Greyville hosts nine races on the polytrack tomorrow and punters might be on the winning side, as they were on Saturday.

The first over 1000m looks to be at the mercy of At Variance, whose disappointing last run over course and distance might have been due to “second run after a rest” syndrome, while the spread out nature of the finish suggests the form of that race might turn out to be above average too. She has the beating of all the horses to have raced on form and is drawn in pole. None of the first-timers make special appeal. Flying Rock is from the powerful Dennis Drier yard and this R110,000 purchase is by Seventh Rock out of a Captain Al mare who won two 1000m races at Arlington.

In the second over 1400m Captain Of Rock was hampered in the straight last time over 1200m when backed and could improve, although being by Seventh Rock out of five-time-winning Captain Al sprinter Captain’s Emblem, there is a question whether he will enjoy this trip. The Irish-bred Cape Fling by High Chaparal is a half-brother to Let It Rip, who won her maiden by 4,75 lengths over 1600m on the Greyville poly, and he would not have to be special to beat this field. Gio Ponti’s Legacy has come talent and should be running on well after likely being dropped out from a wide draw. Secret Service has been knocking on the door in similar weak company and is drawn in pole over a trip which might be a touch sharp. Hearts R’ Pumping returns from a six month layoff and can go close if reproducing his best.

In the third over 1400m Avast drops in trip with the blinker now on and the most interesting point is Delpech retaining the ride, so this consistent sort should do well despite a wide draw. Mostada stayed on well over this trip at Scottsville last time from a similar barrier position to this one, so with further improvement in just her third career start she should go close.  Disrupt should relish the step up in trip and should be thereabouts from a good draw.

In the fourth over 1400m the improving Speedjet runs on well and should go close from a plum draw with a 4kg claimer up. Momo ran on well over this trip at Scottsville after being green and outpaced early. Tanami has a wide draw to overcome but could earn.

In the fifth over 1400m the talented Tripandie is drawn well over an ideal course and distance and should be flying home as usual. Budapest has class and is course and distance suited. Stolen Destiny loves this course and distance and is still competitive at age nine.

In the sixth over 1400m Tipo Tnto would have just about won last time over course and distance if not baulked for a run and off a one point lower mark will likely be running on well again with Delpech now aboard. Roy’s Winter Patch enjoys the course and distance and has a chance with a 4kg claimer up. Bizjet should be right there despite a wide draw, having not been disgraced lately against some fair sorts over course and distance and now one point down in the merit ratings.

In the seventh over 2000m Rio De La Plata has caught the eye as a promising sort and will relish this step up in trip. Qatar Springs has some class and he and Juddering Angel can do well from good draws over a suitable triple.

In the eighth over 2000m Silver Rose has caught the eye and was a touch unlucky last time when making late headway for second over 1950m at Scottsville, so is the one to beat here from a good draw. Frikkie is knocking on the door and is distance suited, well drawn and has Delpech up. Stablemate Koncealed looks likely to come into his own this season and should go close over a step up in trip he should relish with a 2,5kg claimer up, although  as a handy type his wide draw is a concern. Baracah is a frustrating sort to follow but should perhaps be given one more chance from pole position over an ideal trip and off a merit rating 41 points lower than his highest career mark. Strategic’s Pride and Texican can’t be ignored.

In the last over 2000m Black Flower went close over course and distance last time and Delpech is up from a good draw so she can confirm a narrow beating of Roy’s Monkey. Matresse is interesting as a newcomer in the Charles Laird as he was backed over 1700m at the Vaal in his disappointing penultimate start and was found to be not striding out after being bumped at the start.

David Thiselton

Tomorrow’s public holiday has an eight race card at Turffontein where punters look to have some fair opportunities.

In race one over 1800m, a workrider’s maiden, Thunder Applause ran a fair race from a handy position with first time blinkers on last time over 2600m and will be dangerous here over this drop in trip with the top workrider Ndlovu aboard. Champion workrider Sam Mosia is aboard Trippi gelding Payne’s Grey, who showed a fair turn of foot last time over 1600m before running on at one pace. His useful full brother Liquid Mercury won the Gr 3 Winter Derby over 2400m, as well as a handicap in Dubai over that distance, so on pedigree he should enjoy this step up in trip. William Grace needed his debut over 1600m and then pulled his way to the front with blinkers on last time over the same trip, so he could be surprise place getter here being by Dynasty out of a useful Jallad mare who won three-in-a-row early in her career from 1800-2000m. Uposeupay beat Payne’s Grey last time over 1600m by half-a-length when setting the pace from pole position. He now has a good draw again, while Payne’s Bay is drawn wide. Uposeupay has not been successful over more than a mile before but could do better this time as he has generally improved recently. Reminiscence ran on well from the back to finish second over 2000m last time, but the time of the race was slow.

In race two over 1450m, a maiden plate for three-year-olds, Querari Viking finished second over 1600m last time and the form has worked out well, so he should do well fresh over this likely too sharp trip. The wide draw is a concern, but his class could pull him through. Zagazig will improve on his fair debut over 1600m being by Silvano and he has a good draw. Sabre Dance stayed on well over course and distance last time for third  and has a good draw again. Sail For Joy is knocking on the door and can earn again. Dromedaris has the form to earn too.

