Heavy rain and a dodgy pull-up area saw the last two races abandoned last Sunday. But given that the KZN 3YO Series races play an integral role in preparing for the summer Classics, the race was rescheduled and takes centre stage at Greyville this evening.

Run over 1 600m, brought to you by SPAR Central Office, the race has attracted a small but quality field where the filly Dawn Calling could put one over the colts.

Dawn Calling (Nkosi Hlophe)

The race was originally scheduled for the Greyville turf, but as the grass has not fully recovered from its spring treatment and with rain the order of the day the event was switched to the poly track.

The Duncan Howells-trained Dawn Calling has taken to the synthetic surface and although unlikely to be anywhere close to her peak with the Cape Summer of Champions a possibility, she could still prove a cut above her male rivals.

Dawn Calling recently made her seasonal debut in a 1 200m sprint against some useful older fillies where she was not well in at the weights and over a trip that already appears to be well short of her optimum.

However, she was all over a winner except at the line as Impala Lily got up to deny her victory.

Although taking on some smart males Dawn Calling is nicely in at these weights and will much prefer today’s trip. With the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas on the agenda, just how she fares will give some indication of her chances should she take her place in that race come early December.

Howells will have a line on most of the field with Palladium, Highway Eightyfive, My Pal Al and The King Of Random all behind the Howells-trained Roy’s Magic at Scottsville last month.

It was a desperately close finish but Roy’s Magic came from off them to nail My Pal Al and Palladium on the line. On that showing there should be very little between My Pal Al and Palladium again today but both could find the filly too hot to handle.

Palladium (Nkosi Hlophe)

Something of an unknown quantity is the Frank Robinson-trained Winter Is Coming. The colt took time to come to hand but once stepped out on the poly his form improved dramatically.

His last run was super impressive as he put a maiden field to the sword, winning by eight lengths easing up. The handicappers were also impressed and he earned a 94 rating. Whether that rating is justified, we will know by this evening.

Outside of the Series Race, the balance of the seven races have full fields and punters will not find things easy – the bonus being that you will get a decent price whatever your fancy.

All the noise surrounding Donald Trump’s election as US President this week could prove an omen for Media Circus In the opening leg of the Pick 6. Sean Tarry’s runner is lightly raced on the Highveld but has always been relatively short in the betting. He could make major improvement racing on the poly track for the first time. Likely favourite is Vested Interest who was a game second last time out. He has improved in blinkers and rates a strong chance if he stays the trip. Portman Square is seldom far back over shorter and this longer trip could bring out the best in him.

Second leg of the exotic bet s an absolute nightmare although Selvan’s Jet is back over his best course and distance and he has been up against slightly stronger of late. Lady Linda takes on males but is in good form and has shown up well in useful company while Dhaamer has finished like a bullet at his last two since returning from a break and is definitely one for the short list.

The fifth is another wide-open affair by Silver Inspiration comes from an inform yard and should be right there from an inside draw. Roy’s Dancer has improved in blinkers and was not far off from a tough draw last start. The extra should also suit while Jazz Bar has a wide draw but showed up well first up on the poly after a returning from a lengthy break. She is sure to improve.

It doesn’t get any easier in the sixth where Bagger Vance is taken to get back to something like his better form from Newyorkstateofmind who is highly consistent but has an inexperienced apprentice aboard here. Given the benefit of the doubt he should be thereabouts again. Capel Top heads the handicap but is returning from a break. He is more effective over further but could race fresh.

By Andrew Harrison

Extended betting hours by Michelle Wing

The progressive Pillar Of Hercules can make it three off the reel in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow but watch out for Lord Balmoral.

It is rare to have racing in Cape Town on a Thursday but the Joey Ramsden-trained colt is well bred enough to win whenever and wherever. By Captain Al, he is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Gibraltar Blue who won both the KZN Fillies Guineas and the Tibouchina for Mike de Kock in 2010 after showing smart form in Britain and Ireland as a two-year-old.

Joey Ramsden

Donovan Dillon’s mount followed up a good-style win at Durbanville by scoring first time out of the maidens at Kenilworth a fortnight ago. He has gone up 2kg for that and probably didn’t have 2kg in hand but he is almost certainly still improving.

