Nicklaus has cost himself victory in the boardroom on more than one occasion and Duncan Howells will be looking for a change of fortune for his runner in the sixth at Greyville on Friday evening.

Nicklaus (Nkosi Hlophe)

Thirtytwo Squadron was the steward’s beneficiary four runs back and then it was the turn of Last Tiger who took the slightest of nudges but enough to convince the stewards that Nicklaus was at fault.

Keagan de Melo made sure that Nicklaus stayed away from trouble at his next start but Just Ask Me got first run and he was unable to haul him in before the line.

1400m on the Greyville poly is the gelding’s optimum trip and although he takes on a useful field he is due a change of fortune.

The Slade is no stranger to the poly track having shed his maiden on the course before being shipped off to Cape Town for the summer where he contested the Selangor Cup and the Politician Stakes. He was well beaten in both events but was not far off the winners. He strikes as a progressive gelding and Dean Kannemeyer’s runners have an enviable record on the poly track.

Ashton Arries is full value for his 4kg claim and can break a string of runners-up places for We’re Watching You for Michael Roberts and confirm the form behind Icy Spirit. At time of writing, Arries was four winners away from 20 and having his claim reduced to 2.5kg.

By Andrew Harrison

Catch the first entries for the 2017 Vodacom Durban July on Tellytrack DSTV 239 on Thursday, April 13, at 6.55pm.

The Grade 1 R4,25million Vodacom Durban July will be run over 2200m at Greyville racecourse on Saturday July 1.

For event and raceday information visit http://www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za OR http://www.championsseason.co.za

The Vaal Inside track has a low key eight race card tomorrow and the exotics could be the way to go. Low draws are favourable by trends in all races on this course.

In the first leg of the PA, the classy Querari colt Wonderwall looks hard to oppose. He has outstanding form, having finished second over 1000m on debut and then following up with a fine second in the R1 million Kuda Sprint over 1200m. He beat Barrack Street by five lengths in the Kuda and the latter has won a Listed and a Gr 3 sprint since returning to the Highveld. However, there are a couple of interesting first-timers in the field. These include the Australian-bred Naaher, who is by Lonhro out of Listed-winning and Gr 1-placed  sprinter.

Piere Strydom

The highest rated race on the card is the sixth, which is an Allowance Plate for fillies and mares over 1800m. The best weighted horse on official merit ratings is American Story. This long-striding galloper is 4,5kg better off with Pennington Sands for a 3,25 length beating last time they met, if apprentice claims are ignored. She has never run badly at the Vaal and as a handy sort carrying only 52kg in a small field she is selected to win over a trip she will relish. Against her is a wide draw. Pennington Sands has a touch of class, and considering her good turn of foot can afford to be dropped out from her wide draw. However, she does have a welter burden to carry. Inaninstant looked to be a horse who would reach the top class at one stage, but she then put in a number of lacklustre efforts. She showed some sign of a return to form last time, so can’t be ignored.

The seventh is an interesting MR 72 Handicap over 2000m. Porcupine Creek overcame a wide draw to win over 1800m last time, having won his maiden over the same trip. He is now drawn in pole position and is off just a two point higher mark, so can go close over a step up in trip he should handle. However, he will likely have his work cut out to keep Hamaan and Stunned at bay. Hamaan proved he was crying out for this sort of trip when running third in the Listed Derby Trial. This is a weaker field and he will likely be doing his best work late as he has a tricky draw to overcome. Stunned was unlucky in the Derby Trial but has some fine form in ordinary handicaps. He is distance suited and is off a still attractive merit rating. Those three could be enough to get punters through the Pick 6.

The most competitive race in the Pick 6 is the fifth race, the third leg. In this MR 79 Handicap over 1700m, the eight-year-old Baracah has been selected to win as he is drawn well over a suitable trip and has come down a couple of points in the merit ratings. He goes well for Piere Strydom, who has ridden him in his last three starts. However, Starret City won well last time in his third run after a rest and can progress further. Bold Viking is another one who can progress further, but Dawn Assault, Kanonkop, Trip To Rio, Cockade and Hieronymus are all capable of winning too.

