Andrew Harrison

Tienie Prinsloo is a fine judge of a racehorse dating back to where he was one of the ‘kings of the heap’ at the now defunct Flamingo Park. Had to patch up horses who were deemed past their sell by date, physically and mentally, and this experience has held him in good stead.

He picked the mare Convocation off an online sale and she duly won first time out for Prinsloo and owner George O’Brien giving Callan Murray a double on the day. Always in contention, Murray got first run on the opposition and Convocation kept finding to hold off the attentions of a late-charging Tomyris and Sovereign Grant.

Back in South Africa on a busman’s holiday, Warren Kennedy commented in an interview that riders in this country would face suspensions after nearly every race given their penchant for deviating from a straight course in their desperation for the line.

The first two races at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday was nothing short of dodgem cars with all the pushing and shoving that occurred.

In the first Sean Veale ran the gauntlet as he pressed for home on Cheerscheerscheers, fortunately the son of Hawwaam was not lacking in intestinal fortitude getting home narrowly from Irish Anthem who did the dirty on Skipper O’Malley, forcing Calvin Habib to snatch up his mount.

Favourite for the second, Kanaal Skater got a clear split at the top of the straight and then became the ham in the sandwich as Afropolitan shifted ground under pressure forcing Kanaal Skater onto Safe Travel who kept on gamely up his inside. It was a tremendous ride by stand-in Serino Moodley who got Kanaal Skater home in spite of all the unwanted attention.

It was Habib’s turn to dish out the medicine in the fourth as he allowed Joshua Hotsnake to drift out under pressure to hold off the late-charging Lou The Legend. It was to no avail as MJ Odendaal’s charge was in full flight but Moodley was on the receiving end as Joshua Hotsnake inconvenienced Sun Dazed who was forced to ease. It was a little of a hopeful objection on Moodley’s part as there was no clear evidence that he would have got past Joshua Hotsnake but it illustrated the point once again.

Lexican Point has always struck as a bit if an under achiever since arriving in KZN but Frikkie Greyling cleared it up pointing to his arrival with a high merit rating.  The gelding and Callan Murray took full advantage of a rating drop, leading all the way to come home smoking.

Mvelelo denied the handicapper’s three-point raise in the ratings for his previous win as he followed up with a courageous defeat of Kumemori and Rafa’s Boy. The two Hollywood Racing runners Mvelelo and Rafa’s Boy were at the sharp end of the race with Sean Veale extracting just that little bit extra out of Mvelelo as Rafa’s Boy weakened late in spite of some forceful urgings from S’Manga Khumalo who was enduring a frustrating afternoon.

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.

Andrew Harrison

The Vaal hosts a low key meeting this afternoon where the card is headed by a Graduation Plate over 1200m. In fact, all races except a maiden over 2000m are down the straight. In the Graduation Plate, Shadowfax has fine form including going close to Zalatoris  in the Gr 2 Umkomazi Stakes last time out.

Sean Tarry’s runner returns as a gelding after a three-month break but he should be hard to beat.

Danger could be Paul Matchett’s charge The Last Duke who looks to have plenty of class and can build on his already decent record although he has to give Shadowfax 3kg. King Harald has done well against the best of his age group and cannot be written off lightly.

In the first race MM Huntress has her third run for Mike and Mathew de Kock with two promising showing behind her name. She looks the one to beat. Of the others, Underdog could be in the shake up if repeating either of his last two starts while Winter Wedding ran an improved race last time and if building on that could be in the shake up.

In the second, another 1200m sprint, Joey Soma’s filly Rendevous In Rio went close with first time blinkers and looks the one to beat although Vamanos with Muzi Yeni aboard for Roy Magner has run three good races and should be right there. Girl In Verdite ran a fine race on debut and with improvement can also go close.

The scratching of the unbeaten Rifle Queen has left the way open for stable companion Rachel Wall in the first leg of the Pick 6. She went close in a Gr 2 in her last race of last season and has a fine chance.  Frozen Fantasy and Miss Novax are capable of earning.

Tarry has stuck with smart apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia aboard Codeword in the fourth, a maiden over 2000m. The gelding should relish this trip and has a good draw. Future Success is progressive and should appreciate this distance and can also be in the shake up. Trip To Peace Should enjoy this step up and trip and has a chance along with Cuzzie  who has run some decent races and could earn.

