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Andrew Harrison

Apex Predator was widely expected to break his run of seconds in the card opener on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and although the race panned out as expected, it was not without a few anxious moments for supporters of the favourite. Pacemaker Cappellino stuck resolutely to the lead with Siphesihle Hlengwa hard at work on Garth Puller’s runner but he gradually cut the deficit to take up the lead. He was then hard-pressed to hold off the attentions of Mo King, while Bandmaster, tested over 2400m at his last outing, also put in a late charge. 50m further, Apex Predator would still be in the maidens.

The Hollywood Syndicate has in a matter of a few seasons, become one of the country’s leading owners, and they were in the winner’s box once again as Isikwishikwishi made short work of his opposition in the second. Athandiwe Mgudlwa kicked for home early on Alyson Wright’s colt and he was not for the catching. Amor Fati stayed on for a well-beaten second but favourite Sovereign Command, three wide for most of the race, folded tamely.

Sacred Lily, the six-year-old mare having her 20^th start, kept running under a well-judged ride from Rachel Venniker to land the third for Lola Crawford and daughters Taryn and Hailey who run the show at Summerveld.

It was a case of two contrasting styles with Muzi Yeni going hammer and tongs on runner-up Syrian Steel in his usual frenetic style and Venniker keeping her mount balanced but shifting out under pressure. It may have been race-riding on Venniker’s part, the two horses coming together briefly, but the bumping will not have affected the result.

Doctor’s Orders recorded back-to-back victories for Mark Dixon in the fourth, English Primrose runner-up on both occasions. Dixon intimated post-race that he had still to get to the bottom of the filly and that the removal of the cornel collar, a breathing aid, had probably accounted for the filly’s recent improvement.

The field took off like all the riders were late for an appointment in the fifth and it came as no surprise to see those in the vanguard fading to nothing in the straight. Serino Moodley held his nerve, watching from behind on Ladybug. When the opposition folded he pounced on the tiring pack for Ladybug to win as she liked. This was the filly’s second win from just four starts and although she beat little of note she won well under her burden of 61kg. Sweet Julia plodded on for second with Blush Of Dawn, dangerous at one stage, staying on for third.

Yeni is on a mission. If he does not make it to the National Jockey Championship, he will certainly clock up the most number of rides as he travels the country. He has already had 211 mounts this season for 36 wins with nearest chaser Sean Veale having ridden in 154 races to date. 

 Yeni goes back to his days as an apprentice with Nathan Kotzen when Kotzen was assistant to Mike de Kock and they teamed up with Royal Victory to land the two biggest races on the Gauteng calendar last season. Yeni carried the same colours to victory aboard Warrior Of Royalty to win the Middle Stakes. There was a wall of horses in line approaching the final furlong but Yeni left the best for last as he burst out of the pack with Warrior Of Royalty winning rather comfortably ahead of the scrum.

Garth Puller had a fine afternoon, opening and closing the days proceedings with Hlengwa doing the honours on both occasions but it was Craig Zackey who did duty aboard Wonderful in the seventh, leading all the way and winning by the proverbial street with Safe And Sound, stable companion Peitit Verdot and favourite Miss Platina in a tight call for the minor money.

Puller, a formidable rider in his day, has been a mentor to Hlengwa and has been giving the youngster many chances of late. He did not let the side down as he rounded off the meeting on Fine Admiral who fought on gamely from his wide draw to land the last.

David Thiselton

The Vaal straight course meeting is set up to favour low draws with the outside rail 10m in with a 10m spur at the 600m mark, which will make it tricky because a lot of the fancied runners have high draws.

The predicted draw bias does not do the favourite for the first race, Palace Dancer, any favours as she is drawn ten out of eleven. However, she should be too good in this workriders maiden over 1200m and having Phenisile Mongqawa aboard helps too. On debut over 1200m she showed a nice big action and was finishing strongly to be beaten just a length into second place by the odds-on favourite Francilien. The form has not worked out too well but she did create a good visual impression and does not have a lot to beat.  Her Tony Peter-trained stablemate Bellissivar has run a lot of places but appears to be better at 1000m. The rest all look to be either not good enough or held on form.