In race three over 1450m Public Protector will relish the step up to this trip and is likely looking for even further. She was slow away on debut over 1200m down the straight, but she was making up ground with long strides in the final stages for a fair fourth and is well drawn here. She will likely need to jump quicker than she did last time as this track is tight. Rose Water is knocking on the door and should be improving being by Silvano. Pearl Valley ran a good race over course and distance last time from a similar draw and Andrew Fortune is up. Countess Jemina moved up well over 1800m last time from a handy position before fading so might be interesting here over shorter, although she didn’t feature over this trip early in her career and has a wide draw here too. Danny’s Well should be improving.

The fourth race over 1200m William Nicol caught the eye as a horse who is coming into his own when winning over 1200m at the Vaal last time and has a good draw here, although he does have a five point higher mark to contend with and hasn’t run since the end of May. Hililyhililyhilo is a progressive and consistent sprinter who is distance suited and has a fair draw. Inspector Casey wasn’t disgraced against stronger in a handicap last time over this trip at the Vaal and is well drawn. Dolphin showed a return to form last time and can go close if reproducing his best run over course and distance. Cinema Scope’s best recent run was over course and distance and he is drawn in pole off a six point lower merit rating.

The fifth over 1600m has attracted a surprisingly weak field considering it’s a Novice Plate for fillies and mares. Sao Paulo looks like an improving sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Babbling Brook is a Western Winter half-sister to the useful Brooks-Club. She romped home when stepped up to 1600m in her third start and the form has worked out well. She does have a high draw to overcome and is not officially well in at the weights as a young three-year-old, but on a line through Pearl Valley looks to just have the beating on paper of Sao Paulo, but the latter is better drawn. Silvery Dream is the second best weighted horse and is distance suited but has a tricky draw. The officially best weighted horse is Fort Ember, but she hasn’t run since finishing a 2,75 length sixth in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over a year ago and the form of that race has not worked out well. Spring Dance has become disappointing but on pedigree should enjoy this trip.

In the sixth over 1600m Dealer’s Charm, with Lyle Hewitson up, will relish the step up in trip having run on strongly from well back to win over 1450m on this track on debut and although he has a wide draw he should rise above his 66 merit rating. Triple Beat is better than his last start and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Ciao-Ciao went close over 1450m last time on July 3 after a long break and is well drawn over a suitable trip. Streetwear ran well first time out the maidens and handles this trip but he does have a tricky draw. Fangia and Scotland could earn.

In the seventh over 1800m American Tiger is unbeaten over course and distance and only two points higher than his win last time from a similar draw. Rain Shadow has been unlucky but is now drawn in pole and could be the main danger along with Shot.

In the last over 2200m Tricia Dupont didn’t enjoy the poly last time and should do well from pole position being just two points higher than her last course and distance win.  Tobesuretobesure could go close if not over racing in a likely pacemaking role. A P Chanel should go well with Fortune up from a good draw.

David Thiselton

Work is due to start at the end of October on eliminating Durbanville’s much-criticised ridge and furrow.

Manager Dean Diedericks said: “We are going to sort out the undulations but we also want to make the turn wider and give consideration to moving the rail around the turn.

“Our aim is to have the work finished by the end of March but whether we will be back racing at that stage depends on how the track recovers.”

In recent years the country course has managed to attract horses of the calibre of Variety Club, Capetown Noir and Act Of War for the Matchem Stakes – plus Ebony Flyer and Inara for the Diana – but many trainers have been reluctant to run good horses there for risk of damaging them on the ridge and furrow, particularly when the ground is firm.

Durbanville plays an important part in the training of horses at Milnerton and Philippi as it used for gallops every week, and closing the course for a minimum of five months will cause obvious problems.

However Diedericks said: “What we do about the gallops is still being debated but we are going to do the work in two phases – the back stretch and the rest. There is also the possibility of accommodating gallops at Kenilworth, perhaps keeping the winter course open during the summer for the purpose.”

Plans to build a polytrack at Durbanville have been abandoned. Most of the trainers were against it and, at a meeting to discuss the matter, only three voted in favour.

Michael Clower

Four-time Vodacom Durban July winning jockey Anthony Delpech is joining Mary Slack as a retained jockey after a successful seven-year partnership with one of the country’s top stud farms and wine estates, Avontuur.

Delpech expressed his immense gratitude to Avontuur for their loyal support over the years and is looking forward to the next chapter in his racing career.

“I have been extremely lucky to have been sponsored by Avontuur for the last seven years and have shared some memorable moments with them during this time. It has been a great ride, mainly due to Pippa (Mickleburgh) and the Taberer family, who have been incredibly supportive over these past years and I owe them a special thanks and appreciation for the consistent kindness shown to me.  I wish them all the success in the future.

“Despite the happy partnership, I will now be moving on as I have been given an opportunity to be Mary Slack’s retained jockey and will have first call on all the Wilgerbosdrift–owned horses in addition to riding for Mauritzfontein.”

Delpech takes over from Weichong Marwing. The internationally experience Marwing has been suffering from debilitating back problems and his riding engagements have been limited. His bad back cost him the winning ride on the Mauritzfontein-owned Smart Call in this year’s J&B Met and also the ride on The Illuminator in the CTS Million Dollar.

Mike Makaab, CEO of Prosport International, the sports management company that brokered the Avontuur deal, was full of praise for the way in which Avontuur conducted their relationship with Delpech and wished both Avontuur and Delpech success in the future.