The fifth is a 1000m dash that could go the way of Vanakkam. She was not disgraced in a couple of features before winning her maiden well and off an 83 merit rating she could be right there. Top Division has shown up well in his two post maiden starts and has been knocking on the door. He should be in the shake up. Nou Praat Jy won well on debut and looks to have a reasonable merit rating of 81. Twentytwentyvision is always right there and should be again.

Gimmethegoodlife has won three of his four starts since reverting to sprints and finished a head second in the other. He got a five point raise in the handicap for his last win but could defy the handicapper again. War Of The Kingdoms is a lightly raced four-year-old but has never been out of the first two. He has his second run after a break and should strip a little fitter. Constellation goes for a hat trick over this trip. He fought a tight finish when winning last time out but looks to have the ability to go close again. King Of Venus is in fine form and should be in the shake up.

In the last, Peregrine Falcon has disappointed at his last two when starting favourite. Fabian Habib’s gelding will appreciate the step down in trip and gets first time blinkers. Phala Millions seldom runs a bad race and his honest form should see him in the shake up. Golden Aspen has the ability to be involved along with Sahara Dawn who could earn if producing her best.

RACE 1

13 MME HUNTRESS 2 UNDERDOG 12 WINTER WEDDING 10 SINGLE COMBAT

Preview: 13 MME HUNTRESS has done well in two starts to date and looks the one to beat. 2 UNDERDOG could be in the shake up if repeating either of his last two starts. 12 WINTER WEDDING ran an improved race last time and if building on that could be in the shake up. 10 SINGLE COMBAT Moderate debut but could improve. (David Thiselton 13-2-12-10)

RACE 2

1 RENDEVOUS IN RIO 4 VAMANOS 14 GIRL IN VERDITE 5 DONDOYAKI

Preview: 1 RENDEVOUS IN RIO went close with first time blinkers and looks the one to beat here. 4 VAMANOS has run three good races and should be right there. 14 GIRL IN VERDITE ran a fine race on debut and with improvement should go close. 5 DONDOYAKI has the ability to earn in this race. (David Thiselton 1-4-14-5)

RACE 3

2 RIFLE QUEEN 3 RACHEL WALL 1 FROZEN FANTASY 6 MISS NOVAX

Preview: 2 RIFLE QUEEN has been impressive and can make it three out of three. 3 RACHEL WALL went close in a Gr 2 in her last race of last season and has a fine chance. 1 FROZEN FANTASY has the ability to be right there. 6 MISS NOVAX Is capable of earning in this race. (2-3-1-6)

RACE 4

12 CODEWORD 10 FUTURE SUCCESS 5 TRIP TO PEACE 2 CUZZIE

Preview: 12 CODEWORD will relish this trip and has a good draw, so should go close. 10 FUTURE SUCCESS Is a progressive sort who should appreciate this distance and should also be in the shake up. 5 TRIP TO PEACE Should enjoy this step up and trip and has a chance. 2 CUZZIE Has run some decent races and could earn. (David Thiselton 12-10-5-2)

RACE 5

7 VANAKKAM 3 TOP DIVISION 8 NOU PRAAT JY 2 TWENTYTWENTYVISION

Preview: 7 VANAKKAM was not disgraced in a couple of features before winning his maiden well and off an 83 merit rating he could be right there. 3 TOP DIVISION has been knocking on the door and should be in the shake up. 8 NOU PRAAT JY won well on debut and looks to have a reasonable merit rating of 81. 2 TWENTYTWENTYVISION Is always right there and should be again. (David Thiselton 7-3-8-2)

RACE 6

1 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE 11 CONSTELLATION 10 WAR OF KINGDOMS 8 KING OF VENUS

Preview: 1 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE has been in fine form and could defy the handicapper again. 11 CONSTELLATION goes for a hat trick over this trip and looks to have the ability to go close. 10 WAR OF KINGDOMS Is knocking on the door and should be right there again. 8 KING OF VENUS Is in fine form and should be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 1-11-10-8)

RACE 7

3 SHADOWFAX 1 THE LAST DUKE 6 KING HARALD 5 GOLDEN OPERATOR

Preview: 3 SHADOWFAX has fine form including going close to a good sort in a Gr 2 last time, so he wll be hard to beat here. 1 THE LAST DUKE Looks to have plenty of class and can build on his already decent record. 6 KING HARALD has done well against the best of his age group and has a chance. 5 GOLDEN OPERATOR Looks to have scope for improvement and could earn. (David Thiselton 3-1-6-5)