Lord Balmoral owes punters plenty after disappointing when hot favourite in his last two runs but he looked the business in his previous two and he has been dropped 2kg for last time when there was a valid excuse. “We found he had a bit of an upper airwaves infection,” says Vaughan Marshall who thinks enough of the horse to run him again on Saturday week in the R2.5 million Lanzerac Ready To Run.

Pillar Of Hercules opened at 5-2 with World Sports Betting on Tuesday and hardened to 22-10 yesterday while Lord Balmoral is on 5-2. According to the sahorseracing computer they will finished first and second.  Fire Master looks fully exposed and is a 15-2 chance, Zud Wes (9-2) beat him a head in July and is half a kilo better but has been off ever since while Desert Fighter has not raced since just holding on in a blanket finish on the polytrack on Durban July day.

Surely not even the in-form Dennis Drier can get him to win this although the bookmakers are taking no chances and will only offer 22-10. It is difficult to find a realistic reason for supporting either Seven Wood (15-1) or Tiger Tiger (18-1) even with Richard Fourie in the irons.

Over Drive opened favourite for the first (and hardened to odds-on yesterday) despite proving expensive in his two Durbanville outings although stable expectations are not that high. “We are hoping that he will run a good race but we are not confident of winning,” says Chris Snaith.

I thought it would pay to side with 18-10 chance Maxamore instead. Darryl Hodgson has booked Grant van Niekerk for the gelding who showed promise on debut at Durbanville last month despite losing ground at the start and running green. However Gstaad, who finished half a length in front of him when third that day, let the form down here last Saturday and so Over Drive is given another chance.

Captain Gambler, who gave weight to the three who finished in front of her in last month’s Durbanville graduation, could be the answer to the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap at 7-2.

The money has already come for Pure Logic in race four and the Dean Kannemeyer colt has shortened from 9-2 to 5-2. That looks a tip worth taking.

Drier should again provide the winner of the getting out stakes and Mogostar has already been backed in the last, shortening from 15-10 to 11-10.

By Michael Clower 

Turffontein Standside stages an eight race card tomorrow night where the racing is competitive and dividends should be rewarding for those who do their homework.

It is not easy to find a best bet on the card but the one plumped for is Military Award in race four, a Maiden over 1400m. This Brave Tin Soldier gelding made his debut on Grand Heritage day over 1200m and his low draw was against him, so he didn’t do badly in finishing 14,5 lengths back. He proved that sentiment correct in his next start over the 1400m course and distance of tomorrow’s race. He was caught wide for much of the journey from a wide draw, so did exceptionally well to stay on strongly throughout the straight to finish a 0,2 length second. He should come on further for that run.

Weichong Marwing

Weichong Marwing stays aboard for his brother Weiho. The one factor against him is a wide draw of 14. Weichong will need all of his considerable skill and guile to overcome it. On the plus side the horse does not over race and he has proved he loves the galloping nature of this track.

The main danger could be Hamaan. He also stayed on strongly in that last race after being dropped out from a very high draw. He was beaten 2,3 lengths by Military Award. On the other hand that was his debut. He has also cracked a better draw than Military Award tomorrow night.

Bling Swing is an interesting raider for Paul Lafferty. He ran in the KZN Series for three-year-olds over 1400m last time out and faced good horses. He finished only 0,25 lengths behind the Gr 1 winner Gunner, although he was receiving 10,5kg if the 2,5kg apprentice claim of his rider is included. However, he was only receiving 4,5kg from the winner, the fair sort Roy’s Magic and was beaten only 2,75 lengths.

The second race over 1600m sees a penalty kick in Samurai Blade as he is weighted to stroll home and is in good form too.

The first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1400m, is one of the most difficult races on the card and punters should go wide.

Next up is the Military Award race.

In the third leg, over 2000m, Spun Out, another raider from the Lafferty yard, is the choice. In his first run after gelding, last time out, he showed considerable improvement. He was dropped out from a wide draw over 1600m at Scottsville and ran on strongly to finish second. He was not stopping at the line, so should relish the step up in trip. Some might view coming up to altitude to run over 2000m as a major negative and it would be if he was coming up from sea level.

However, Summerveld is about a third of the altitude of Johannesburg and horses have raided to win marathon trips from that training centre before. Strydom aboard is a plus. Stool Pigeon could be dangerous. He appeared to run too handy last time when stepped up to this trip and that blunted his finishing speed. He should be given another chance.

