Greyville has an eight race card tonight and as always there are some good opportunities for punters who are on the ball.

In the first over 1600m, Diamond League, a half-sister to Whiteline Fever, has run well in two 1200m races and the form has worked out well so she should take care of this weak field over a step up in trip she should handle on pedigree. Black Cat Magic was outpaced on debut over 1200m but ran on well so should improve over this trip. Attic View was doing her best work late when green over 1400m on debut. Black Cashmere found some support on debut over course and distance and Marcus now rides. Aventurine could also improve.

Surrey (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the second over 1200m Highway Explorer bounced back to form last time when running on and is drawn well here in his second run after a rest and gelding. Waltzed Home has run well after layoffs before and has Marcus up. Beloved Country is a talented filly and can’t be ignored with a 4kg claimer up. Translunar is reliable and will be running on over a trip too short. Prince Of Magic is course and distance suited.

In the third over 1200m, the hard-knocking Ice Run has a good chance in an uninspiring field. The first-timer Smart World is a full-brother to the decent Amazing Strike.

In the fourth, Surrey goes well for this 4kg claimer and could still be ahead of the handicapper while he has shown enough speed to be effective over this trip. Cunning Fox won easily over course and distance last time and could handle a six-point raise. Harrison is suited to this course and distance and was hampered last time.

In the fifth over 1000m, the exciting newcomer Free State has her second outing and as one who is going places will likely be good enough off a merit rating of 83. Super Guppy is 0,5kg under sufferance but looks very well handicapped on the form of her last run on the Vaal sand and as a front-running sort will be dangerous from a plum draw. Regardstobroadway is talented and could earn.

In the sixth, National Chimes stayed on well over 1900m with this rider in August and is now a point lower. Nanojet and Information Highway make most appeal of the rest.

In  the seventh over 2000m, Alpine Ridge will be coming into her own being by Go Deputy and ran on well over 1600m last time from a tough draw on the turf. Sword Storm is on the up and the handicapper might not have a hold of her yet. Lemon Tea could still be reasonably weighted for this course and distance.

In the last over 1400m, Argyle Bay could win if repeating his last run. Fareeq and Master Of Mischief both look talented and could go close first time out the maidens, while Burwaaz, Max The Man, In Your Dreams, Copper’s Pride and Royal Armour also have to be considered in an open race.

By David Thiselton

Turffontein stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and the most interesting event is the fifth, a Graduation Plate over 1600, which features some good horses including the courageous Tiger Ridge filly Trophy Wife and the Australian-bred Teofilo colt Brazuca.

Trophy Wife is 2kg better off than any other horse in the race according to official merit ratings and her merit rating of 103 has been well earned. This is her first run since May, but she is ultra consistent as well as tough and Champion Trainer Sean Tarry’s charges have often been seen to come out after successful three-year-old campaigns and win first up as four-year-olds. The rest clearly does them good and Trophy Wife will likely arrive on course with considerable vigour and she has a good draw too.

Brazuca (Nkosi Hlophe)

Three-year-old Brazuca’s merit rating of 109, due to an unlucky short-head second in a Gr 1 over 1400m, is questionable considering he won his maiden last time out by 0,3 lengths. However, that was firstly over the too sharp 1200m and he beat a well-pedigreed Australian-bred first-timer, while the horse who finished a 2,9 length fourth came out and won a good race next time out over 1450m. However, he doesn’t have an easy draw and has some tough nuts to crack in just his fourth career start.

Four-year-old Majestic Bay finished a 0,5 length second to Mitraad over 1400m last time out and the latter went on to finish third in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile. However, he does have quite a tough draw.

Front Rank is 2kg worse off than Majestic Bay according to official merit ratings, but is a bit of an in and out sort and on his day can match it with some of the best of them. This is a suitable trip and he should be running on strongly from draw two with Gavin Lerena up.

The other three runners standing their ground, Nahoon Beach, Diesel Power and The Fifth Day are way out at the weights.

The selection is Trophy Wife to beat Front Rank and Brazuca.

The tip for the first race is the talented High Drama, who should have benefitted from gelding.

Night On The Hill could beat the well-bred Span Die Seile in the second.

Captainofmyheart could beat the first-timer Cherokee Grey in the third.

Gusheshe was backed on debut and could improve enough to win the fourth.

