw hence she enters all calculations. (6) Off Limits wasn’t far in the last start and can get into the quartets. ( 8-4-1-6)

RACE 8

(3) Bom Bom was drawn badly in his last start, he has a much better draw and will probably find the front based on his running style so can be very dangerous. (5) Pongola ran extremely well in his last start and will be there if repeating that effort. (7) Papa C represents some smart form and if not in need of the run will make his presence felt. (8) Shotgun Willie is holding form and can win this contest, he has a tough draw but won’t be far. (3-5-7-8)

 Andrew Harrison

Punters face a well-filled card on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. The programme is headed by a Graduation Plate over 1200m where Cat’s Pajamas looks the one to beat in spite of not having raced since winning the Umkomazi Stakes at the end of last season where he put a smart field to bed over course and distance. 

He jumped to a 110MR rating after that victory and he looks very well in at these weights especially since Frank Robinson has booked Rachel Venniker and her 1.5kg allowance for the ride. 

Cats Pajamas has improved in blinkers and given his last showing he should be the one to beat.

However, he is up against a promising Highveld raider in Buffalo Storm Cody. Tony Peter’s colt has only had four starts, winning on debut and most recently finishing runner up and a beaten favourite on the Turffontein inner track where he had the widest draw. He was beaten four lengths by Cats Pajamas in the Umkomazi stakes and is now 1.5kg better off which should see the pair finish a lot closer.

Gareth van Zyl looks to have a promising gelding in the form of Luhamba Phambili who garnered a 98MR rating for his debut victory. He was well fancied last run in a Pinnacle Stakes and was far from disgraced when two lengths back to the speedy Lunarcam after finding some interference. He gets 3.5kg from Cats Pajamas.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Carl Hewitson’s runner Syrian Steel has made rapid improvement in her last two starts and was narrowly beaten last time out. However, Perfectly Picked has been knocking on the door for some time now and it could be now or never for Wendy Whitehead’s charge.

The fourth is a Middle Stakes with a number of runners in with chances. Red William has the best of the draw and the step up in trip should suit. French Trip showed up well first run out of the maidens and his first two runs for Duncan Howells have been top drawer.  Richard Fourie was confident that Allaroundtheworld would stay a trip and Gary Rich’s runner gets his chance here as he goes 2300m for the first time.

 The sixth is a wide open handicap with many in with chances. Pritti Victory has been holding form well since arriving from the Cape and is back over her preferred distance. Ubukhwebenzana has won her last two over course and distance and is on the up. She takes a steep rise in class but only has 52kg to shoulder. These two could be the pick in a tough handicap.

The seventh is another competitive handicap but Escapologist finally got it right under Cole Dicken who has a good rapport with the mare. It will be difficult to go back-to-back but she could again have the better of Petit Verdot who is hunting her fourth win which should not be far off. 

Vihaan’s Queen and Off Limits are others to consider.

The last is something of a minefield but Bom Bom can round off the afternoon for Whitehead. He had a difficult draw to contend with last time out but was in good form prior to that. Pongola was much improved last run and will be competitive in this line-up. Shotgun Willie was narrowly beaten last run and his last win was over course and distance. Papa C has a fair weight to shoulder but does come off a lengthy lay-off which is a concern.

Graeme Hawkins

The 2024 renewal of the R300 000 Kuda Matchem Stakes (Gr 3) over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today has attracted a classy field of 11 runners, headed by Gimme A Prince who returns to racing action for the first time since finishing a close second behind Charles Dickens in this race last year.

Trained by Dean Kannemeyer for the Khaya Stables, the 130-rated Gimme A Prince has endured a difficult twelve months since then and although travelling to KZN for Champions Season, a further setback ruled him out and he was forced to sit on the sidelines. Kannemeyer has never made a secret of the fact he believes Gimme A Prince to be a “proper” racehorse, and his assessment proved spot on as the now 6yo son of Gimmethegreenlight won the 2023 Cape Flying Championship (Gr 1) over 1000m and then last season’s Golden Horse Sprint (Gr 1) over 1200m under top weight conceding as much as 6kgs to Thunderstruck.

