RACE 1

(2) BUDDLEJA ran a much improved race in the last start and can build on that. (3) JUST ONE KISS was fancied on debut and can improve. (5) SALAGADOOLA gets the claimer up and can get closer. (4) LACRYMA CHRISTI is capable of running into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 2-3-5-4).

RACE 2

(4) STAND UP ran a much improved race in the last start and can build on that. (7) IVY has never been too far back and can get much closer with the apprentice aboard claiming weight. (1) BROOKSIDER is another who can get much closer on best form. (2) FLIGHT ENGINEER is capable of much better, can run into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 4-7-1-2).

RACE 3

(6) WILD FIG is knocking on the door and should take some beating here. (3) PHYSIOLOGUS has scope to improve and can get much closer. (1) PYRO EDITION placed at huge odds in the last start and can build on that. (4) CLIFFIE CLAVIN is capable of getting into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 6-3-1-4)

RACE 4

(2) COASTAL PATH is holding solid form and will be the firm first choice. (5) GUARDING THE WALL won extremely well in the last start and will be the main danger to the top selection. (7) ROTOTO ran well at big odds and should be in the mix again. (9) FLOWER FESTIVAL is capable on her day and should be in the placings. (Devonne Govender 2-5-7-9)

RACE 5

(6) GOLDEN PAVILION is holding top form and looks tough to beat in this line-up. (2) ELLORIX is capable of much better and also gets a much better draw so will have to be respected. (8) AADEHYA is very speedy and can get into the placings. (7) CROWNED HORNBILL is capable of much better and can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 6-2-8-7)

RACE 6

(5) SWEET JULIA is knocking on the door for that next win and will have a huge chance here. (4) SMASHING is holding form and will be in the firing line again, big chance. (3) MARSHMALLOW is never far back and cracks a good draw, despite the short break this yard must be included as they are in top form. (8) KILMONIVAIG ran well in the last start and can feature. (Devonne Govender 5-4-3-8)

RACE 7

(1) BOSNAY won extremely well in the last start, she has a tough draw but has the gates speed to overcome this coupled with the claiming apprentice which makes her a big runner. (2) EPIKLEROS has run well on the poly in the past, although recent form doesn’t speak volumes she isn’t out of this. (7) ARABIAN RED is very capable on her day and will be a strong contender on best form. (4) FAMILY POWER was impressive in the last win and can go well here. (Devonne Govender 1-2-7-4)

RACE 8

(8) TAKE YOUR TIME is holding consistent form and rates a huge chance here. (4) BEER WITH THE BOYS represents cape form which generally stands up strong here so must be respected. (3) DARLING HARBOUR has been racing well and another decent run is expected. (2) A BIT CHILLY is capable of better and that last run is best ignored. (Devonne Govender 8-4-3-2)

Andrew Harrison

Gotta Go Eddie is fast earning the dreaded label of being a ‘brass’ as he was run out of it once again in the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, but at least he is consistent. Beaten favourite in all three of his previous starts, he went down again as Blast From The Past finished strongly to hold off a late challenge from Gotta Go Eddie. Glen Kotzen was never fully confident on how Blast From The Past would perform given that he had developed a breathing problem in training but he did enough to start his career on a winning note. There is still hope for Gotta Go Eddie and blinkers may be what he requires.

Gripen has not been far back when taking on winners and finally put it all together for Lucinda Woodruff, the first of her two winners. Calvin Habib rode a forward race from a wide draw and making a winning run early. Favourite Act Of Grace was intimidated most of the way up the straight by Fine Dining and when finally extricating herself, had nothing to come as Green Mile and Trick Or Tequila slipped through on the rail.

Quinn’s Time was marginal favourite for the third but after a slow start he never got going leaving Eventidor to hold off Papa C in a tight finish. It was Eventidor’s third win on the bounce for Bo Ngcobo and gave Hollywood Racing their 122 winner of the season.

Young apprentice Jacey Botes looked to have ridden the perfect front-running race on Afropolitan in the Class 4 over 1800m but come the final 100m the gelding was treading water with challenges from all sides. Callan Murray, who has hooked up with the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard, got Corrupt to finish off his race smartly to collar the opposition close home. It was the gelding’s second run for the stable and indications are that he will come into his own over more ground.  

