Warren Lenferna

Racing took place yesterday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville — the last meeting at the venue for a while. The son of The United States, Miami Summer, from the Justin Snaith yard, showed a tremendous turn of foot to reel in the long-time leader Perfect Impact and post an authoritative win.

The runner-up, Perfect Impact, caught the eye going down to the start and ran an absolute cracker. He can be followed next time and should be highly competitive for the win.

The impeccably bred daughter of Vercingetorix, out of the champion Beach Beauty, BEACH VERSE, impressed when winning Race 6 over 1400m for Candice Bass. Richard Fourie rode her for the first time and would surely have been impressed. Bass mentioned in her post-race interview that the filly needed blinkers to help her concentrate — and concentrate she did! A fabulous win, and surely some feature races in the coming season will be on this beautiful filly’s radar.

The Ride of the Day could easily be awarded to Richard Fourie for his performance on Fox On The Run in the last race over 1400m for the Crawford team. He was a little luckless up the straight, but cool as a cucumber, Fourie never panicked and patiently hunted for a gap. Once they found daylight, he delivered the most phenomenal ride and the horse a determined effort — one that any racing lover would want to watch again and again.

In the opener, Ignite The Fire from the Paddy Kruyer yard posted a smart performance to fend off Divine Warrior, Dance To The Sun, and Meet The King. Some may have expected a bit more from the favourite, Meet The King, but he was far from disgraced and will win his maiden soon. He’s a nice type who should go further in time.

Black Eagle, in Race 2, finished second — narrowly edged out by Powerandtheglory close to home. The winner’s turn of foot proved too strong for the opposition. Black Eagle is a quality colt in the making and will win races. Dawn’s Early Light found plenty love in the betting market to start around 4/1 and duly obliged.

Dream Searcher was the winner of Race 7. This daughter of Erupt from the Marcus yard bounced right back to winning ways, much to her trainer’s delight in the post-race interview. Take note also of the effort from La Landonne— she dug down deep, showed plenty of fight, and was just touched off under a strong ride from Nichola Yuen.

The next port of call will be Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Happy racing!

Andrew Harrison

Slinky Mapimpi looks the part when he drops in class to a Middle Stakes over 1450m that heads an eight-race programme on the Turffontein inner track this afternoon.

The six-year-old has run two exceptional races at recent outings, both in feature races. Last time out in the Jo’Burg Spring Challenge he was staying on resolutely behind the promising Tin Pan Alley who lines up in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

Slinky Mapimpi gave Tin Pan Alley 8kg that day, beaten just 4.25 lengths with Atticus Finch a close-up second.  Both times he raced from wide draws and now has a good draw, so looks the one to beat.

Roy Magner’s gelding Max The Magician was given a great ride by Muzi Yeni when winning over the course last time and second-placed Potberrie has franked that form. He got a four-point raise in the handicap but does look capable of going to the well again. Paul Revere is a progressive sort and if able to overcome a wide draw should be right there although he was well beaten when starting a weak favourite behind Max The Magician. The James Crawford runner Aladin’s Lamp should find this too sharp, but comes off a hattrick, so has plenty of ability and running fresh might earn a place.

Crawford sends out Big Unit in the MR 80 Handicap and the Master Of My Fate gelding had some decent Cape Town form before being sent to the Highveld and under the eye of Tim Woodruff. He made a good Highveld debut, and is the one to beat if overcoming a wide draw. Fully Loaded is knocking hard and from a fair draw he should be in the shake-up again if Big Unit fluffs his lines. After Hours ran well below expectations at The Vaal last time finishing behind Coppola for the second time running. The St John Grey home-bred steps out for the 98^th time in his career and has 12 wins to his credit and if one ignores his last run, he should be in the shake up again. Strewn Sky has the form to be a contender, but has a wide draw.

In the card opener, Real Stunner had some fair form in Cape Town and made a good debut on the Highveld over too short a trip, so should appreciate the step up and trip although he does have a wide draw. Stable companion Naretoi should appreciate the step down in trip and if repeating his best Cape form, he will be right there. Red Sunrise improved nicely when trying the mile for the first time. He has a good draw and is the pick of the Houdalakis runners.

