Andrew Harrison
A tricky C Stakes handicap heads up the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets today but one that could be fought out between the progressive three-year-olds Green Glow and Spaarne Rivier.
Dean Kannemeyer’s charge Green Glow followed up his maiden win with a close-fought victory over Master Du Rouvray over 1900m with the balance of the field in another race. He has a big weight but shed his maiden over the distance in impressive fashion. Mike and Mathew de Kock’s Spaarne Rivier was disappointing last run but also friendless in the market that may tell a tail. However, he gets weight from Green Glow and may be more effective over this trip. Of the balance, the year older Ragnar The King has been knocking at the door and close-up over course and distance last start while World Of Our Own is due a big effort.
In the first, how much longer do we stay with Xiphos to shed his maiden? He has had numerous chances but tends to run out of gas the last bit. Rachel Venniker gives him some relief from the saddle that will help but he clearly cannot be relied upon. Gorgeous Bomb has shown some recent improvement and with only 50.5kg to shoulder she could finally run them out of it. Susurrando was most disappointing when starting favourite last time out as Fine Dining made all, cruising home to victory. He could prove better this shorter trip.
Louis Goosen saddles the lightly raced Malshana Mou in the second who was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. Craig Zackey stays with the ride and she can go one better. Berrington Blew is also lightly raced and raced green at her latest outing. The blinkers go on so watch for any market support. Sun In My Pocket came in for a ton of support at her last start but didn’t finish off her race. She is seldom too far back and the betting support must be respected. Sol E Sombra was very green on debut in quite a competitive maiden and can surprise.
Black Platina can open the Pick 6 in spite of being a struggling maiden but has been knocking at the door. He has been close-up at his last two and with a 4kg claimer up from the best of the draw he can get it right in this company. Kali Bwana takes on males but goes well on the poly and was touched off last run. She steps up in trip with an experienced rider aboard. Captain’s Dynasty was a well-beaten second last run but has shown some recent improvement and could finally be coming to hand while Augrabies was much improved last run when starting at long odds. He could be better suited to this shorter trip.
A competitive apprentice handicap can muddy the waters but Mac Hardy has the best of the draw and his third run after a break. He had the worst of the draw over course and distance last time out and can do better. Gorgeous Dude has been knocking on the door for some time and was a close-up over course and distance last time out. He only has 49.5kg to shoulder from a good draw. Now I Got You is another not far off another win. He did well from a wide draw last start and can do better in this field. Veteran Circle Of Grace makes the trip from the Highveld for Corne Spies for a trip on the poly. He only has 49 kg to shoulder and ridden by a more than capable apprentice. However, it could pay to load up in this leg of the exotics.
In the sixth, Spinmyangelspin got a hefty shunt up the handicap for her last win over course and distance but may still be under the handicapper’s radar. Lightly raced, she has improved in blinkers and should be competitive from the best of the draw. One Path will be threat as she was run out of it late over course and distance last time out. She has only missed a cheque once in eight starts and that was in a feature on the turf. She’s A Machine was narrowly ahead of One Path when last they met but is now 5kg worse off in the handicap given the 4kg apprentice claim.
The seventh is another competitive maiden handicap. Dennis Bosch saddles Beautiful Rania who has been up against stronger at recent starts and goes well this course and distance while Purple Flower is also down in class but with a big weight but does have a 4kg claimer aboard who has won on the mare before. There She Goes has a tricky draw to contend with but is a seasoned veteran and has the most experience apprentice in James Lihaba aboard. Di Rosa finally shed her maiden last run when well handicapped but the runner-up has since won convincingly and had race favourite Xiphos well beaten. She faces much stronger but has a chance of following up.
Finally, United Nation is unbeaten in three starts since joining the Darryl Moore yard. He jumped five points in the handicap for his last win but Moore has a 2.5kg claimer aboard to nullify the increase although it will be harder to make it four. Mfethu was a recent maiden winner and got a hefty mark in the handicap probably because of his effort behind the promising Exocet two runs back. He looks promising. Seven-year-old Fate Of Fortune has come well of late winning three of his last four. The handicappers have had no mercy and he jumped six points in the handicap for his last win. He has a tricky draw but a top rider aboard. Trippi T is back over what looks to be his optimum trip and from pole position draw he could be right up there.