In the next leg the solid sort Hawaiian Sun should love a return to the Standside track. He carries topweight but has dropped to a competitive merit rating and this is an ideal trip. However, this is an open race where it looks wisest to go wide.

The next race is also not easy. However, Last Chirp looks to have some class and she has the advantage of a rails run on the standside over an ideal 1160m course and distance. She could represent some fair each-way value.

The last race over 1000m sees a potential banker in Fieldmarshall Fenix. He over raced a touch early on in a 1450m event last time out and still managed to finish second. Therefore, he should enjoy the step back to 1000m and is drawn on the standside rail. This is only his second career start and he should have improvement in him too.

By David Thiselton

After having done my selections for the Racecard in the usual 90 minutes before print deadline – KZN trainers seem to be allowed an awful lot of leeway when it comes to final declarations – and then comparing my selections to Computaform picks, I was left wondering if it was even the same card!

Racing in KZN has not been easy these past few weeks and today’s Greyville card looks particularly tricky. An indication of just how tricky comes in the Itsarush.co.za Handicap, a sprint over 1200m. Almost all of the runners have some claim to the winner’s cheque but at very least you will get a good price about your fancy – win or lose.

Littleblacknumber (Nkosi Hlophe)

Littleblacknumber is a smart mare and Duncan Howells has been forced to race her in strong company because of her high merit rating and a lack of suitable races. She makes her poly debut this afternoon but looks well suited to the surface and could prove too good for the males. Al Ciberano is overdue another win and has a light weight and a top draw. With Anthony Delpech booked for the mount the gelding should have every chance. Top Form made a smart return to the track after a break and if he comes on from that he will be a factor. Gareth van Zyl saddles Redcarpet Captain who although he has a big weight he is unbeaten in two over course and distance since being gelded. Alistair Gordon’s pair of Beat The Retreat and Bunker Bill are also both capable on their day as is Waltzed Home.

In the card opener, the Howells-trained Elysian Fields has put in two modest efforts on the turf but his one run on the poly was excellent. A repeat of that showing should see him close. Most of Dean Kannemeyer’s runners have shown an affinity for the poly track. He sends out Gates who looks a threat to Elysian Fields. He raced green on debut when jumping from a wide draw and is sure to improve on that effort. The Reformation is another who has run his best race on the poly and failed narrowly two runs back at long odds. Roy’s Slow Motion sped up quite a bit when sent on the poly and although a distant third he can feature in the money again

In the second We’re Watching You made a promising debut on the turf at Scottsville. She is likely to handle the poly given the soft ground on debut and meets a modest field. Howells has a chance of a quick double as Night At The Proms has run her best races on the poly and was close-up in both recent outings. She has a tricky draw but should feature prominently.

It has been some time since Jeff Freeman had a winner but Promissory has been close-up in some useful company of late, much stronger than he meets here. He has a good draw and with Anton Marcus engaged the inference is obvious. Aramouse has excellent form for Weiho Marwing and was touched off by One O Won last Wednesday. He looks the biggest threat to the selection. A danger to both could be Sea Urchin. Lightly raced he has his problems but he also has ability. Garth Puller has declared him in blinkers for the first time and he should be included in all calculation.

Variety Romp (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth is another minefield. Greatfiveight has had a busy few weeks since arriving in KZN. He has taken to the poly but blinkers proved to be the key to his next win. He finished a close-up fourth behind Penhaligon last Sunday so will at the very least strip fit for this race where he has a chance in in a weak field. Roy’s Rolls Royce has shown some fair form on the poly and should feature in this company along with The Gingerman who has also improved in blinkers but has a difficult draw to overcome here.

Variety Romp is a lightly raced six-year-old who made a promising comeback after a lengthy break last month. He can go close in the sixth where recent maiden winner Apres Ski made major improvement when tried in blinkers on his poly debut and can follow up while San Julian Bay has shown up well in two starts on the poly but has to lump a big weight from a wide draw.

In the seventh Beaute Noire has done well for her new stable and made a cracking handicap debut. She has a big weight but could prove too good here and is a possible exotic bet banker. Danger could be Lunar Sea who has been in good form on the turf. Of concern was her modest last effort on the poly but she has drawn well and has a handy weight.

The lucky last could go the way of Archilles who was not far back to a useful colt last time out. He meets weaker here and should have a strong chance.

By Andrew Harrison