The Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m heads the New Year’s Day eight race meeting at Greyville, in which the first three races are on the poly and the rest on turf, and there is also a nine race sprint meeting at Scottsville on Sunday.

Olma stands out as the horse to beat in the Flamboyant, which will be run on the turf. Trainer Frank Robinson now believes he had overestimated the classy filly’s ability to stay and is now of the opinion that the mile to 1800m is her best trip. She is the best in at the weights and drawn well and this is her third run after a layoff. The lightly raced and progressive four-year-old In Other Words has won four in a row on the poly from 1200-1400m but there is no reason why she should not enjoy turf as well as the step up in trip. Sabaha is a talented sort who has perhaps been a touch disappointing and she does have a hard task of reversing form with Olma from their last meeting over 1800m as she is now 2kg worse off despite being beaten 1,75 lengths and she is now also drawn wide, although on the other hand she would prefer this trip. Trini’s Collateral looks to be the second string of the Duncan Howells-trained horses on jockey bookings but being by Lateral is likely to love going over a mile for the first time. The three-year-old Visionaire filly Lala has some class and her dam won over 1600m, so she is interesting stepped up to this trip.

Those five make the most appeal and are selected in the order mentioned.

The first is a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m on the poly and the quick Royal Honeymoon has come down to an attractive merit rating and also has a 2,5kg claimed up so could be hard to catch if jumping well from pole position. Bermudabreeze is one point lower than his last win and the yard is in good form so he could be involved over a suitable trip. Roy’s Gul Gul Ha is down to a competitive merit rating and is course and distance suited.

The second is a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and Tigeress Dance seems well handicapped off a 66 merit rating considering she has some good Cape Town form from 1200-1400m. Dark Rose finally got off the mark last time out when stepped up to 1400m and off a lowly merit rating of 61 could go close. Ginger Biscuit is drawn well for a change over a suitable trip and is off a competitive merit rating.

The third is a MR 70 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Vampirella is a talented sort who is drawn well over a suitable trip. Victory Takeover proved herself up to her merit rating last time and is now reunited with Anton Marcus. Quintella is still off a competitive merit rating and will be running on strongly from behind as usual. La Gitano has pace and will enjoy the step down in trip and as an improved sort should be thereabouts. You Bolt should be running on strongly over this suitable course and distance.

The fourth is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m on the turf. The hard knocking Durban Blues needed her last start and as one who has done well against good sorts should go close over a step up in trip age she should appreciate. Scarlet Riviera did well over 1200m on the Greyville turf on debut and caught the eye doing good work late so should relish the step up in trip and will be a big threat. The improving Coastal Spell finished a good second over this distance last time and the form has been franked.

The fifth is a weak maiden over 1600m on the turf and Nirvana is well drawn and can build on three decent runs over this step up in trip which he should appreciate. Apple Jack has some fair form and will appreciate the step down in trip, but does have a tough draw to overcome. Super Sonic improved last time and can go close with a repeat.

The seventh is a Graduation Plate over 1800m on turf and here the talented Run Rhino Run will have come on from his last run and is the one to beat. Rio De La Plata looks to be a horse who is going places too and could be a threat. Translunar is a useful sort who is very consistent and he might now be ready to step back up to 1800m having failed over this trip in his only attempt 15 months ago.  Rap Attack should handle this trip and being by Go Deputy will be improving all the time. Killer Woman is the only filly in the field but is not without a chance as she showed signs of class last time and Delpech stays aboard from a good draw.

The eighth is a Maiden over 1800m for fillies and mares and Roy’s Emblem could be the one to beat from a fair draw having done well over 2000m last time on the poly. The typically big Ideal World filly Badger Creek was slow away on debut but should improve considerably in her second career start as she will enjoy being on turf and will relish the step up in trip. Seattle Belle looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip too and has a chance.

The highlight on Sunday is the Non-Black Type African Holly Handicap over 1000m and the talented Beloved Country could beat home the course and distance specialist Mr Whatever with the up and coming Big King also being an interesting runner.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Olma (Nkosi Hlophe)