Greyville racecourse stages two mixed turf and polytrack meetings over the weekend on Friday night and Sunday respectively and the latter features the Non-Black Type Highland Night Cup.

One of the most intriguing races is the second on Sunday, a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m on turf.

The three-year-old Banbury is 2kg better off with any other horse in the field and is drawn well in barrier two over a trip that should be ideal as she has always been up there over 1600m and, when settling well, has shown a good turn of foot.

She was looking fit and well at Summerveld yesterday and strode out well on her own in some fast work on the beach sand.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl said, “The trip should suit her nicely, her last two runs have been a bit disappointing although she did improve in the second of them and we hope to see her back to form here.”

Maybe Yes also worked on the beach and wasn’t being hard pressed to keep up with the useful sprinter Cuvee Brut, although the latter was also cruising. Trainer Brett Crawford’s assistant Barry Donnelly said that her last run over 1200m at Scottsville had just been a prep and added that she had “come on a lot” since then. She is drawn well in six.

Dean Kannemeyer said that Indaba had been injured on Met day meaning she had only been walked for a while, so would probably need it. However, he added that she would stay further and had lots of scope, so running fresh here could be interesting.

Justin Snaith sad that it would be a “prep” run for Acrostar and he was hoping for a nice run that could be built on.

Topweight Arcetri Pink has her first run for Kumaran Naidoo. She has speed and a fine turn of foot, but is known to prefer soft ground.

Neil Bruss said that the talented Red Flame had been doing well, but lamented her wide draw. She will be suited to the 1400m trip.

Maybe Yes is tipped to beat Banbury with Red Flame next best.

One of the most eyecatching workouts of the morning was put in by the Kannemeyer-trained Classy Fighter, who appeared to be getting the better of the Vodacom Durban July entry Solar Star on the beach sand. He runs in the sixth race on Sunday, a competitive 1400m race on the poly, having been raised three points for a narrow defeat over that course and distance last time out. He now has a wide draw to contend with but should go close.

This race provides another opportunity to take advantage of the Majmu Cape Fillies Guineas-winning form, which has been the form race of the season, as Grey Light was ten lengths back in that race. This big grey filly looked tailor made for the poly when scooting in by 7,5 lengths over 1600m last August. However, it is her first run since February and she is drawn very wide.

Gareth van Zyl said that Buffalo Bill had been prepared for this race, so will appreciate the step up to this trip and he had proven before that he could carry big weights. Garth Puller reported Fortissimo to be well and he was certainly looking in good shape. Alistair Gordon’s Mambo Master is 2kg under sufferance but he has a 1,5kg claimer up and Gordon was expecting a good run. Cat In Command loves the poly and should be right there.

The selection is Classy Fighter to beat Grey Light, with Buffalo Bill, Cat In Command and Fortissimo next best.

The Highland Night Cup has compressed weights and the two topweights Coltrane and Kolkata could fight it out. Jay Power is officially out at the weights but has struck as an up and coming sort who could go places, so he should be included.

The Sunday meeting begins with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m on the turf and the Garth Puller-trained Mr McSteamy ran a cracker last weekend on debut over 1400m and Puller said he would see how he worked today (Friday) before deciding whether to run him a week later. The Charles Laird-trained Team Guys should improve over this trip.

The third is a weak fillies and mares maiden over 1900m on poly and Dellavera is the selection from West Coast Star.

The fourth is also a weak 1900m fillies and mares maiden over 1900m on the poly and the Craig Eudey-trained Cakewalk is not only the one to beat on form but will love the step up on trip on pedigree  and has been working very well.

In the fifth over 1600m on the poly Guest El Grande could beat Danish Zealot and Popular Blues.

In the eighth over 2400m on the turf, Bratislava should enjoy the step up in trip and is tipped to beat Yearofthedragon and Le Chat D’Amour.

A horse to strongly consider at the Friday night meeting is the Puller-trained You Bolt. This strongly built filly was looking a picture yesterday and returns to the poly on which she won her maiden well. She could produce a storming run from a wide draw over 1200m in the fifth.

– By David Thiselton

Picture: Maybe Yes (Nkosi Hlophe)