David Thiselton

The highest rated race at the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting on Sunday is a Conditions Plate over 1000m and King Of The Gauls could claim his first win since winning over this distance on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf tack 16 months ago.

King Of The Gauls is officially 5kg under sufferance with Luhamba Pambili as he has to give the latter 3,5kg.  A look back at the last time they met in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m in April makes them just about inseparable on merit, so it will be tough for King Of The Gauls to give that amount of weight away. However, King Of The Gauls followed that In Full Flight Handicap run with an excellent third in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m, where he showed his speed and class, opening up a lead before hanging on for a 2,70 length third. He now has his third run after a layoff over his favourite 1000m trip and he is drawn in pole, whereas Luhamba Phambili’s last run was a bit disappointing and followed a three month layoff and he now comes back from a 70 day layoff. King Of The Gauls has the in form Serino Moodley up and will not be easy to catch. Luhamba Phambili jumps from draw two so will get a tow and he will likely be the favourite, but will he be able to fetch King Of The Gauls over this fast course and distance? It will be an intriguing contest. In these sort of contests the next most fancied horse should never be ignored, because the battling pair can tire themselves out and the other one can just sit off them and pounce late. Vihaan’s Web has the speed to be right there and the top class S’Manga Khumalo can deliver him with a late challenge. However, King Of The Gauls is taken to beat Luhamba Pambili with Vihaan’s Web third.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 What A Passion ran with first time blinkers last time over this 1200m trip on the turf and finished 2,20 lengths behind the smart Showgirl, who followed that win with a 2,25 length victory in the strong centre of Cape Town. What A Passion will be hard to beat from draw five under Khumalo and can beat Priory Terrace, who should enjoy the step back up in trip, and Warrior Rose, who was not disgraced on debut in quite a strong form race back in May and has not been seen since.

In the next race over 1400m Strutting was beaten 6,40 lengths on debut over 1200m and has drawn widest of all, but this Hawwam filly will appreciate the step up in trip and might have the ability to win this uninspiring contest. Roy’s Blossom will be a threat if recapturing the form of her debut effort over this course and distance. It must be remembered that this is an “Open Maiden”, meaning it is a handicap and so all runners must be considered and the field might be an idea for the Pick 6.

In the fifth race over 1000m Moscow Miss can reverse form with the more exposed Vision To Achieve and she should make a bold bid from a plum draw of two under a 2,5kg claimer. Her penultimate start can be ignored as she had no luck throughout. Prankster and Call Me Jane are also contenders.

In the sixth over 1100m Dawn Surprise won well on the poly last time and as she is not over exposed on this surface she could follow up off a five point higher mark. Nile The Boss  brings some decent Cape Town form and is a big runner too.

In the seventh over 1200m Professor Lupin went close during the week over 1400m and will have a chance over this drop in trip from a good draw. Firelighter has come down to a competitive mark and should enjoy the trip. Bank Street has a form chance in this line up.

In the last race over 1200m Navajo Dancer has been knocking hard and has a fine chance here. Ndaka is an honest sort who is capable of popping up. Willow Gem gets a handy decrease in merit rating and could earn.

The first race sees Grand Force having a fine opportunity from pole position and he will be hard to beat.