Greyville’s PinkDrive racemeeting is the place to be tomorrow night because it will not only provide an opportunity to reach into your pockets and support breast cancer awareness but the course should also be abuzz with atmosphere.
Patrons are encouraged to wear pink and the jockeys themselves will all be wearing pink silks for race five, while there will be plenty of on course entertainment as well as spot prizes.
Plenty of excitement will also be provided by the nine races on the polytrack and the clash between the Dean Kannemeyer pair Solar Star and Master James and the Frank Robinson-trained Olma in the Listed Jonsson Workwear Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m is eagerly anticipated.
The other nine contenders in this 12 horse field can by no means be written off but these three have been particularly eyecatching on the poly.
The Dynasty filly Olma has run three times on the poly between 1600m and 2000m and has won these starts by an average of five lengths. She last ran in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville in June and was not disgraced in fifth 2,15 lengths behind the winner.
Robinson recently took her to Greyville for a gallop and she has been putting in excellent work at home. She will be fully wound up for this race.
She is drawn well in five under Ian Sturgeon but is eight points higher in the merit ratings than her last win over 2000m here back in February and is now also up against some hardened male handicappers, so won’t have it easy.
Dean Kannemeyer’s pair Solar Star and Master James are doing “exceptionally well” and are coming off a pleasing gallop together on the Summerveld grass on Monday. Kahal gelding Solar Star was travelling well in his last start on June 28 at Greyville in the KZN Breeders Million over 1600m when he suddenly dropped the bit and it was discovered later he had been hit by a clod in the eye. He beat the useful Bold Inspiration in his only poly start over 1600m. He followed up by winning the Listed Sledgehammer over 1750m at Scottsville with something in hand, which suggested he would handle the extra 150m on this faster surface. He is however four points higher in the merit ratings since his last win and ten points higher than his last poly win and he also has a wide draw to overcome. He will be ridden by Warren Kennedy.
Master James, who is by Jet Master, was fancied by the yard last time out in his seasonal reappearance over 1600m on the poly but ran green in his first outing after gelding. The blinkers have now been fitted and Kannemeyer is expecting this to bring big improvement. Master James will have no problem staying the trip. He has won twice on the poly over 1600m and also went close over 1900m on the surface. He is seven points higher in the merit ratings than his last win but showed his class in his penultimate start when a 0,3 length back in the Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville. The gelding operation and blinkers should bring out improvement, so he is an intriguing runner from a fair draw of seven under Luyolo Mxothwa.
Kannemeyer is unable to separate his pair and expected good runs from both of them.
By David Thiselton
Picture: Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)