Tony Peter could claim a quick double in the second race over 1200m. His charge Blizzard Snow dwelt on debut, losing a length or so, but also showed a nice big action and also finished second. She is also drawn high but gets a 2,5kg gender allowance and does not have a lot to beat. Busstoptohounslow has run some fair races and should enjoy this trip having run on well over 1000m in his penultimate start. He has a low draw so could be a more lively threat than his odds of 3/1 compared to 6/10 for Blizzard Snow suggest. His Lordship has shown ability and comes from some strong formlines. He returns from a layoff since April but in this field could be in the shake up with a 2,5kg claimer up, but on the downside he has the widest draw of all.

In the third race Bad Medicine was actually beaten by His Lordship the last time he ran back in April. However, he made a fair debut when a nine length second to Buffalo Storm Cody and it’s hard to find anything to beat him. The moderate pair Mizzen Sword and Antonio Gaudi should finish close together on form and could be the main dangers. 

In the fourth race over 2000m Avoontoast was a touch disappointing last time but the winner of that race, Indian Ocean, is a decent sort and was given a masterful ride by Piere Strydom. She was going the right way before that and has not only always been held in high regard by Joe Soma but the latter’s yard is in good form. Aerial’s Jet won a good race last time and was only raised two points by the handicapper and Gavin Lerena stays aboard. She should be right there. I Am Regal chased Indian Ocean home last time and was 4,50 lengths clear of Avoontoast, but some other formlines suggest Avoontoast could have her measure. I Am Regal can’t be left out of exotics though.

In the fifth race over 1400m Willy Meet Again won easily second time out after a good debut and looks to be promising and should enjoy the step up in trip too. However, he does have a high draw and has to run off an 88 merit rating in his handicap bow, so it won’t be easy. Hillary Step will not mind the step down in trip and only has to overcome a three point raise for her last win and she has a middle draw with Trent Mayhew staying aboard after that last win. Blue Horizon is ideally distance suited and the blinkers come off after she had won without them over this trip and then wore them last time when second over 1200m. That was a good Highveld debut last time and she has a nice low draw. Alabama Anna is in good form and should relish this trip. The draw of seven is on the high side. Golden Aspen is capable of a strong finish and stays this trip. However, she has a high draw. Mary Read finished a good second over 1600m first time out the maidens and the form has been franked. However, she also has a high draw.

In the sixth over 1400m Willowild looks to be one who can progress and the form of his Maiden Juvenile Plate win over 1500m at the end of July has been well franked so he can go close off an 81 merit rating . However, he is yet another fancied horse on the day who has a high draw. Perini Palace was beaten two lengths by Risky Business last time over 1500m and is 2kg better off and might enjoy the slight step down. However, his draw is also on the high side. Risky Business goes for a hattrick and has a low draw of four. Mother City faced some fair sorts as a maiden without being disgraced and has to be considered. Together Again could be dangerous from draw one.

In the seventh over 1200m Black Egret has some class and has Piere Strydom up, although if high draws are unfavourable it might be tricky from draw six out of nine. Longsword is capable of staying on strongly and a high draw might not be that much of a disadvantage if he is dropped out. Tsar Bomba returns from a layoff and the Janse van Vuuren runners have seemed to need their first outings this season. Cian The Conqueror is in good form but also has a high draw. Of the low drawn horses Esquevelle and Open Highway make appeal.

In the last race over 1200m Purpleninjaturtle makes appeal but is yet another with a tricky draw of six out of nine. Clarkson has ability over this trip and has a middle draw. Prince of Kildare sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and could do well from pole position under Muzi Yeni. King Of Numbers will enjoy reverting to this trip but has a huge draw. Phala Millions and Bregardt have nice draws and are not out of it. Written In Stone won easily last time and with the same jockey up could defy being officially 4kg under sufferance from a good draw. 

