Race Previews Greyville Sunday Nov 13 by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

Preview: Desperately poor field. GONDWANA has run two fair races at Durbanville and makes his poly debut. He doesn’t have to be too good to win here. STREET BOY has improved at recent outings over further. Best effort on the poly over a mile. LORD LUTON is along-time battling maiden but is better than his last two and should feature in this company. ROMAN EMPEROR is a well-bred first timer and possibly one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-1-12).

Race 2

Preview: Another poor field. STARWIN has shown some promise and now starts in blinkers. Distance suited and rates the one to beat. SOMNIUM disappointed at her second outing after making a promising debut. She tries blinkers and must have a strong chance in a poor field. The stable thinks ARRAN ISLES will run a good race and worth including in all bets. Anton Marcus rides the well-bred VARSONIC and is one to watch in the betting although the stable believes she needs further. (Andrew Harrison: 2-11-8-12)

Race 3

Preview: RED MOON AT NIGHT has been a touch disappointing at her last two but is back in blinkers and can make amends. LUNAR RUSH returns from a break. She has done well to stronger but may need the run. SEATOPS makes her poly debut. She was favourite for her first run out of the maidens and can still improve. TIMEOUS goes well over course and distance and can place. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-2)

Race 4

Preview: SPECIAL ENCOUNTER was close-up in a modest field last time out but has improved at recent outings. The extra should suit. ELYSIAN PARK has not been far back in two local starts and takes a big drop in class. He has a fair weight but meets very little of note. EL BOMBERO has been trying further on the Highveld and but has not been far back. The switch to poly in a poor field could do the trick. TRINITY HALL has improved at his last two in blinkers. He is down in class from his last run and can feature. MARRON was a recent maiden winner but has shown some promise in good company. However, he has a tough draw and a big weight. (Andrew Harrison: 6-2-9-11).

Race 5

Preview: AFRICAN SUNBIRD won well on debut and although she takes a steep rise in class she looks capable of following up. WELL IN FLIGHT has been consistent on the turf of late. She handles the poly and rates a strong chance. MUSIC WORLD won her last two over course and distance. She has drawn well and at best is another in with a strong winning chance. FANTASY LADY won well first time back from a break. She is lightly raced and can follow up. RUBY GEM has a light weight and is another to consider. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-5-3).

Race 6

Preview: SEVEN SINGLE has some useful Highveld form. He is well drawn and if he takes to the poly he will be a big runner. SILVER ROSE takes on stronger here but won very well in blinkers last time out and with a light weight can follow up. RUN RHINO RUN has been consistent. He steps up in trip and is overdue another win. RIKITIKITANA found his best form when winning last time out, this third run after a break. There should be little between him, OLE GUNNAR, RAP ATTACK and OPEN HEIR. (Andrew Harrison: 7-11-4-2)

Race 7

Preview: FRENCH REVOLUTION has been knocking at the door and is due a change of fortune. He is a little out at the weights but should be right there. DOUBLE CLUTCH is well in with his apprentice allowance and is also in good form. He should be right there. SIRISSA ran well below best when sent up to the Highveld. He is a dangerous front runner. ROYAL NAVY SHIP needed his local sprint debut and will much prefer this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-1-2).

Race 8

Preview: SHINE UP is long overdue. He stays the trip and goes well on the poly. He should be right there again. BLACK FOREST has shown up well in his last two and is stil improving. He looks a lively threat. HANDSOME HARVEY is struggling to improve but is another with consistent form. He has a tough draw to overcome. FIRE BOLT caught the eye when running on late over shorter. He should prove better this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 1-7-4-11).

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