The Hollywoodbets racing team previews the weekend’s racing action from Friday 19th October to Sunday 21st October 2018. We cover South African racing from Fairview, Turffontein, Durbanville as well as two Greyville meetings. Read more here.
A Grand Weekend Ahead!
It will hopefully be third time lucky this weekend for the Grand Heritage concept. The 28 horse race that was scheduled for the Vaal on 29 September became the two legged Grand Series at Turffontein on 13 October – before the rains came in force to spoil that party.
The features are carded again when the Turffontein Inside Track hosts a bumper twelve race programme on Saturday.
While we have already discussed these races at length, the outcome could now be decided by whichever horse has been kept best on the boil, and the respective trainer’s skills will be tested. While not ideal, it certainly makes for interesting racing, with personal gut feel a possible winner over raw form.
Lyle Hewitson will be looking for his 11th winner of an injury interrupted season when he throws a leg over what looks the best bet on the Turffontein card in the Oracy filly, Forest Express. A runaway course-and-distance winner of her last start, she could be too strong for the boys.
The weekend gets under way with an eight-race card on the Fairview polytrack.
After Tuesday’s pressure of eight favourites at the same venue – they won four races – Alan Greeff and Greg Cheyne have another eight shots at the target.
Best of their runners could be the super-consistent son of Redoute’s Promise, Aldo, who is set for a fourth victory on the trot when he lines up against six opponents in the second race.
Grant Paddock saddles Prospect Strike in the fifth. This smart sort is yet to win in nine runs in the Eastern Cape since relocating from Joburg and ran a decent third on Tuesday behind Border Control. He will not lack for fitness and must surely break the ice soon.
The issues with the Greyville polytrack that saw Wednesday’s meeting abandoned will hopefully have been resolved as we look forward to eight races under the lights on Friday evening.
The game mare Ideal Duel is our value choice of the evening when she runs in the sixth race. The daughter of Ideal World has not won in a while but returns to the all-weather after two decent placed efforts on the Scottsville turf track.
Darryl Moore celebrated his birthday on Wednesday and he could get back into the winner’s box for a belated present when Unbelievable Lad jumps from the pole position draw in the seventh. The son of Toreador enjoys the polytrack and will go close with some luck in running.
Running alongside Turffontein on Saturday, Durbanville hosts an eight-race programme and it is pleasing to note more bulk in the fields.
Joey Ramsden and Bernard Fayd’herbe team up with the progressive looking Consul Of War in the first race. The Australian-bred gelding jumps from a good draw and may have most to fear from the recent improver Carlton Heights.
The Oratorio filly Cantata has run two good seconds in her first two outings and steps up to the 1400m in the second race. With Ryan Munger doing duty at Turffontein, Keagan De Melo flies in from KZN for the ride.
The only black-type feature of the weekend is the Listed Michaelmas Handicap which forms part of the eight-race Greyville turf programme on Sunday.
Brett Crawford’s highly vaunted East Cape Derby star American Landing will strip fitter and enjoy the step up in trip from the mile of his last start, where he was staying on well. He gets as much as 9,5kgs from the well-performed local Roy Had Enough in a handicap that doesn’t exactly end with the duo. Gavin van Zyl saddles the only 3yo in Marchingontogether and the lightly tried Pathfork colt could be worth including.
It’s always a thrill to end the weekend on a high and the lucky last presents a quartet minefield.
Luke Ferraris takes the weight off Paul Gadsby’s Arrow’s Mark and we will be taking our chances with him and Nijinsky’s Son as roving bankers in a field where the scattered form looks very likely to be turned on its head.
This weekend also sees the richest racemeeting in British horseracing history at Ascot, with the headliner, the Gr1 QIPCO Champions Stakes boasting a purse of £1.3m as the most valuable 2000m race in Europe.
Last year’s winner Cracksman could get some blinkers fitted to sharpen him up.
Frankel’s champion son was a stunning seven-length winner of the race in 2017 but was under pressure when winning the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, and again below his best when runner-up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The anticipated clash with his John Gosden stablemate Roaring Lion won’t happen, with the latter going the mile route of the QE11 Stakes.
While talking international racing, it is thrilling to hear that Nathaniel’s dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Enable is to run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on 3 November at Churchill Downs.
After that run, the big debate will centre around whether she will remain in training as a five-year-old and go for a historic third Arc win next year – or be retired for a breeding career.
What a dream horse to own!
Have a great week and weekend with plenty of winners.
Till next time.
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Hollywood Syndicate
Runner Comments
Friday 19 October
Greyville Polytrack
Race 1 (17:05) – 1200m
Alphamikefoxtrot – he attempts to break the maidens at the 20th time of asking and this time we revert back to the sprint over 1200m. This is the first time he steps out onto the all weather track and with that in mind we would again advise caution, when considering him as an outright selection. He has a decent chance with the weight off his back and we expect to see him staying on in the latter stages.
Sunday 21 October
Greyville Turf Track
Race 6 (16:00) – 1000m
Seventh Son – He run well above his rating last time out in an Assessment Plate, behind a decent sort in the form of William the Silent. Now he comes into this race with a nice chance. Young apprentice Kabelo Matsuyane takes the 4kg’s off his back and for the first time since his break he gets a decent draw around the bend. He has a good each way chance with a bit of luck in running.
Honest Prince – He has had two disappointing starts of late, however he gets the draw from pole position this time around and this could make the world of difference. Back to the 1000m with the weight off his back, he should be running on late and has an outside win chance.
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eMeM’s Tips for the Weekend
(Exclusive to Winning Form)
eMeM’s Top Bet for Fairview (19/10)
Race 5: QUERARI VIKING (6)
Jockey: Ryan Munger– Trainer: Sharon B KOTZEN
This is another highly-competitive mile handicap. The formline of which could be worth following. The first selection is the well-handicapped QUERARI VIKING, who has performed extremely well in both his local starts. The entire’ was outrun late into second in a feature over an extra furlong three weeks ago, and will enjoy this slight drop in distance.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Greyville (19/10)
Race 5: BELFRY (2)
Jockey: Anton MARCUS – Trainer: Sean TARRY
BELFRY has been thereabout since arriving in this province and the Tarry-inmate undoubtedly should have gone closer but for traffic issues at a crucial stage of his last start at this venue. He should reverse the form with NET WORK JET, who has an awful Polytrack record despite having turned the corner in recent outings.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Turffontein (20/10)
Race 1: FOREST EXPRESS (4)
Jockey: Lyle HEWITSON – Trainer: Sean TARRY
The four-year-old filly FOREST EXPRESS had an impressive last c & d triumph in a similar contest and the Tarry-inmate should again take all the beating. She is marginally best-weighted but has much more to offer and will be cherry-ripe on Saturday.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Durbanville (20/10)
Race 3: REDIAL (2)
Jockey: Grant BEHR – Trainer: Dean KANNEMEYER
REDIAL is undoubtedly above-average as his high-quality handicap debut shows but the lightly-raced son of Twice Over clearly has major issues. That said, he will strip fitter after that recent comeback outing and could still be way ahead of the handicapper’s assessment.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Greyville (21/10)
Race 3: CAN YOU FEEL IT (3)
Jockey: Warren KENNEDY – Trainer: Gareth VAN ZYL
CAN YOU FEEL IT showed high-class ability during her juvenile days last term which culminated with a third-place finish in a Grade 1 over a mile. She is c & d suited in this far lesser company and was impressive in her barrier trial recently. The daughter of Jackson should take a power of beating from her good draw.
