After taking a hammering country-wide over the weekend most punters will be hoping for a change of fortune at Greyville today although they again face another tricky card.

In Other Words (Nkosi Hlophe)

With the South African Champions Season on the horizon, trainers will be warming up their feature race contenders but as the Drum Star Handicap showed at Turffontein last Saturday, most of the big guns will be short of peak fitness going into their warm-up races so caution needs to be in the back of the mind when looking at these contests.

In Other Words and A Womens Way are two that fit that category when they line up in the Racing.Its A Rush Pinnacle Stakes on the poly this afternoon but in spite of the cautionary, look likely to fight this one out.

In Other Words is well weighted and although she is returning from a break she has an excellent record over course and distance. Couple that with Sean Tarry’s blistering form and you have a likely winner.

A Womens Way was eligible for the CTS $500 000 1200 last time out and Duncan Howells had little option but to send her on the long trip to Cape Town to take her chances. It proved a trip in vain and A Womens Way was never going well, finished down-field. Her form before that was promising and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Just how she features here will be watched with interest.

The handicapper appears to have caught up with Pearl Emblem but she loves this course and distance and as this is a set weights race she cannot be written off. Littleblacknumber is never far off and was out-paced throughout behind stable companion Elusivenchantment at Scottsville last Wednesday and will prefer this trip. Stable companion Wind Singer loves this course and distance and with a light weight gives Howells a trio of options.

Littleblacknumber (Nkosi Hlophe)

Howells could get the meeting off to a winning start where he saddles Victory Cross, a beaten favourite last run. She makes her poly debut but has shown promise on the turf and can make amends if she handles the surface.

The Durban View Restaurant Handicap could rest between Variscite and Winder Darling in an open affair. Gavin van Zyl’s filly Variscite has improved in a tongue-tie and although only shedding her maiden last run she does not take on much of note and after only four outings still has room for improvement. Veteran Winter Darling on the other hand came in for some market support last run and has been thereabouts at recent starts. Anthony Delpech will be aboard for Dennis Bosch who hit form at Greyville on Sunday and the stable, that has been quiet for some time, could be turning the corner.

In the sixth, Noodle can make amends for her no-show on the turf at Scottsville last time out compounded by the soft ground and goes much better on the poly. She has a bright chance of coming good in this field with Anton Marcus booked for the ride. Danger could be See The Sea who surprised recently but only got a two-point raise in the handicap and can go in again.

In the last, Liquid Rainbow has run two fair races since taking to the track and with the experience looks to have a bright chance in this field comprising mostly of professional maidens. The obvious dangers are Gold Chalice who was disappointing last run after showing improvement but he now sports blinkers and may be worth another chance while Mojo King disappointed when sent out favourite on debut but possibly didn’t handle the soft ground and may also be worth another visit.

By Andrew Harrison