Check out our weekly catchup of horseracing action between Friday and Sunday, including all five local meetings.
It’s another great weekend of racing and rugby ahead. Our beloved Boks take on the dynamic flair of the Italians on Friday, while the Spring season’s first Gr2 features on Saturday, coupled with a Gr3 Cape Summer double feature kick-starter, ups the ante trackside.
The runaway victory against Namibia will see the Springboks with their tails up in Shizuoka on Friday – despite the Azzurri desperate to resurrect the memory of the passion and fire of Florence 2016, when they shocked the world.
The great leveller of the hard knocks and often curved balls of international competition when the kick-off whistle blows, means that an upset can never be ruled out.
Check our Rugby World Cup betting options – click here
The Highveld Spring Season gets into top gear with a classy feature fest on Saturday, headed by the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge and the Gr2 Joburg Spring (F&M) Challenge.
The two 1450m contests on the Turffontein inside track are run at weight-for-age plus penalties and both races are super competitive.
On his best form, Mike de Kock’s BUFFALO BILL CODY could bounce back from his slightly disappointing effort when beaten out of the money in the Gr1 Champions Cup last term.
The lightly-raced son of Redoute’s Choice had built a massive reputation at home and he can get back into top flight on Saturday – with only his draw to beat to win the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge.
A half hour earlier, the De Kock yard could again be the stable to follow, when GIN FIZZ takes on thirteen opponents in the fairer sex match.
This is a competitive bunch though and the likes of last year’s winner CASCAPEDIA, top speedster SCHIPPERS, and the unexposed recent debut winner SIDONIE are all capable of popping up.
At Durbanville on the same afternoon, the Cape Summer Season rises proudly from the horizon with the running of the Gr3 Matchem Stakes and Gr3 Diana Stakes.
Classy UNDERCOVER AGENT skipped the opportunity to go to stud and makes a welcome return to action in the Matchem. The son of Captain Al is a lethal forward galloper and from his 2 draw could be tough to peg back.
Dean Kannemeyer’s award-winning two-year-old of last term, AFRICAN WARRIOR, has his opening start of the season and takes on the older generation from the widest draw. As Kannemeyer conceded – ‘we have to start somewhere!’
AFRICAN WARRIOR has a terrific turn of foot and his presence adds plenty of interest.
In the Diana Stakes, the 2018 Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner FRONT AND CENTRE jumps from pole position and could put the memory of a frustrating SA Champions Season well behind her.
HELEN’S IDEAL and SUGAR GIRL are no slouches and race fitness is a factor. LESEDI LA RONA, with one run under the belt could be the lurker at some value.
The weekend gets underway at Fairview on Friday with eight races on the Polytrack.
Alan Greeff and Greg Cheyne could enjoy another profitable day at the office and the seven-year-old Var gelding JUAN TWO THREE bids for his 13th win when he runs in the fifth. He runs well fresh and must be the horse to beat.
Hollywoodbets Greyville hosts two meetings over the weekend – the opening of the popular night racing season on Friday evening, and a turf meeting on Sunday.
Kumaran Naidoo’s overdue BLING A DING DING has had ten opportunities to win her first race and she won’t get a better opportunity than the opener on Friday evening. The daughter of What A Winter has a wide draw to beat, but S’manga Khumalo should have her number after two good seconds.
On Sunday, there are a further eight races on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf. It’s a tricky card with some decent fields and we’d all love to strike early on.
While DUKE OF YORK is the obvious danger, we are siding with ORCHID STREET’s Gauteng form as the decider. The son of Judpot is the choice to win the first. He has a wide draw to overcome and backing five-year-old maidens is probably not a get-rich-quick philosophy on any Sunday. But we are going with Muzi Yeni to get him home.
The Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup ante-post market has attracted plenty of interest with some big names amongst the first entries.
Find the Summer Cup betting market here – there could be plenty of value lurking for the astute player.
Enjoy all the action on the field and on the track.
Till next time.
Friday 4th October 2019
Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack
Race 1 – 17:02
1000m – Maiden Plate (Fillies)
8 – Listen To Lilly
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Jason Gates (-1.5)
Wgt: 59.0kg
Draw: 9 (11 Runners)
Current Betting: 20/1
We were rather shocked about her debut effort last month, as her work at home had been so impressive. Danielson jumped off and mentioned that she definitely gave him a decent feel, but in the same breath she was still very dumb and green. We have decided to drop her into a sprint now and the idea will be to bounce her out to a handy position early on and hopefully the reduced trip will induce some big improvement.
Once again, her final sprint up on Wednesday was another very promising work-out and we are hoping that she learnt enough in that debut run to turn things around. On her work at home it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her show big improvement, but she will have to show us first before we can tip her with any confidence to the public.
Winning Form Comment: Needed debut effort badly. Would’ve gained from the experience and tries the Poly. Can improve.
Race 6 – 19:57
1400m – MR 80 Handicap
1 – Uncle Charlie
Trainer: Garth Puller
Jockey: Jason Gates (-1.5)
Wgt: 61.5kg
Draw: 8 (13 Runners)
Current Betting: 10/1
He has had a useful entrance into the post-maiden ranks, having run a good second in his penultimate start, followed by a fair run against stronger opposition last time. He now steps up to a trip where he won his maiden three starts back and this will be a great opportunity to use his smart turn of foot, over the extra furlong.
From gate 8, he will be looking for a mid-field position with the early pace expected to be brisk and with a bit of luck in early running he’ll hopefully avoid being caught out wide, in the ‘cheap seats’. He is in a good place right now and we’re expecting a bold showing from the son of Curved Ball. He’s a worthy inclusion with an outside win chance and a good place chance.
Winning Form Comment: Took on stronger in latest. Won maiden over this distance. Chance if fit.