Whether Gimme A Prince can make a winning return in tomorrow’s Matchem Stakes after such a lengthy injury-enforced absence is not easy to assess but foremost in Kannemeyer’s mind will be that he comes back safe and sound and ready to progress to more exciting targets as the Cape Summer Season unfolds. One thing is for sure, you need to keep Gimme A Prince “safe” in all your exotic bet permutations.

Although rated 8 points inferior, Questioning meets Gimme A Prince on level terms but does have racing fitness on his side coupled with the fact that Questioning has yet to beaten from three starts at the country course, including two over this trip. The Vaughan Marshall inmate does have a wide draw to overcome but he has plenty of gate speed and likes to race handy. JP van der Merwe retains the ride after steering the Querari gelding to victory three weeks ago and there is no doubt that Questioning is one of the leading lights here.

Brett Crawford’s stable companions Zapatillas and At My Command add further quality to this exciting line-up. Zapatillas, having his first run as a gelding, was beaten three lengths by Questioning earlier this month but he could go a lot closer this time around from a plum draw. Lady Luck has not always been in the corner of At My Command, but he showed his class when finishing second to See It Again in last year’s Green Point Stakes. More recently he was a close second behind Lucky Lad in the Golden Horse Sprint (Gr 1) and followed that up with a solid effort when runner-up to Café Culture in the Post Merchants from an impossible draw. The Crawford team has been in very good form, and it would come as no surprise to see either Zapatillas or At My Command take the lion’s share of the purse.

Candice Bass-Robinson’s Sugar Mountain is very genuine and seems the pick of the balance. He may struggle to match strides with the principals here, but he should not be too far away and could earn a share of the prize money. Whatever the outcome, the Matchem Stakes promises to be a thrilling race. I am leaning towards Questioning as the possible winner, but it should be a closely fought affair.

The R200 000 Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes (Gr 3) (F&M) over 1400m is the supporting feature on the 10-race programme and Gimmie’s Countess, a 3yo full sister to Gimme A Prince, will be a popular choice to get her promising career back on track. After blowing her opposition away on debut, Gimme’s Countess finished a creditable fourth in the Alan Robertson Fillies Championship (Gr 1) after failing to find a clear passage, but she was a trifle disappointing when subsequently unplaced in the Golden Slipper (Gr 2) over 1400m in early July.

Set to carry only 51,5kgs, Serino Moodley has flown into town to partner Gimmie’s Countess, and he will be keen to make the most of the opportunity. Of course, reputation is one thing and results on the racetrack quite another. Gimmie’s Countess faces a tough test here as she bumps several talented older fillies including Princess Izzy (Fourie) and Rainbow Lorikeet (van der Merwe), both of which meet Gimmie’s Countess on 3,5kgs better terms than weight-for-age.

Miss World and Dixieland Band complete the trio of three-year-old fillies in this year’s renewal of the Diana Stakes, and both have shown above average potential. They are also set to carry 51,5kgs and will be partnered by Anthony Andrews and Josh Solomons respectively. In trying to narrow down the list of potential winners I believe Gimmie’s Countess may be the pick of the 3yo’s and Princess Izzy the pick of the older fillies and mares, but that assessment is not cut and dried.

The race meeting gets off to an early start with the opening race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, scheduled to start at 11:20. The fields are well-filled and another very competitive day’s racing can be expected with the exotic bets likely to yield attractive dividends.

Andrew Harrison

Punters face a competitive card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville tonight but Royal Swan Master could help fill the wallet for the later exchanges.

Dean Kannemeyer’s gelding runs in the opening leg of the Pick 6, a MR96 Divided Handicap where he looks the part. He was much improved in blinkers and only just failed behind Officer In Command last time out when coming from well off the pace. Mike de Kock’s runner is now 2.5kg worse off at the weights so the two should switch places when the numbers go up. Garth Puller’s gelding Banzai Pipeline just makes it into the handicap and was much improved when switched to the poly last run. With only 52.5kg to shoulder he should be competitive. Positive Attitude needed his last run back after a lengthy break. Most of his best recent form has been over much further but he can race fresh from his last run.

