The Hollywoodbets team gives you a run down of all the South African horse racing action taking place this weekend from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September 2018. Included are comments on the Hollywood Syndicate’s runners, as well as Magic Tips best bets for the weekend. Read more below and have a great Heritage Day South Africa!
Our Happy Heritage
South Africans across our rainbow nation will join hands and celebrate diverse cultures and traditions on Heritage Day on Monday, which also means a very welcome long weekend for some – and maybe even a great reason to enjoy a braai.
With the big season only getting into stride up North on 6 October, it’s a weekend of overall low-key, but competitive racing action, with the Walmer Handicap the national top-liner.
The 1800 Fairview polytrack topliner hosts a diverse and varied field of eleven fillies and mares and it’s a typically tricky handicap.
Justin Snaith saddles the Twice Over filly Libra – an improving sort who ticks most of the ‘likely winner’ boxes in a race where a surprise is not ruled out.
Cape Leopard steps up to the 2200m in the third and the son of The Apache looks ready to shed his maiden.
Greg Cheyne rides Boxley who has good form and takes on last season’s 2yo sensation Carlita in the seventh. Their clash should make for a fascinating duel.
The Coastal Horse Care Unit are hosted at Greyville on Friday evening where the evening is themed ‘Denim & Diamonds’ and punters will be excited to welcome back the ‘Night Time is the Right Time’ culture which has proven so popular.
The Australian-bred Joburg raider Dreams Are Made looks one of the best bets of the evening when she steps out under Anton Marcus in the third.
There is no Cape racing this weekend so the Turffontein Inside track gets all of our attention on Saturday.
Nine well packed fields are on offer and Indy Ice looks ready to win her maiden. The Mike de Kock filly enjoys the services of Bernard Fayd’herbe in the fourth and after her near miss last time, must go very close.
Gavin Lerena has found his feet quickly after his return from injury and he could be on the value proposition in the get out stakes – or lucky last, as we like to label it. He rides the Trippi filly Goa for Candice Dawson in a low grade handicap.
The Greyville turf track is the venue for Sunday where Natie Kotzen’s Fort Wood gelding Tommy Grand can follow up on his last win when he runs in the fifth. This is a Graduation Handicap and he is fit and in good form and could have the measure of his field.
Summerveld-based Yogas Govender does very well with his small string and the promising Arianos Shadow returns from an 8 week break when she runs in the sixth. This Querari filly has done nothing wrong in three starts and the locals will be hoping that she can down the colours of Gauteng raider Regal Graduation, who looks her main opposition.
The Heritage Day Turffontein Inside track on Monday sees the return to action of the exciting Alyaasaat.
The son of Dawn Approach was the bridesmaid in the Mike De Kock Champion Stakes exacta on Super Saturday last term when he chased stablemate Soqrat home. He runs in the sixth race and looks the standout if not too much in need of the outing.
Lucky Houdalakis’ Smart Deal could be a stayer to follow in the future as he matures, and he looks ready to register a first win after four seconds when he contests the 2600m third race. He must surely be a perfect Place Accumulator banker and won’t get a better opportunity to win.
Enjoy the holiday break and the racing.
Next weekend promises plenty of action at the Vaal with the Grand Heritage taking pride of place.
Till we chat again.
Hollywood Syndicate Runner Comments
Greyville – Friday Night (21 September):
Race 8 (21:00) – 1200m
Honest Prince – Things really didn’t go his way last week and he ended up finishing a disappointing 7th. But he is definitely looking for this extra furlong and possibly a 1400m thereafter (he is a winner over 1400m). With this being his 3rd run after a rest, he is cherry ripe and with some luck he should be on top of them at the finish. The obvious dangers in the race look to be the likes of Queensbury Rules, who is dropping down in ratings and should be cherry ripe with this being his 3rd run after a rest. Benfontein also looks like he should be challenging the winner’s box soon.
Turffontein Inside Course – Saturday (22 September):
Race 6 (15:25) – 1800m
Whiteleaf Hills – after a very disappointing run last time out, he is going to have to make drastic improvement for us to persist any longer with him. We’re going to remain optimistic as it is possible that he didn’t enjoy having two runs 5 days apart, especially with the latter run being over 2400m. He is 4,5 kgs better off with Patric, on his penultimate start over the same distance and he ran on nicely on that occasion. The wide draw from the 1800m isn’t too much of a concern as he seems to prefer coming from off the pace. He has also tumbled down in the ratings, so this is a great opportunity for him to make amends for that last effort.
Greyville (Turf) – Sunday (23 September)
Race 3 (14:05) – 1600m
Alphamikefoxtrot – nice run over 1450m last Saturday and we are going to travel him down to Greyville for this start over a mile, as he is struggling to get a draw in JHB. Ironically, he has drawn 8-11 from arguably the worst 1600m in the country to be drawn wide. Nonetheless, the field looks like a very weak maiden and Luke has retained the ride which is definitely ideal. He will have to ride him a little more patiently over this extra 150m and let him go as late as possible. With that in mind, he should enjoy the Greyville circuit. Should he stay the trip I think he will be a big runner, however not many of the Var progeny have gone a mile or further (with the exception of Variety Club and a small handful of others) as they are mostly sprinters. Incidentally, Red Mars (Justin Snaith) is the last Var to win over a mile on the 15th of September. He looks relatively decent having won 4 from 13 starts.
eMeM’s Weekend Racing Tips
eMeM’s Top Bet for Fairview (21/09)
Race 3: SHALLCROSS (1)
Jockey: Chase MAUJEAN – Trainer: Tara LAING
The well-bred son of Twice Over, SHALLCROSS, has progressed smartly with each of his two local starts and he stayed on for second over a slightly shorter distance on the grass last month. He had the long-time maiden and new stablemate FUJIN nearly five lengths adrift of him in third position and should have more to offer on his peak effort.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Greyville (21/09)
Race 2: DON’T LOOK BACK (10)
Jockey: Warren KENNEDY – Trainer: Gavin VAN ZYL
DON’T LOOK BACK hit top stride late in his much-improved second showing over a mile in the capital last month and his pedigree indicates that the blinkered son of Judpot will relish this test of stamina. Of course, the runner-up of his last start – White Lightning – boosted the formline with a subsequent triumph.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Turffontein (22/09)
Race 4: INDY ICE (6)
Jockey: Bernard FAYD’HERBE – Trainer: Mike DE KOCK
INDY ICE made the expected improvement when he was pipped into second in a rough finish over this trip second time out, but the fitting of blinkers could be the ideal tonic for the smart son of Mambo In Seattle, who has drawn well on his track debut. The de Kock inmate should take a power of beating.
eMeM’s Top Bet for Greyville (23/09)
Race 1: DIECI (4)
Jockey: Jarred SAMUEL – Trainer: Kumaran NAIDOO
DIECI seems to prefer the minimum trip and the lightly-raced chestnut produced her career best effort when she ran on strongly for second behind her impressive winning stablemate In The Stars earlier this month. Her experience around the turn at this venue will stand her in good stead and she holds strong claims with her 2.5kgs claiming apprentice retaining the ride.
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