The Hollywoodbets team together with Winning Form preview the South African horse racing taking place between Monday 1st October and Thursday 4th October 2018. Get comments, tips, and more here.
Keeping It Country
Leading trainers Justin Snaith and Brett Crawford suggested independently of each other at Durbanville races on Saturday that this Wednesday’s midweek meeting at the popular ‘Country Course’ is a fitting precursor to the quality and excitement that lies ahead in the Cape Summer of Champions.
“You will go far to beat a midweek meeting anywhere boasting so many nice horses,” quipped Justin Snaith of the eight-race programme that looks to be a genuine highlight this week.
While it’s not often that we see a Gr1 winner in action at the Big D on any given day, Dan Katz’s 2016 Gold Challenge hero Mac De Lago (formerly with Weiho Marwing) has a pipe opener after finding the winner’s enclosure late last season.
But the 7yo may find it tough matching the R6 million yearling Charles, who has his first run as a 3yo after an eleven week break following his Langerman third behind boom contemporary, One World.
The son of Trippi is set to carry just 52kgs in the MR 94 Handicap. Francois Herholdt is carded to ride Brett Crawford’s rising star but cried off injured on Saturday, and he may be a doubtful starter. Watch the websites for news on that.
It is good to host new Ridgemont Highlands jockey Anton Marcus in Cape Town with six rides and one of his best could be the lightly tried Silvano 4yo Let Me Love You who takes on the consistent Andre Nel gelding Metropolitan in the third.
Anton also partners exciting Kenilworth debut winner Front And Centre in the seventh. The daughter of Dynasty beat subsequent Snaith winner Juniper Spring when romping home at generous odds in August. She looks very smart.
Glen Kotzen enjoyed great success with July winner Big City Life’s full sister Cash Register and the daughter of Casey Tibbs’s second foal to race is the cleverly named Snapscan, who makes her debut in the second. The Oratorio daughter is labelled a ‘nice sort’ and the Paarl handler is expecting a decent run from her.
The racing action gets under way at Flamingo Park today – and nowhere in SA do they fill fields like they do in the Diamond City!
A total of 139 runners are carded over the 9 races with the first race off at 12h20. It’s never easy, but the payouts should be handsome and being the first day of the month, there is still some cash-flow to play with.
While our best of the day is Roquebrune in the eighth, it may be worth noting positive comments from Stef Miller about the former Cape-based filly Captain’s Wish in the opener. The daughter of Captain Al is apparently working well after a 23 week break.
In a complex looking Bipot opener, Cliffie Miller’s Easy Peasy has a wide draw to overcome in the second, a mile contest. But she won her maiden is such facile fashion at her penultimate start, she may be worth including for value.
It is rare to find ourselves in the Eastern Cape on a Tuesday, but we won’t say no to a competitive looking Fairview eight-race all weather card, where Yvette Bremner could saddle the exacta in the first.
The Dippin Blu Stables boss saddles the Seventh Rock gelding Coal and the speedy Rebel King filly Rebel Wilson in the first. With the stablemates drawn 1 and 2, and top in-form riders Lyle Hewitson and Ryan Munger in the irons, this looks a Bremner ‘boat race’ if there ever was one!
Ex-Sean Tarry charge Jika has run one too many seconds in his career and the son of Jay Peg is our selection to get it right for his third career win in the fourth. His opener in the Eastern Cape was a commendable effort behind Valentinik.
The week’s racing roster rounds off with nine races on the Vaal Classic track on Thursday.
After a short break, the course will hopefully be in fine fettle and it won’t be easy finding winners on a tough card.
Wonderous Climber runs in the fifth race, an Apprentice Handicap, where the son of Dynasty will be ridden by progressive youngster, Luke Ferraris.
He really looks much better than a one-time winner on his better early 3yo form and could prove some value.
Diego De Gouveia rides Endofmarch in the same race for the Ashley Fortune team. Piere Strydom was called in by the Stipes after the former Cape-based gelding failed miserably after starting favourite at his first Gauteng start. He may be worth another chance.
Captain Al’s son Aeronautical has run three good races and he could shed his maiden ticket in the seventh. The Azzie Team’s 4yo steps up to the 2000m and this could be the tonic required.
Saturday hosts some great feature action at Turffontein and Durbanville and we can’t wait for a big weekend of racing.
Till next time.
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Hollywood Syndicate Runner Comments
Thursday 04 October
Vaal Classic – Race 9 (17:25)
MR 74 Apprentice Handicap
Deago Deluxe – back down the straight this time around and we are hoping he puts it together this time and goes close. Kabelo Matsuyane admittedly got it wrong last time by chasing him to the front early on and we are expecting him to revert back to old tactics of switching him off and letting him run on late. He has very little weight on his back and this definitely makes him a big runner.
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eMeM’s Tips
Fairview (02/10)
Race 1 – COAL (6)
Jockey: Lyle HEWITSON- Trainer: Yvette BREMNER
The Bremner stable holds a decent hand in this opening contest with riding engagements favouring COAL, who has produced three useful attempts to date. The bay gelding handled this surface well when going close over the minimum trip early last month and has a good draw this time around.
Durbanville (03/10)
Race 5 – BELLINGHAM BAY (3)
Jockey: Anthony ANDREWS – Trainer: Vaughan MARSHALL
BELLINGHAM BAY is a progressive sort, who could have been handled better by his young apprentice second time out and Wednesday’s top rider should get the best out of the son of Sail From Seattle.
Vaal Classic (04/10)
Race 7 – AERONAUTICAL (1)
Jockey: Francois HERHOLDT – Trainer: Mike/Adam AZZIE
The lightly-raced four-year-old AERONAUTICAL has progressed smartly with each effort and produced a highly-pleasing last effort in decent company despite racing wide. The son of Captain Al should enjoy the extra furlong and could take a power of beating in this far weaker field. The manner in which he races suggests that he could relish being equipped with blinkers on Thursday.
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