The Vodacom Durban July puzzle became a little bit clearer over the weekend with top drawer showings from most of the big guns – and even a value vote further down the log from Mike de Kock’s BARAHIN, who won the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap in fine style at Turffontein yesterday.
But the talking performance of the weekend goes to the 2018 title holder DO IT AGAIN, who demonstrated again in the Gr1 Gold Challenge that he really is a major force – and won’t be any pushover when he bids for the July double.
The legion of HAWWAAM and RAINBOW BRIDGE fans may be justifiably feeling bullish about 6 July – but the nerves must be there with DO IT AGAIN putting in a serious no nonsense performance.
The big race hype is picking up with just over three weeks to go – have you seen the latest Hollywoodbets ante-post betting?
The bread and butter racing kicked off today at Flamingo Park at 12h20 where nine competitive races face players.
Former KZN-based OUR MOON SHADOW could prove some decent value in the eighth.
The Australian-bred son of Pluck has been a model of consistency for Tienie Prinsloo in the Northern Cape and could end the Jackpot on a high for players under S’manga Khumalo.
At the Vaal on Tuesday, Paul Matchett’s top-class RUNNING BRAVE adds plenty of interest when she runs in the eighth race – an Assessment Plate.
The daughter of Brave Tin Soldier was a treble ‘hard luck story’ with narrow feature defeats in the Highveld Season and now returns from KZN where she ran a meritorious fifth in the KRA Guineas behind SANTA CLARA last time. She looks a banker in all the exotics.
Scottsville was the finishing point for the 2019 Comrades Marathon on Sunday and on Wednesday the focus switches to a competitive eight race programme on the Capital City standside track.
While he is no star, FARM YARD TRACTOR looks to have shown enough to finally get out of the maiden ranks when he jumps in the eighth.
It’s a weak field and with some of the main opposition drawn wide, the biggest threat could come from Sean Tarry’s CINNABON, who has done little to inspire with 3 places from his 14 starts – but could be value.
The week’s action rounds off at the Vaal classic track on Thursday with eight races carded.
Mike de Kock and Anton Marcus are doing a lot more business together these days and after their three-timer at Turffontein on Sunday, they team up with four runners at the Vereeniging track.
All of the quartet have chances – but LADY VAL looks a big runner in the fifth.
The daughter of High Chaparral ran a decent second behind the talented Vistula last time and could follow through here.
The top-class Marcus’ recently revived travelling policy may suggest he has an eye on the SA Champion Jockey title again!
This coming long weekend, the sprinters are back in the limelight with the Gr2 Post Merchants being run at Greyville under the lights.
The betting is out for the Merchants – click here.
Have a great week!
Till next time
Winning Form Best Bets
Flamingo Park (10/06)
Race 7 – SEATTLE SKYLINE (7)
Jockey: Nicholas PATEL – Trainer: S VON WILLINGH
SEATTLE SKYLINE won his first outing for his new stable in fine style, putting 7.25L between himself and the next best horse. He is clearly suited to this surface and if setting the pace again today, he may prove to be a very difficult horse to catch. He starts from a good draw and Nicholas Patel retains the ride.
Vaal (11/06)
Race 8 – RUNNING BRAVE (1)
Jockey: Devin HABIB – Trainer: Paul MATCHETT
RUNNING BRAVE returns to the Highveld after being a little disappointing in the Fillies Guineas down at the coast. She drops back in trip, but her style of running is such that this should not present a problem, as borne out by her form over this distance. If she is over her travels, she is taken to be the one to beat.
Scottsville Outer (12/06)
Race 4 – BEDAZZLED JOKER (9)
Jockey: Anton MARCUS – Trainer: Alyson WRIGHT
BEDAZZLED JOKER has not been far off the winners in his last seven outings and deserves a change in his fortunes. He might have won his race on 27 March had his jockey not dropped his crop. Anton Marcus is reunited with the four-year-old gelding and a strong showing can be expected.
Vaal Classic (13/06)
Race 4 – HORACE (4)
Jockey: Craig BANTAM – Trainer: Ashley FORTUNE
HORACE has won his last three runs on the bounce, with the last two being over this trip and the four-year-old looks to be a good stayer in the making. As difficult as it is to complete a quartet of wins in a row, he is the first pick.
Hollywood Syndicate
Tuesday 11th June 2019
Vaal Racecourse
Race 1 – 12:00
1200m – Maiden Juvenile Plate
1 – Blow Me Down
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Jason Gates (-2.5kg)
Wgt: 60.0
Draw: 4(17)
Predicted Betting: 12/1
He has been just off them in both his starts to date and he was clearly still learning the tricks of the trade in his latest effort, when still green in running. He tries the extra furlong today and on both starts to date, he should relish the extra ground. On his pedigree, it will be no problem and he should be in with a nice place chance with the claiming apprentice taking 2.5kg off his back this time.
Winning Form Comments: Bred for this step up in trip and has plenty of scope to improve.
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Race 4 – 13:45
1000m – Assessment Plate
9 – Look To The Sky
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Jason Gates (-2.5kg)
Wgt: 54.0kg
Draw: 6(10)
Predicted Betting: 10/1
He takes on older horses this time around, after that disappointing latest effort. He took hold of the bit in that run, after his rider looked to settle him just off the pace. He clearly didn’t enjoy the change in tactics and having pulled for the first 500m, it was always inevitable that he would compound late. He is doing very well at home and will love the drop back to the 1000m with the 2.5kg claim off his back. If he repeats any of his first two runs, he should just about win this.
Winning Form Comment: Not his run last time and better this trip.
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Race 7 – 15:35
1200m
15 – Seventh Son
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Calvin Habib
Wgt: 53.5kg
Draw: 4(18)
Predicted Betting: 14/1
He gave a solid account of himself last time out, as we had expected and that confirmed how competitive he is off this low merit rating. A few of his opposition come into this race out of his penultimate form line and having featured prominently in that run as well, he should be competitive here. The big question mark is if this run has come too close to his last run, which was only 5 days ago. With that in mind, we give him a place chance.
Winning Form Comment: Carded to race on 2019.06.06 and ran 2nd.
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