RACE 1     

11 PALACE DANCER 1 KIT KAT KATIE 7 BELLISSIVAR 3 BLACK HOLE SUN

Preview: 11 PALACE DANCER mad a good debut and should go one better. 1 KIT KAT KATIE was only 1,35 lengths behind Palace Dancer last time but is far more exposed. 7 BELLISSIVAR was a touch disappointing last Thursday but can do better. 3 BLACK HOLE SUN has shown some signs of ability and could earn here. (David Thiselton 11-1-7-3)

RACE 2     

12 BLIZZARD SNOW 4 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW 1 HIS LORDSHIP 8 AMERICAN EAGLE

Preview: 12 BLIZZARD SNOW made a good debut and could go one better. 4 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW was not disgraced in second last time and although comfortably beaten can make his presence felt again.  1 HIS LORDSHIP faced a good field in April when last seen and was not disgraced. 8 AMERICAN EAGLE is by The United States out of a Trippi mare who won on debut on the poly over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville but whose only other win was over 2000m. (David Thiselton 12-4-1-8)

RACE 3     

7 BAD MEDICINE 5 ANTONIO GAUDI 10 MIZZEN SWORD 4 SPY STORY

Preview: 7 BAD MEDICINE has not been disgraced in two good fields and has a chance here. 5 ANTONIO GAUDI is improving and looks the main danger. 10 MIZZEN SWORD beat Antonio Gaudi by just 0,25 lengths last time. 4 SPY STORY has shown glimpses of ability. (David Thiselton 7-5-10-4)

RACE 4     

1 AVOONTOAST 3 ARIEL’S JET 2 I AM REGAL 8 PARTY PUNCH

Preview: 1 AVOONTOAST is progressive so was a touch disappointing last time but can make amends. 3 ARIEL’S JET won a good race clast time and only has to overcome a two point raise. 2 I AM REGAL beat Avoontoast by 3,50 lengths last time but the latter looks capable of better. 8 PARTY PUNCH was beaten two lengths by Arie’s Jet last time and is only half-a-kilogram better off. (David Thiselton 1-3-2-8)

RACE 5     

8 WILLY MEET AGAIN 2 HILLARY STEP 1 BLUE HORIZON 3 ALABAMA ANNA

Preview: 8 WILLY MEET AGAIN won easily second time out after a good debut and looks to be promising and should enjoy the step up in trip too. 2 HILLARY STEP will not mind the step down in trip and only has to overcome a three point raise for her last win.1 BLUE HORIZON is distance suited but has to overcome an eight point raise after a fine second last time in a Non-Black type feature over 1200m. 3 ALABAMA ANNA will enjoy the course and distance and should be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 8-2-1-3) 

RACE 6     

3 WILLOWILD 7 PERINI PALACE 4 MOTHER CITY 2 RISKY BUSINESS

Preview: 3 WILLOWILD won well when stepped up to this distance category although it remains to be seen whether the high draws will be favourable. 7 PERINI PALACE ran a fair race first time out the maidens last time. 4 MOTHER CITY won a nice race last time and starts off handicapping off a reasonable merit rating. 2 RISKY BUSINESS has just reeled off a hattrick and can’t be written off as he has enjoyed this trip recently. (David Thiselton 3-7-4-2)

RACE 7     

2 BLACK EGRET 8 LONGSWORD 1 TSAR BOMBA 7 CIAN THE CONQUEROR

Preview: 2 BLACK EGRET has a touch of class and enjoys this trip. 8 LONGSWORD is capable of staying on strongly. 1 TSAR BOMBA is a consistent over this trip and should be thereabouts. 7 CIAN THE CONQUEROR won well last time and off a five point higher mark could be a threat again. (David Thiselton 2-8-1-7)

RACE 8     

1 PURPLENINJATURTLE 2 CLARKSON 6 PRINCE OF KILDARE 3 KING OF NUMBERS

Preview: 1 PURPLENINJATURTLE has made two good comeback runs from a long layoff, a win and a third, and he now has his peak run over a suitable trip. 2 CLARKSON has been effective over this trip before and is on a competitive mark. 6 PRINCE OF KILDARE is a consistent sort who has done well over this trip before and can be involved if the low draw is not a disadvantage. 3 KING OF NUMBERS will enjoy reverting to this trip. (David Thiselton 1-2-6-3) 

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