Crawford has a chance of picking up the first two race as he saddles Duchess Of Paloma in the first leg of the Place Accumulator. She will relish the step up in trip and is drawn in pole so looks hard to beat. Winds Of Grace should be right there if able to repeat her last start, but does have a wide draw to overcome. Kensal Green has run three good races and has a plum draw, so should be right there again.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Page Boy is a progressive sort who should continue to improve this season and he could follow up on his good last win. Dual Prophecy has not run for three months but showed his class when winning comfortably last time and it would be no surprise to see him follow up. Olympian Gold had good form leading to his recent maiden win but is lightly raced and should enjoy this trip. He is also getting weight from his older rivals.

In the fourth, The Ultimate King is held in high regard and big things are expected of him so he could deliver in his peak run. Hawkbill can give some check as he has plenty of ability and if at his best, he will go close. Pumpkin Pie was a beaten favourite last run but has only been out of the money once in six outings.

 The scratching of Stormy Day from the fifth could have cleared the way for Frozen Fantasy  who has plenty of ability an should be in the frame. Princess Ilaria is also in good form and should finish in the money. Juniper Green could make up the trifecta.

Merryweather could round off the meeting as she has been in fine form and from a fair draw over an ideal trip, should be right there. Lady Sabrina stayed on nicely last run. She has been dropping in the handicap and is now off a more competitive mark and is down in class.

RACE 1

1 REAL STUNNER 3 NARETOI 4 BEACH WALKER 8 LUWAK

Preview: 1 REAL STUNNER had some fair form in Cape Town and made a good debut on the Highveld over two short a trip, so would appreciate the step up and trip but does have a wide draw. 3 NARETOI Will appreciate the step down in trip and if repeating his best Cape Town form he will be right there. 4 BEACH WALKER Has shown some ability and if able to overcome a wide draw could be in the shake up. 8 LUWAK Has run two fair thirds and if able to overcome a wide draw could be a threat. (David Thiselton 1-3-4-8)

RACE 2

1 DUCHESS OF PALOMA 2 WINDS OF GRACE 7 KENSAL GREEN 6 WITCHING HOUR

Preview: 1 DUCHESS OF PALOMA will relish the step up in trip and is drawn in pole so looks hard to beat. 2 WINDS OF GRACE should be right there if able to repeat her last start, but does have a wide draw to overcome. 7 KENSAL GREEN has run three good races and has a plum draw, so should be right there..6 WITCHING HOUR has good form and is ideally distance suited, so should be in the shake up.  (David Thiselton 1-2-7-6)

RACE 3

2 PAGE BOY, DUAL 1 PROPHECY 3 FOLLOW THE MASTER 8 SIX OF ALL

Preview: 2 PAGE BOY Is a progressive sort who should continue to improve this season and he could follow up on his good last win. 1 DUAL PROPHECY has not run for three months but showed his class last time and it would be no surprise to see him follow up. 3 FOLLOW THE MASTER Has some decent form and should be in the shake up. 8 SIX OF ALL Is a range sort with scope for further improvement and could be a factor. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-8)

RACE 4

1 THE ULTIMATE KING 2 HAWKBILL 6 PUMPKIN PIE 7 MOUNT DARWIN

Preview: 1 THE ULTIMATE KING Is hold in high regard and big things are expected of him so he could deliver in his peak run here. 2 HAWKBILL has plenty of ability and if at his best, he will go close. 6 PUMPKIN PIE is in hard-knocking form and will be a threat. 7 MOUNT DARWIN is course and distance suited and should be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 1-2-6-7)

RACE 5

6 STORMY DAY 2 FROZEN FANTASY 5 PRINCESS ILARIA 8 JUNIPER GREEN

Preview: 6 STORMY DAY Is a highly promising sort and if taking her place here, because she was due to run last week, then she will be hard to beat. 2 FROZEN FANTASY has plenty of ability an should be in the frame. 5 PRINCESS ILARIA Is in good form and should also get a place here. 8 JUNIPER GREEN on form should be in the money. (6-2-5-8)