Glen Kotzen’s gelding Burning Man makes a lot of appeal in the fourth as he finally shed his maiden after a string of second placings. It was his first try on the poly and he won with authority. Second that day was Bella’s Pablo who franked that form with a facile maiden win putting five lengths over the opposition who admittedly were a modest bunch. Burning Man is only 0.5kg worse off with his rival and should be good enough to finish ahead of him again. Field Marshal takes to the poly for the first time and was narrowly beaten last time out, however, Muzi Yeni has jumped ship to partner Doug Campbell’s runner Tom’s Act who is back on his preferred surface.

Fanie Bronkhorst saddles a few veteran runners on the day, possibly to test them on the poly track where older runners tend to do well. 

Five-year-old Cerulean Dancer found it tough going when taking on much stronger last time out in spite of her light weight. Prior to that she found the 2400m way out of her compass. Ignore those two efforts and she has a strong chance in this line-up and the poly should be an added advantage. Vermacilli is taking time for her second win but has come to hand nicely and has a light weight while Calling All Angels has not been far back at recent outings and has improved in blinkers. She steps up to a mile and with only 49.5kg on her back she must be a big runner. Way To Burn landed a tough rating after her maiden win but she does go well on the poly and can feature in the money.

The sixth is a tricky handicap but Lou Lou The Legend had many supporters when making his debut for MJ Odendaal and he did well enough behind the comfortable winner Hippocrates. He goes the extra furlong and Sean Veale knows him well. Move To Prove has taken on stronger in his two starts since his maiden win and goes well on the poly and is still improving. Tried And True has her first run for Robyn Klaasen and although she has been struggling for her second win she was seldom too far back in the Cape and that form could be strong enough to see her home. Isikwishikwishi shed his maiden at third time of asking and although he has the steadier of 61kg to shoulder he could have more to come. The betting should be a guide. 

The seventh is wide open in spite of the small field. Louis Goosen saddles Mask On who steps up in class but has been consistent over this trip. He switches to the poly but must have a strong chance. Hope Is Power could be the dark horse. He needed his last run badly after a lengthy break and that was against much stronger. With a run under his girth and a big drop in class he could prove the right one in a competitive handicap. Connery won well on his local debut. He takes to the poly for the first time but the change of scenery appears to have done him good. 

Stuart Ferrie could round off the meeting with the seven-year-old Preemptive Strike who has been holding form well and loves the poly. He will be a big runner in this company. Trippi T ran a big race first up out of the maidens but up until now has been confined to five furlongs. He goes the extra 200m for the first time but the switch to the quick poly could help. Irish Luck has been trying further but has been consistent and the drop in trip could suit. Now I Got You has the widest draw but has been consistent of late and switches back to the poly. 

Klaasen can get her afternoon off to a winning start when she sends out Coral Blaze who has some useful Cape form over the trip and has her first run for Klaasen. She is sure to make an impression in this field. Garth Puller saddles Takatalvi who has improved with each outing. She was running on nicely at just her third start over the distance and should be cherry-ripe. Arctic Fury has had two outings in soft ground. The step up in trip and a switch to the poly could see her make the required improvement for Doug Campbell. Magic Maverick disappointed Gary Rich when running well below form last time out. Her best effort has been over this distance and she can finish in the money. 

Amor Fati was making late progress when runner up at his last start and start the PA ball rolling. He obviously has no issues with the poly but he does take a big step up in trip. However, Frank Robinson looks to have picked the right race. City Lights takes on males for Fanie Bronkhorst and her last run is best ignored as her previous form was promising. She is taking an age to shed her maiden but the switch to the poly in a modest field could see her home. New Frontier was a distant second last run but has shown some recent improvement in blinkers while Priceless Pearl showed some improvement at only his second start. He steps up in trip and is one to watch in the betting. 

Hollywoodbets Greyville Net Jackpot C/Over R250 000 on Sunday, 29 September 2024, Race 4 off at 14h25, Estimated Pool R1 Million