Andrew Harrison

There look to be some lucrative opportunities on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today starting in the second. Candice Bass-Robinson has not sent many runners up from the Cape for Champions Season but Winds Of Change can pay some bills.  He was never in the hunt in the soft going behind Tenango in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint but had solid feature race form prior to that. He makes his poly debut but is weighted to win the first leg of the Bipot.

Berrington Blew should get the PA off to a solid start. Although, well beaten last run by Quickstepgal, Tienie Prinsloo’s filly has since finished second in a Gr2 on Hollywoodbets Durban July day to boost that form. With only 50.5kg to shoulder she could prove difficult to beat. However, Holy Star has improved with each run and Gavin Lerena will be up and against an inexperienced apprentice while Priory Terrace has finished runner-up at her first two starts and cannot be ignored.

It gets a lot more difficult from here in. Doug Campbell sends out Valli Gal in the first leg of the Pick 6 and she showed up well when back after a break. She goes well over course and distance and must have a strong chance in this line-up although she faces a number of fillies with ultra-light weights which could muddy the waters. Jumpthegreenlight has not been far back in her three starts but comes from a strong yard and the filly should go well in this field. Intro made a fair debut for her new stable and given her Highveld form the extra furlong should suit.

In the fifth, Glen Kotzen’s runner Spectacular was most disappointing when starting favourite in his poly debut. He had some useful Cape form prior to that and with a more experienced rider aboard he can make amends. Takeyourbestshot has shown up well in two starts for his new stable and will be competitive in this line-up and a danger to the selection.  Window To My Soul made marked improvement over course and distance in his poly debut but also disappointed next time out. Alyson Wright has declared blinkers which could make the difference.

Clinton Binda saddles Legendary in the sixth. The gelding  is lightly raced but ran a cracker behind the smart Choisaanada in a feature last time out. He rates the one to beat. Prince Florian made a tardy start to his last race with his jockey losing an iron, so ignore that outing and he has a strong chance in this field. Numzaan was a comfortable winner last run and has been in mustard form over course and distance but he has taken a six-point hike in the ratings. Star Of The Future failed narrowly in first time blinkers. He acts on the poly and can go one better although drawn a touch wide.

MJ Odendaal’s colt Ziyan’s Pride holds an entry for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and if he doesn’t go close here his chances in the big race will be remote. He was a maiden winner last start and second-placed Bruh runs this Wednesday which may give some indication of his chances. El Rey Viene had it tough from a wide draw last start and makes his debut on the new poly surface. He is seldom far back. Stable companion Connoisseur made sudden improvement first up on the poly. It has been a long time since his maiden win but is useful on his day. Kom Naidoo’s charge Porfirio has dropped down the ratings and with a 4kg claimer up he will be dangerous.

The eighth is a wide open handicap but Mexican Pete has come well for his new stable and was not far back over course and distance last time out. He is primed for a good performance. Hope Is Power is consistent and the step up in trip from a plum draw with S’Manga Khumalo up makes him a serious contender. Plaza Accord is over his optimum trip with a handy galloping weight and a good draw so is not out of it.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a competitive handicap but One Irish Rover seldom runs a bad race and makes the switch to the poly. He has a 4kg claimer up from a plum draw and should be thereabouts. Victor Rail has been close-up over course and distance at recent outings and should be competitive along with the two fillies, Glamorz and Gaelic Dancer who have similar consistent profiles and big weights and neither can be written off.

Race 1

5 PEMBURY   1 THE CENTURION   3 MASTER SILVANO   8 CLINTOSTAR

Summary: PEMBURY (5) was much improved over course and distance at his second start and a repeat should see him close up again. There are two runners entered for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at month end. THE CENTURION (1) made a promising local debut and is sure to come on from that from his pole position draw. MASTER SILVANO (3) started favourite over course and distance last time out. He has two smart efforts under his girth and must go close again. CLINTOSTAR (8) should improve over the extra furlong and is one to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 5-1-3-8).

Race 2

5 WINDS OF CHANGE   4 FUTURE VARIETY   7 BOURBON WARRIOR   2 HENRY HARVEY

Summary: WINDS OF CHANGE (5) was never in the hunt in the soft going behind Tenago in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint but had solid feature race form prior to that. He makes his poly debut and is weighted to win. FUTURE VARIETY (4) finished ahead of Winds Of Change in the Golden Horse but is 3kg worse off. BOURBON WARRIOR (7) is better than his last two and can place. HENRY HARVEY (2) makes a return after a length break. He showed promise in his debut victory and has a money chance.  (Andrew Harrison: 5-4-7-2).