RACE 6

1 BIG UNIT 2 FULLY LOADED 4 AFTER HOURS 7 STREWN SKY

Preview: 1 BIG UNIT had some decent Cape Town form and made a good Highveld debut, so is the one to beat here if able to overcome a wide draw. 2 FULLY LOADED Is knocking hard and from a fair draw should go close. 4 AFTER HOURS has become a reliable sort and should be in the shake up again. 7 STREWN SKY has the form to be a contender, but has a wide draw. (David Thiselton1-2-4-7)

RACE 7

2 SLINKY MAPIMPI 4 MAX THE MAGICIAN 9 PAUL REVERE 7 ALADDIN’S LAMP

Preview: 2 SLINKY MAPIMPI has run crackers in his last two starts in feature races from wide draws and now he gets a good draw, so looks the one to beat. 4 MAX THE MAGICIAN Has decent form and from a fair draw over a suitable trip he should be in the shake up. 9 PAUL REVERE Is a progressive sort and if able to overcome a wide draw should be right there. 7 ALADDIN’S LAMP will find this too sharp, but comes off a hattrick, so has plenty of ability and running fresh might earn a place. (2-4-9-7)

RACE 8

5 MERRYWEATHER 6 PARIS FUN 8 UNIVERSAL GIRL 9 NORTHERN KITTEN

Preview: 5 MERRYWEATHER has been in fine form and from a fair draw over an ideal trip, she should be right there. 6 PARIS FUN disappointed last time, but is likely better than that and should be given another chance. 8 UNIVERSAL GIRL improved to win last time and if building on that run could be in the shake up. 9 NORTHERN KITTEN Has the form to earn a cheque here. (David Thiselton 5-6-8-9)

Andrew Harrison

The Equator, on offer at odds as long at 150-1 at first nominations for the Gr1 BetwaY Summer Cup, could well start favourite for the country’s richest race to be run over 2000m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday, 29 November.

The regally bred son of super sire Galileo fluffed his lines in his local debut on Hollywoodbets Durban July Day but in truth he did not scrub up well in the paddock as a potential winner of the Gr3 SplashOut 2200m

Although a superb specimen of a racehorse, there was something about him that day that did not look quite right and in hindsight, he ran accordingly.

It may be that the race had come a little too soon after is arrival in the country as he showed in his next outing a few weeks later that he was every inch a racehorse.

In his Greyville debut he also gave the impression that he was a little at sea over the tight Greyville circuit did not suit being a typical, big galloping, Irish-bred. His subsequent win over the more galloping Turffontein Standside track with its 700m home straight was more to his liking and he showed that to good effect as he stormed home in a Graduation Plate over 1600m on Saturday, going early and pressing all the way to the line.

It was not the strongest field in opposition that was down to a handful of runners, but he quickened up smartly and went to the wire hands and heels under Richard Fourie.

The testing 2000m of the Summer Cup should be right up his alley but he will also face a lot tougher come the day.

Olivia’s Way was well supported in the Pinnacle Stakes that followed over 2000m that boasted a host of Cup hopefuls but the filly was out-gunned over the final 50 m as Thunee Player finished with a wet sail to land the spoils. It was a good effort on both runners part but not one that would put them into the Cup ante-post market given that they were getting lumps of weight from their rivals. However, their showings could help their chances of making the final field.

Tony Peter will have been well satisfied with The Equator’s run but he also made Fourie’s trip to the Highveld  worth his while, winning on The Equator and then giving the supporters of hot favourite Buffalo Bill Cody in the Conditions Plate a heart attack in the headline race of the day. Trapped behind horses with seemingly little prospect of finding a way through 300 m out, Fourie switched his mount for a gap and Buffalo Bill Cody showed a blinding turn of foot to win in exceptional fashion. This augurs well for the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over the same course coming up later next month.

Last season’s Gr1 Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack ran a cracking seasonal debut over a distance well sort of his best for second while more was expected from the grey Greaterix who surrendered tamely.