Horse racing is widely touted as the ‘brain game’ when it comes to the leisure rand and for this reason for years it was the only legalised form of ‘gambling’ before lotto, scratch cards and casinos were given license.

The number of gambling zombies mesmerized by the pressing of buttons and staring at revolving screen images beggars belief. When they lose, which is often, they blame bad luck. Punters on horse racing can blame a myriad of other factors such as going – good or bad – bad jockeys, bad trainers or bad horses – they can also add to that their own bad judgement.

The first night meeting of the new season sees racing switching to the Greyville poly and it will be a ‘brain test’ for punters who are faced with a tricky card.

Form for the first two races on the card is thin but Mark Khan, now a regular rider for Lezeanne Forbes, can get the evening off to a winning start when he partners Easy Ginger.

The filly showed good improvement when taking on winners last time out. Back in the maidens she should have a bright chance in a weak field. Danger could be Twice Over Satin who has only had a barrier trial but she put up a decent time and the ‘winner’ of that trial had some fair form behind his name.

In the second, Don’t Look Back improved nicely in blinkers at his second outing and that form has held up quite nicely. He should also be suited by the extra 300m. Paddington’s Luck is another that should enjoy the step up in trip and the stable is in excellent form.

When ever Johan Janse van Vuuren comes into town his horses invariably start favourite and that is the case in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The presence of Anton Marcus aboard Dreams Are Made adds to the filly’s appeal and she was a short at 17-10 yesterday. Second favourite is the Duncan Howells-trained Starlight. The daughter of Stagelight has a staying pedigree and should much prefer this trip to her debut sprint. The stable is also in form with a brace of winners at Scottsville on Wednesday.

Second Request, a facile winner of her maiden, has been priced up 6-10 favourite for the fourth although Sean Tarry’s filly is not the best weighted filly in this Graduation Handicap. Statute was a victim of her easy debut win and subsequent beating of the well-tried Miss Varlicious and was lumbered with a rather unrealistic merit rating of 98. She has dropped to a 91 for this race, in theory 5kg superior to Second Request, but has been forced to compete in tough company courtesy of her high rating. However, Michael Roberts steps her up to a mile tonight and she makes her poly debut.

Also in the line-up are two useful performers from Dean Kannemeyer’s Summerveld yard and both Miss Milanna and Mara warrant serious consideration.

The fifth is another competitive handicap but Marcus appears to have picked another plum in Fieldmarshal Fenix. The gelding has been knocking at the door for some time now and was only run out of it late last Sunday. He is back over his best trip and his consistency can be rewarded. Elusive Wolf has a big weight but is another overdue a win while Piaget Prince nearly caused a major boil-over when a close-up third at long odds last time out and the stable is starting to turn the corner.

Van Vuuren and Marcus team up with Penny Royal in the sixth but in another tricky filly’s handicap is only a luke warm favourite at 2-1 ahead of recent course and distance winner Call Me Winter.

Noemi was thrown in at the deep end when lining up for the Gr3 The Debutante at the end of last season but earned her place with smart win on debut. She takes on a lot weaker here but again it’s not a race to go light in, in the exotics.

It can test the nerves to rely in a banker in the last leg of an exotic bet but Benfontein will be a banker in many a bet. The gelding has not been out of the money since arriving in KZN from the Cape and with blinkers on for the first time he could have the measure of Putchini and Honest Prince.

By Andrew Harrison