Hollywoodbets previews the upcoming horse racing in South Africa for the weekend of the 31st August to the 2nd September 2018. Racing starts with Fairview on Friday, Kenilworth and Turffontein on Saturday, and Scottsville closing off the weekend on Sunday. Read more here.
Spring is in the Air!
It is time to up the ante this weekend with the Highveld Spring Season getting underway at Turffontein on Saturday with the running of the first graded stakes feature of the 2018/19 season.
The nine race programme on the inside track looks to be a quality card, headlined by the Gr3 Spring Spree Stakes – a typically competitive early season handicap. The picture is clouded with a few runners coming off a rest and a question mark against fitness. The barrier draw will also play a key role – so it’s not easy!
The class horse in the race is undoubtedly the 7yo Talktothestars, who jumps from gate 1 with Mark Khan in the irons. He looks nicely handicapped but after a 22 week break, he could find Sean Tarry’s smart 3yo Chimichuri Run a bit too hot to handle.
In the opener, Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Sweet Red looks ready to win her maiden, but the eye keeps falling on Frankly. The latter has had a few chances – and we could get all our money back as she steps up to the mile at her second run after a rest!
The weekend ball gets rolling with an eight-race Fairview polytrack programme on Friday.
Mogok’s Time ran a smart first race in the Eastern Cape last week after seven fair runs in Johannesburg. Grant Paddock takes him up to the mile and he should go close in the third.
We hear Greg Cheyne is back tanned and relaxed from his holiday in the East and the local champion has a nice card of rides. His best could be former Brett Crawford charge Union Jack in the non black-type Founder’s Trophy feature. The Captain Al 6yo won his third start here and looks a horse that will pay his way in this centre during this term.
Kenilworth hosts nine races on Saturday and with rain forecast, it could be a tricky puzzle awaiting punters.
Ryan Munger has joined the powerful Glen Kotzen team and the combination can set the bar with the Sail From Seattle filly Merkaba looking to shed her maiden in the eighth race. She could be the bet of the day.
The dogs have also been barking about Candice Bass-Robinson first-timer Spirit Of Song in the third race. Watch the betting as the Jackson progeny have been flying.
The Scottsville inside track eight race programme on Sunday looks likely to test our skills, with a good few open races, meaning a bit of luck could come into play.
The Duncan Howells trained Dynasty colt Thanksgiving made a fair 1200m debut at this course a fortnight ago and steps up to the 1400m – he certainly looks likely to enjoy the extra on breeding. His 11 draw is a little worrying, but he looks to have some class about him and will be a popular Pick 6 banker.
Trainer Louis Goosen saddles 6 of the 9 runners in the seventh race and must be the man to follow – on numbers alone. But beware Tony Rivalland’s La Ferrari – a horse who has been knocking at the door.
Hollywood sponsored trainer Garth Puller is our personality of the week – remember to pick up a copy of your Winning Form – and he could end the weekend’s local racing menu in style in the eighth race. London Knight enjoys a 2,5kg Khanya Sakayi allowance and the son of Great Britain could pull off an escape act down the inside rail from his inside barrier gate in a wide open low division handicap.
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Till next time.