RACE 8

3 PEREGRINE FALCON 6 PHALA MILLIONS 7 GOLDEN ASPEN 12 SAHARA DAWN

Preview: 3 PEREGRINE FALCON Disappointed last time out but will appreciate the step down in trip. 6 PHALA MILLIONS has honest form and should be in the shake up. 7 GOLDEN ASPEN has the ability to be involved here. 12 SAHARA DAWN could earn if producing her best. (David Thiselton 3-6-7-12)

Andrew Harrison

Limitless Sky has not been out since contesting the Gr1 eThekwini Stakes at season’s end where she copped seven-points in the handicap for finishing unplaced nearly seven lengths off the winner from the worst of the draw. She takes on a competitive field in the Middle Stakes that heads the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today but Wendy Whitehead does appear to have picked the right race for her seasonal debut.

Limitless Sky is nicely in at the weights if the handicappers are to be believed but she does come off a break and takes on a more than useful field.

Tienie Prinsloo saddles the three-year older Convocation who steps up in trip but has been in good form over shorter. The extra should not be a problem and she looks a big threat. Jazz Cafe is unbeaten in two starts since Robbie Hill added blinkers but she did get a six-point shunt in the handicap for her last win and she is taking on stronger. Mike Miller sends out Sovereign Grant who switches to the poly after two close-up efforts on the turf. She seldom runs a poor race and can go one better after finishing behind smart stable companion Infinity Edge.

Fortress Of Fire was impressive on debut but then ran two disappointing races in feature company, trainer Michael Roberts at a loss for the disappointing performances as he showed potential. Fortress Of Fire makes his seasonal debut as a gelding and if not short of a run he will be right there. Bank Street has good form on the poly and the Stuart Ferrie stable is in mustard form at present coming off a double last Wednesday. He is 1.5kg better off with Viso Masawi’s charge Mvelelo for a length beating and should be able to turn the tables although Mvelelo is back over what looks to be his optimum course and distance.

In the card opener, Mike and Mathew de Kock’s Cheerscheerscheers  was disappointing last run but had the worst of the draw. He has shown some promise and meets a modest field. Intro has been knocking at the door for Kom Naidoo without much luck. However, she should feature in the money again. Gimmethegold has only had two starts over shorter and was not too far back. Mike Miller has pushed him up in trip with first time blinkers. Red Fred showed some improvement when going 1600m for the first time on the poly and could be coming to hand.

Kanaal Skater can get the PA off to a winning start as he enjoyed the step up in trip when winning last time out. He only got a three-point raise in the handicap and can go in again.

Safe Travel returns from a break after winning his maiden for new Summerveld trainer Adam Azzie. Safe Travel looks progressive and one to watch in the market. Run To Rio has come well of late and was a close-up second over course and distance last time out. Ragnar The King was game in defeat last run. A repeat can see him close again.

Frank Robinson’s filly One Path was a beaten favourite last run but may just have needed it. She looks the part here. Nautical Landing is never far back and run two fair races since her overdue maiden win. The step up in trip could suit. Poursomesugaronme is always game and overdue another win and goes well on the poly. Prom Queen switches to the poly. She had a tough draw last run but is never far back.

Mac Hardy has the widest draw to contend with in the fourth but he is a horse at home on the poly  and can follow up on his last win in this class. Sun Dazed makes his local debut after showing useful enough Cape form. He should run a big race in this company.

The fifth is a tricky handicap but Ultra Quick has come to hand nicely at his last two, runner-up over course and distance last time out and can go one better. Greenlight Queen has been improving with each outing. The tongue-tie stays on along with a useful claiming apprentice. Lexican Point has been disappointing since arriving in KZN but takes a further drop in the handicap and should be competitive in this line-up. Trafalgar Square has been moist effective over sprints but he is a veteran and the step up in trip on the poly could now suit.

The last is a wide open handicap. Darryl Moore’s mare Quentasia has another handy galloping weight and a good draw so can go close again. Capricious Miss was a narrow maiden winner last time out but that form has since been franked although both maiden races were not particularly strong. Littleblackgem was much improved last start coming off a short break. She can go one better in this line-up while Shimmering has her first run for Louis Goosen after coming off her recent Highveld maiden win. If not short of a run she should be competitive and is one to watch in the market.