The PinkDrive meeting at Greyville is here at last and the crowds should be flocking to the course in their pink outfits to support the worthy cause of breast cancer awareness as well as enjoying plenty of on course entertainment and great racing.
There look to be some good opportunities for punters, which is usually the case on a polytrack card.
In the Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, Master James has been fitted with blinkers since running green on his first outing after gelding and he is doing “exceptionally well” after taking part in a grass gallop at Summerveld on Monday alongside Solar Star. The latter had excuses in his last start in the KZN Breeders Million in June as he was hit by a clod and he has also been doing exceptionally well. He won his only poly start over 1600m and should enjoy this trip. Olma has won her three poly starts from 1600-2000m by an average of five lengths and will be fully wound up having recently been taken to Greyville for a gallop. She is drawn well in five under Ian Sturgeon but is eight points higher in the merit ratings since her last win and is up against battle hardened males so won’t have it easy. The selection is Master James to beat Olma, Solar Star and Alghadeer with The Royal Rhumba making most appeal of the rest.
In the first over 1400m, Ricochet Flyer has fared well against some good sorts and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip. Dark Avenger drops back to the trip of his best run and should be thereabouts from a good draw. Oracle Kingdom has only ever faced useful sorts and is better than his form suggests so could earn here under a 2,5kg claimer over a step up in trip which should suit. Royal Champion and Buster Brown could earn too and Buck Eye by Ideal World is the most interesting of the first-timers.
In the second over 1400m, First Sea Lord has been expensive to follow for win-only punters, but this looks to be a good opportunity over a suitable course and distance and he will be hard to beat from a plum draw. Shine Up is having his third run after a rest from a good draw over a suitable trip and should earn in this weak field. Quantity is likely improving and should enjoy the step up in trip while betting moves for the two-first-timers by Dynasty and Visionaire respectively, Filoli and Stokvel, should be monitored.
In the third over 1400m, the hard knocking Queen Of Thrones gets a good opportunity to get off the mark from a good draw. Red Seductress hasn’t been disgraced against one or two fair sorts and should enjoy the step up in trip. Gordon’s Cungee has pace and should appreciate the step up in trip so is interesting with Delpech up from a good draw.
In the fourth over 1000m, Sea Urchin is the one to beat from pole position under Delpech, especially if he jumps on terms as he has been close up to two good sorts in his two starts over this trip despite losing a couple of lengths on both occasions. Lord Luton improved with blinkers on the turf with this same 2,5kg claimer up which makes him interesting here as he is well-bred for the poly being by Miesque’s Approval. Bank It is a consistent sort who can earn again.
In the fifth over 1600m, Let It Rip would prefer further, but she has been doing well at home and can follow up on her easy course and distance win in May, albeit off an eleven point higher merit rating. Mission Rapids is hard to ride as she usually pulls if she jumps well and her best win was when able to stride out freely before settling in behind horses as the handler had held her by mistake, causing her to lose five lengths. However, if she does manage to settle she will be the one to beat as she has some class. Topweight Royal Denise proved herself a capable sort when beating the classy Sabaha on turf over 1400m and Delpech might bring out the best in her off a four point higher merit rating from pole position.
In the seventh over 1000m, Arabian National is ultra-quick and won his only poly start over this course and distance, so is interesting from a good draw with Delpech up. Harrison appears to be a fair sort who is improving and from a good draw he could earn a place, or even a win, and a same could be said for Tonto.
In the eighth over 1000m Regardstobroadway will be hard to beat from a good draw if behaving himself at the start as he is quick, classy and should have benefitted from his last outing. All True Man is knocking on the door over course and distance and is drawn in pole and Apollo’s Gift should be right there too as he is improving and had a legitimate excuse when finishing second over this distance at Scottsville last time.
The last over 1000m Heart Of Christmas showed pace on debut at Scottsville over 1200m and was green so could cause an upset as the form of that race has worked out quite well. She will have to improve considerably to reverse form with Chapel Queen, but will likely appreciate the step down in trip as she was up with the pace before beginning to run all over the place. Chapel Queen has good natural speed so should be involved under Delpech. However, she does have to overcome a high draw. The obvious horse in the race is Simla and she will be right there if not being used up too much early to overcome a high draw.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: Master James (Nkosi Hlophe)
