Royal gallop from July ride
IMPRESSIVE: MUZI DELIGHTED WITH PERFORMANCE OF ROYAL VICTORY AHEAD OF DURBAN JULY Key Worker in Race 5 stands out as Turffontein banker.
Last Thursday saw annual Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops and I can’t express enough how happy I was with Royal Victory’s gallop. We went a nice pace all the way round (from the 1400m) and he showed a lovely turn of foot when I asked him to quicken.
In my opinion, it was one of the more impressive gallops of the day.
I thought favourite Green With Envy was also really impressive in his gallop. He moved really well and quickened beautifully when asked, and he was able to show that he is in really good form ahead of the major test next week.
Overall, it was a lovely morning out at the track and a really good turnout too, so the ‘July vibe’ certainly kicked in and I cannot wait for next Saturday.
Last week saw the running of the Grade 3 Langerman at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1600m and Eight On Eighteen took a massive step up in class from winning his maiden to produce a lovely effort (stepped up in trip) and throw his name into the hat as one of the better two-year-olds around.
I was impressed by the win, and I think he is a horse to follow closely.
On a personal note, it was a good last week for me as I managed to bag another five winners from the time of writing last week’s column and once again I’ll be hoping to continue the trend.
It was also a really good week for the column, as our best bet (Chocolate Soldier), our value bet (Streisand) and our Pick 6 were all successful and I hope whoever followed, benefited.
Racing today takes place at Hollywoodbets Greyville where we see the annual KZN Breeders race day, while racing tomorrow is at Turffontein.
The KZN meeting is headlined by the Kwazulu-Natal Breeders Mile, where we see Mrs Geriatrix take her place, and on form she is going to prove a really tough horse to beat.
She is the best rated horse by some way and while her season hasn’t panned out the way one would have thought (lots of excuses), this is a perfect opportunity for her to get back into the winners’ enclosure.
Noble City ran second in this race last year and he rates the main danger off a good draw. He comes into the race cherry ripe, having his third run after a rest.
On the day, I have some competitive rides, but my best ride for sure comes up in Race 6 in the form of Wyzeact.
While he steps up in trip, which I believe he will stay, he is one from one on the Polytrack, and on form sets the standard by a long way. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t win, so in my opinion, he is a banker in your bets.
Now on to tomorrow’s Turffontein card on the Standside track and Race 1 is a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m. I ride Howzit Boet who ran a disappointing race last time and hopefully the step up on trip will bring about improvement. But he will have to improve drastically to feature.
Diwali Rocket ran a very good race last time after gelding and on that looks the horse to beat.
It was a fairly strong field, and a repeat of that will make him hard to beat.
Bacchus ran a really nice race on debut and with the expected natural improvement, he is the main danger.
Milan’s World had excuses last time and finished the race off nicely, so he is another to respect.
Watch the betting as the best guide to the chances of the unraced runners.
Race 2 is a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1160m and I ride Force Eight who won a really good race last time out. She is a lovely filly, but this is a really tough race and we have to give weight all around, so I’ll be happy if we can finish in the money.
On form, it will be very tough to beat Rodeo Drive. She finished a 0.30-length second in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson last time out, and a repeat of that will see her win comfortably. Poblano won a very good race last time out and she showed she is well above average.
She is the main danger because she could be anything.
Basked In Glory also won a nice race but gave the impression she will be looking for further, so she might find it more difficult against the better class of fillies over this trip.
Pointer ran second to me last time out and is now 6kg better off for the 1.25-length beating (apprentice allowance of 4kg), so she has a definite chance to run into the money.
Race 3 is a Juvenile Plate over 1160m and I ride Chili Bomb who ran quite a way back on debut and he will have to improve drastically to feature.
Bjorn Ironside won a super race last time out and showed he is a really classy horse and on that performance, he will take all the beating receiving 4kg from Pistol Pete.
Of course, Pistol Pete is the class horse and ran a really good race in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion last time. But it won’t be easy with 62kg, even though I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t finish in the first two.
Wolf Mountain has some nice form and this is his acid test, so he can go into wider bets.
Race 4 is a Maiden Plate over 1400m and I ride Battle Ofthe Bulge who is a lovely type of horse. While I’m hoping for a decent run, he’ll improve with the experience under the belt. Watch the betting as the best guide to the chances of the unraced runners.
Of the raced runners, it’s quite an open and competitive but Theres A Light looks the horse to beat on form. He can’t be far away from shedding his maiden tag and must go into all bets.
Gold Fever ran a much better race last time and the form of the race has worked out really well, so he is a definite danger.
Pressonregardless has his first run in the province and returns after a rest. But he has decent form to his name, so watch the betting and include if there is any support.
Race 5 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and my best bet on the card comes up in the form of Key Worker.
She has had two lovely runs on the Inside track and I believe she’ll love the change to the Standside track. Off draw No 5, she’ll be a hard to beat.
Her main danger is Mary Read after her good last run, but my only concern is the wide draw, as she could have to give Key Worker lots of start and that won’t be an easy task.
Sierra Sky ran a fair race on debut and with natural improvement expected, she can run into the money.
Doitwithdiamonds has her first run in the province and has some fair form to her name to be competitive. Once again, watch the market support as a guide.
Race 6 is a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m. This is wide open so go as wide as the budget allows.
I ride Festival Of Magic who won a really good race last time out and now steps up in trip, which I believe he is definitely looking for. On the evidence of that win, he could still be handily rated, so he is a definite runner and a must in all bets.
Strewn Sky ran a good post-maiden run and even though he jumps from a wide gate, he is the horse to beat.
Silvano’s Song is ultra-consistent and gets another decent opportunity to add another win to his name. He must go into all bets because he has a definite winning chance.
Vesuvio, Real Relief and Leeson all have good outside chances and must be included into wider bets.
Race 7 is a Middle Stakes over 1000m and I ride Danilo Danilovitch who has unfortunately just lost his form recently. He will have to come back to his old self to feature.
My value bet comes up in the form of Far Away Winter, who is having his third run after a rest and should be cherry ripe.
He is also dropping in trip which is a positive for me, but he also drops drastically in class. With all of those positives, I think he will run a massive race with Piere Strydom on board and represents some lovely value.
Chasing Happiness won a good race last time out and rates the main danger as the joint best weighted horse. She also drops back in trip and I believe this will suit her as well, so another massive run can be expected.
Stable companion Karangetang needs to be included into wider bets, as this looks a fair opportunity for him to run into the money.
Linkin Navigator returns after a break and I would suggest, watch the betting as a guide to his chances.
Race 8 is a MR 79 Handicap over 1000m and I believe Master Casper will take all the beating. He looks a really progressive, unexposed two-year-old and his current rating could be well below where he will end up. Even though he gives weight away, I think he has the ability to do so.
Lovegrass (stable companion) has been slightly disappointing since her impressive maiden win, but she returns to the straight course and rates the danger on that.
Cityscape won a good race last time out and on that, has a definite each-way chance.
Duke Of Rock ran below form last time out but if he returns to his best form then he is a runner.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 14 Key Worker
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 3 Far Away Winter
PICK 6
R1008
Leg 1: 1, 2
Leg 2: 1,2,3,4,9, 13 Leg 3: 14
Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 Leg 5: 3, 5, 7
Leg 6: 1, 5, 6, 9