Wendy Whiteheads gelding Cappellino found hot market support in the fifth and landed the gamble comfortably. The start was delayed given the antics of a few runners but Habib was not fazed as he sent Cappellino to the front and was never in danger of being caught.

When Papa C was denied by a nostril by Eventidor, Duncan Howells was probably thinking that his second-box curse had not lifted but three races later the hard-knocking Twenty One May found his way into the winner’s circle under a superb ride by Kabelo Matsunyane. With the pace on, Matsunyane dropped his mount in off the pace and then delivered a telling run up the straight to get the better of the ever game Future Flo.

Woodruff made it a double on the day as Chad Little slipped Wing Walker up the inside rail to hold off a charging Masterbling. It was a race run at a muddling pace as Gavin Lerena, aboard the grey Intrepid, stacked the field up forcing most behind to swing on to avoid clipping heels.

Not to be denied on the day, title-chasing Lerena added a timely winner to his tally as he had a comfortable ride on the Tony Peter-trained favourite Gimmethegoodlife. Tracking the early pace, Lerena took the shortest way home to easily catch and pass Super Fast.

Andrew Harrison

With under two weeks of the current season left to run, Gavin Lerena can all but sew up the Jockey Championship at Turffontein today where he has nine fancied rides on the 10-race card. Going into yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting where he had five rides, he was eight winners clear of reigning champion Richard Fourie.

Fourie has opted to stay home in a wet Cape Town for these two meetings which could indicate that he has resigned himself to second place on the log.

However, there is still the small matter of a 12-race card on World Pool Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville next Sunday where Fourie is sure to have some plum rides. Deadline for final declarations for the meeting are at 11am this morning.

Lerena could get his afternoon off to a winning start when he partners Pretty Persuasive in the card opener. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly hacked up in her Highveld debut after a four-month break, her first outing resulting in a smart effort against males and finishing just 3.5 lengths back to the more than useful Military Command.

She does however, have to give 3kg  to Candice Dawson’s filly Anchorage who has finished runner-up in all three of her starts with Serino Moodley making the trip to the Highveld.

Lerena is aboard another Van Vuuren charge in the second. Top Division cruised to an easy victory on debut and although drawn widest of all he is likely to start deep in the red.

Lerena could have opposition from S’Manga Khumalo in the first leg of the PA where Lerena partners Frere Jacques for Lucky Houdalakis. The gelding was a well-beaten second on debut but the step up in trip should suit. Khumalo partners Safe Travel who has placed in both starts but now steps up in trip.

Lerena will need to overcome a tricky draw on another Houdalakis filly in the first leg of the Pick 6. Wise Counsel has shown up well in two sprints and the step up in trip should suit. Rendezvous In Rio looks a lively threat as she has her third run after a break and Joe Soma steps her up in trip. However, she has drawn one outside of Wise Counsel in gate 11. Khumalo will be aboard Winds Of Grace who is tested over the trip and has a good draw however, she has not been out since April.

In the fifth, Hopscotch is another Lerena ride that is likely to start top of the boards. The filly has been knocking on the door for Fanie Bronkhorst and although drawn wide she stays the trip well. Possible danger  could be Flightlight, Sean Tarry’s only runner with Piere Strydom aboard.

Lerena will have his work cut out on Sergeant Soqrat in the sixth. The gelding disappointed last Thursday but a Corne Spies runner can never be ignored. A better bet could be Mizzen Sword. He found all sorts of trouble when tried over ground for the first time and can build on that effort for Mark Khan. Heroic Act improved in first time blinkers for Tyrone Zackey and this shorter trip with a 4kg claimer aboard will find many supporters.

Lerena takes a breather without a ride in the seventh where Captain Efficient and Lonely As A Cloud look to be the principal contenders.

The eighth is the main event on the card and it looks wide open. Lerena stays with Francine who he has partnered in her last five starts so knows her well. She also has the best of the draw. However, she gives away 7.5kg to her younger rival, It’s Her Way who was a comfortable winner last run and can follow up.

Fanie Bronkhorst has two strong contender in the final leg of the Pick 6. Lerena rides Azaleas For All who could be the pick as she has won her last two races with Lerena aboard while Khumalo is aboard stable companion Play With Fire who was a touch disappointing last run but had solid previous form and should be right up there.