Race 3

8 BERRINGTON BLEW   6 HOLY STAR   7 PRIORY TERRACE   11 HIGHER LOVE

Summary: BERRINGTON BLEW (8) was well beaten last run by Quickstepgal who has since finished second in a Gr2. With only 50.5kg to shoulder she could prove difficult to beat. However, HOLY STAR (6) has improved with each run and Gavin Lerena will be up against an inexperienced apprentice while PRIORY TERRACE (7) has finished runner-up at her first two starts and must rate a good chance.  (Andrew Harrison: 8-6-7-11).

Race 4

3 VALLI GAL   6 JUMPTHEGREENLIGHT   8 INTRO   10 LINE IN THE SKY

Summary: VALLI GAL (3) showed up well when back after a break. She goes well over course and distance and must have a strong chance in this line-up although she faces a number of fillies with ultra-light weights which could muddy the waters. JUMPTHEGREENLIGHT (6) has not been far back in her three starts but comes from a strong yard and the filly should go well in this field. INTRO (8) made a fair debut for her new stable and given her Highveld form the extra furlong should suit. LINE IN THE SKY (10) is better than her last effort and goes well on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 3-6-8-10).

Race 5

11 SPECTACULAR   8 TAKEYOURBESTSHOT   1 WINDOW TO MY SOUL   6 BALTIC ASSAYER

Summary: SPECTACULAR (1) was most disappointing when starting favourite in his poly debut. He has some useful Cape form prior to that and with a more experienced rider aboard he can make amends. TAKEYOURBESTSHOT (8) has shown up well in two starts for his new stable and will be competitive in this line-up.  WINDOW TO MY SOUL (1) made marked improvement over course and distance in his poly debut but also disappointed next time out. Alyson Wright has declared blinkers which could make the difference. BALTIC ASSAYER (6) takes on males as she steps up in trip but has shown some recent improvement. (Andrew Harrison: 11-8-1-6).

Race 6

5 LEGENDARY   3 PRINCE FLORIAN   10 STAR OF THE FUTURE   4 NUMZAAN

Summary: LEGENDARY (5) is lightly raced but ran a cracker behind the smart Choisaanada in a feature last time out. He rates the one to beat. PRINCE FLORIAN (3) made a tardy start to his last race with his jockey losing an iron. Ignore that outing and he has a strong chance in this field. NUMZAAN (4) was a comfortable winner last run and has been in mustard form over course and distance but he has taken a six-point hike in the ratings. STAR OF THE FUTURE (10) failed narrowly in first time blinkers. He acts on the poly and can go one better although drawn a touch wide. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-10-4).

Race 7

1 ZIYAN’S PRIDE   10 EL REY VIENE   4 PORFIRIO   8 CONNOISSEUR

Summary: ZIYAN’S PRIDE (1) holds an entry for the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and if he doesn’t go close here his chances in the big race will be remote. He was a maiden winner last start and second-placed Bruh runs this Wednesday which may give some indication of his chances. EL REY VIENE (10) had it tough from a wide draw last start and makes his debut on the new poly surface. He is seldom far back. Stable companion CONNOISSEUR (8) made sudden improvement first up on the poly. It has been a long time between since his maiden win but is useful on his day. PORFIRIO (4) has been dropping down the ratings and with a 4kg claimer up will be dangerous. (Andrew Harrison: 1-10-4-8).

Race 8

3 MEXICAN PETE   1 HOPE IS POWER   8 VOLDEMORT   2 PLAZA ACCORD

Summary: Wide open handicap. MEXICAN PETE (3) has come well for his new stable and was not far back over course and distance last time out. He is primed for a good performance. HOPE IS POWER (1) is consistent. The step up in trip from a plum draw with S’Manga Khumalo up makes him a serious runner. VOLDEMORT (8) was run out of it late over course and distance last start carrying a big weight. He is up in class but has consistent form to back his claims. PLAZA ACCORD (2) is over his optimum trip with a handy galloping weight and a good draw. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-8-2).

Race 9

1 ONE IRISH RIVER   5 VICTOR RAIL   2 GLAMORZ   3 GAELIC DANCER

Summary: Competitive handicap. ONE IRISH ROVER (1) seldom runs a bad race and makes the switch to the poly. He has a 4kg claimer up from a plum draw and should be thereabouts. VICTOR RAIL (5) has been close-up over course and distance at recent outings and should be competitive. The two fillies, GLAMORZ (2) and GAELIC DANCER (3) have similar consistent profiles and big weights but neither can be written off. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-2-3).