In the last leg of the Pick 6, Don Christo has come into his own and Gavin Lerena stays aboard, so he can win yet again. However, the blinkers strike Side Show as well as Dragon’s Breath are both talented sorts, if not enigmatic, and have to be included.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry is almost unstoppable in his charge to a second National Trainer’s Championship and Newyorkstateofmind can add to his already burgeoning tally at Greyville tomorrow.

Newyorkstateofmind (Nkosi Hlophe)

The gelding took an age to shed his maiden but once that was behind him he was quick to reel off a further two victories. He has been campaigned relentlessly with at least one outing per month since October last year and although he lost a little of his form after his last win back in November, he is now showing a glimpse of his better form. He was third in a stronger handicap field at his last start and with Anthony Delpech taking over in the saddle Newyorkstateofmind can give Eddie Sweat a run for his money.

Eddie Sweat, named after the groom of the legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat, has been out of the winner’s box for some time now and although the five-time winner is hardly in the league of ‘Big Red’, Frank Robinson has been patient and the gelding’s time could come again this afternoon.

It has been over two years since his last victory but the handicappers have finally relented and the gelding’s rating has been dropping rapidly from a high of 94 to 67 and to a point where he now looks competitive again. He is also showing signs of a return to form.

Although Eddie Sweat can hardly be backed with any confidence Robinson looks to have picked the right race for him. He has seldom been far off the winner even though his losing streak stretches back 780 days he was staying on nicely in the soft ground at Scottsville last time out when three lengths behind Great Value.

He is well suited – like many of the older brigade – to the more forgiving and even poly track surface and although he takes on some fairly promising younger rivals, today could be his day.

Kept Secret (Nkosi Hlophe)

Belinda Impey survived a savage attack by a disgruntled former employee a fortnight back but her stable hands and her Ashburton colleagues stepped into the breech to help out while she was in hospital and she will be back to saddle her smart mare Kept Secret, winner of both her recent starts. In form apprentice Ashton Arries, aboard Newyorkstateofmind last time out, has stuck with Kept Secret and a winning hat-trick will be welcomed by all.

Seatops and Damali look pick of the younger brigade but Eddie Sweat could provide for a good priced winner in what looks to be another tricky card.

In the Lightning Shot Handicap, Mr Mcsteamy comes into this race holding his form and does his best over course and distance. He takes a slight drop in class and Anton Marcus is back aboard. Toonani was well supported in the market last time out but may have been short of a run after returning from a break. He should improve on that showing and looks a threat. Of the balance, Roy Royale is back over his best surface and is down in the ratings while All True Man improved last run and has his third start after a break.

Ideal Duel is a recent maiden winner but has improved with every outing, shedding her maiden at third time of asking. She appears to have some scope and meets little of note in the SA Racing App Handicap.

By Andrew Harrison

Piet Botha has come out of retirement and rides two horses for Glen Puller at Kenilworth on Saturday – Love To Fly in the Juvenile Plate and Jay Rock in the Racing Association Maiden.

Glen Puller

Botha, 40, said yesterday: “I resumed riding work on December 27. I wanted to ride one horse and see how it feels. I haven’t looked back since, and I aim to continue for as long as I stay fit and healthy. My weight is pretty good – I was 56kg when I stepped on the scales last Saturday.”

A bad fall at Summerveld in 2010 ended his career the first time round when a broken rib caused endless pain and led to his being medically boarded with supposedly-permanent nerve damage.

He rode two Grade 1 winners in Mauritius and has a string of Grade 2 and 3 winners in Cape Town to his credit including the Green Point and Matchem on Roman Charger, Peninsula Handicap (Dunford),  Chairman’s Cup (Selous trained by Puller), Odessa ( Joshua’s Princess), Sceptre (Joshlin) and J & B Reserve Stayers.

Since his retirement he has been concentrating on building up his coffee machine business.

By Michael Clower