Race 10

9 CRAFTY CROFTY   10 PAPILLON BLU   3 HAPPY FORTUNE   4 GETOFFMYCLOUD

Summary: The two-year-old CRAFTY CROFTY (9) has a wide draw to contend with but was a comfortable winner of her maiden at just second time of asking and looks promising. The year older PAPILLON BLU (10) has drawn one gate further out but is unbeaten on the poly and cruised to an easy win last time out. She takes a big jump in the handicap but has Gavin Lerena in the saddle. HAPPY FORTUNE (3) has come good at her last two and can go one better over what looks to be her best course. GETOFFMYCLOUD (4) has dropped in the ratings but does look better than her two post maiden efforts. (Andrew Harrison: 9-10-3-4).

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David Thiselton

A Middle Stakes race over 1600m and a MR100 handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m are the two highlights of the Turffontein Standside meeting today.

In the Middle Stakes event Bacchus should appreciate the step back down in trip to 1600m having finished 2,5 lengths behind the useful Claw last time over this trip. He has subsequently come down to a merit rating of 98 and under the conditions of this race he is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. S’Manga Khumalo is in good form and gets the ride. Command Pilot has come down to a reasonable merit rating of 93 and he was beaten 4.4 lengths by Claw when they last met, so there should not be much between him and Bacchus, considering he has a better draw than he had when facing Claw. Presley is a capable sort who is distance suited. He beat Command Pilot last time by 0.3 lengths, but is now half-a-kilogram worse off. He  has a wide draw to overcome. Willow Express can never be ignored over this trip and he is one of the many joint best weighted runners. He has a fair draw and a featherweight of 52kg. Jury’s Out is drawn in pole in his second run after a three-and-a-half month layoff and he will be a big runner with Gavin Lerena up if he is at his best.

In the MR100 Handicap over 1160m Miss Argonaut looks to be a promising sort and can make it three wins from five starts for an in form combination of Mike and Mathew de Kock and Callan Murray. Flight Of A Condor looks to be useful and is on the way up and she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight, although the low draw could be a slight concern. Blizzard Snow in fine form and has an effective 2kg claimer up as Savannah Valjalo  carries 2kg overweight. One Fell Swoop has been a touch disappointing, but has run some good races recently and with Lerena up can be in the shake up. Komati River has run behind some useful sorts recently and can’t be discounted. Famous Lady can also be in the shake up if finding her best form. Stars and Bra’s could be thereabouts if bouncing back.

In the first leg of the P6, Monkey Puzzle had some useful form in Cape Town and could be a contender if bouncing back from his poor last two runs.

Amandla Ngawethu has shown some signs of ability and could be a runner here. Best candidate is a half brother to three-time winner Symphony of Light. Echoes of War is by Rafeef out of an unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare who is a half-sister to a Gr 3-placed horse by Jet Master. Lannyboy made a fair debut and could earn here. 

In the fifth race Golden Aspen has a chance if able to repeat his last start. Blindfire won quite well in the maidens and in this line-up could do well off an 80 merit rating. Oriental Bouquet has come down to a competitive mark, but she has become unreliable. Global Thunder has the form to be a contender. Valieva will be a big runner if able to overcome a possibly unfavourable low draw.

In the sixth race Dual Prophecy is a half brother to See It Again and has always looked promising, so after a good last run he might now be ready to put his best foot forward. Molotov Cocktail won second time out and being by Danon Platina out of Nother Russia, who was top class from 1600m up to this 2000m trip, he is an interesting runner. Flag Bearer was caught wide last time out under an apprentice and can make amends from pole position under Calvin Habib. Volte Face could be in the shake up if reproducing his last start. Storm Ahead could also be a contender here if bouncing back to his best over a more suitable trip.

In the last race Prime Venture has some useful Cape Town form and should be effective over this trip off a probably supressed merit rating, considering the superior class of horse in Cape Town. Birthright has plenty of ability and should be right there from a plum draw. The Playboy Bomber is on the up and has the form to be a contender, but does have to overcome a tricky draw. King of Numbers has the form to be involved, but has to prove he stays this trip. Bloomington is drawn in pole and is always difficult to ignore.

In the first leg of the PA Heavenly Good is by Heavenly Blue and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Player. Comic Artist is by Master of My Fate and is a half-sister to four-time winner Tobacconist. Babette’s Feast is a half-sister to the Listed winner Secret Identity. Those three first-timers could be the ones to side with because there is not much form to go on here. Iconic Winter made a good debut, but was then off for a year and will need to improve on her comeback effort. Cyber Spirit has shown some signs of ability. 

In the first race and first leg of the Bipot Matcha Mint has been knocking on the door and from a good draw should be right there. Stampede Ahead made a fair debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, although she was due to run on Thursday. Daisy Jones ran well last time and should be in the shake up. Rejuvenate has some good form and should also be thereabouts. Scarlett Heart has some fair form and with Piere Strydom up should be a runner too.