The sixth is competitive and Polly Wolly Doodle is the tip off a lenient merit rating and Arctic Route and Noor could follow her home.

The seventh could see a follow up win for Flaming Spirit, who should be coming into her own being by Silvano.

Oreo Shake looks to be the one to beat in the eighth and Lunar Approach might prove too classy in the ninth.

By David Thiselton

Black Arthur, held in high regard by Justin Snaith, is to be aimed at the Investec Cape Derby on January 30 after the extraordinary performance he put up when winning a mile maiden at Kenilworth last week.

It was only his second start and he carried a kilo overweight yet he was backed down to odds-on. However Bernard Fayd’Herbe was obliged to drop back and tuck in near the rear after failing to get in from his eight draw.

The colt made up a lot of ground in the straight to hit the front 50m out and win easing up, seemingly with plenty in hand.

Chris Snaith said: “Black Arthur is basically a stayer but he has come to hand late and we don’t want to push him. We hope to have him ready for the Derby and he may run in the Politician Stakes three weeks beforehand.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Justin Snaith

Last Saturday’s R2 million Bloodstock SA Ready To Run Cup winner Lineker may stay in Johannesburg to plunder further rich prizes on the Highveld.

Chris Snaith said yesterday: “We still have to talk to the owners to see what they want to do but our feeling is that the Gauteng Guineas would be a lot easier to win than the Grand Parade Cape Guineas.”

Mike Bass’s recovery from his death’s door illness will be taken a significant step nearer in a fortnight’s time when he has the prosthetic fitted to his right leg that had to be amputated below the knee in order to save his life.

The Milnerton trainer is still suffering from the damage done to some of his nerves and it is hoped that his daily physio sessions will go a long way towards putting this right.

Son Mark said: “He is making very slow progress but the fact that there is progress is a good sign.”

Daughter Candice and fellow assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe missed the stable’s success with Kryptonite in yesterday’s 1 400m maiden because they were stuck in the lift. They used, not the main lift, but the service lift nearest the reserved car park and this remained jammed for almost an hour.

Trainer Eric Sands, on the mark with 50-1 shot Streak Of Silver in the opener, arrived at Kenilworth on crutches with his right foot in a surgical boot. He broke bones falling off a ladder and will have to wear the boot for between six and eight weeks.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Eric Sands

Greyville stages a nine race midweek meeting on the poly today and there look to be some good opportunities for punters.

In race 1 over 1200m Brigtnumberfive made a promising debut over 1000m at Scottsville and was still green so with natural improvement is the one to beat. Euthenia is having her third run after a layoff and will likely attempt to steal it from a better draw than she had last time when tiring late and finishing second over course and distance. Between The Sheets made a fair comeback after a year’s layoff at Scottsville over 1000m when finishing 4,75 lengths behind a promising sort but is a temperamental sort so a lot will depend on how she behaves in the prelims. Roy’s Dancer is by Western Winter and is a half-sister to the consistent 85 merit rated Mumsy’s Jet. Ntokazi by Mullins Bay looks the pick of the Howells first-timers on riding arrangements and her full-brother Mount Hillaby finished second in the R3 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup two years ago.

Master James (Nkosi Hlophe)

In race 2, a Maiden over 1600m, New Hampshire should relish the step up in trip on pedigree, being by Dynasty out of an SA Oaks winner, but can’t be tipped confidently as he shows a fair amount of speed and pulled for his head over 1200m last time. Soldier’s Code has a wide draw but is likely still improving and with Delpech up will make a bold bid as he has done well over course and distance before. Shine Up ran on over 1400m last time and should be thereabouts from a good draw.  Bankable Teddy improved last time with blinkers over this trip on the Turffontein Inside course and stayed all the way to the line.  Team Guys nearly made all over 1800m last time and is probably better suited to that trip, but could earn. Royal Champion is another one who can’t be ignored in an open race.

In race 3, over 1600m, Zaida strikes as a progressive type and with Delpech up could follow up on her maiden win over a step up in trip she should relish. Beautiful Jet has fine form but returns from a nine month layoff. She does not show much at home but has had a couple of gallops. The draw is not a concern as she always drops out and runs on strongly. Classy Looker could earn dropped back to this trip. Le Çhat D’Amour, drawn in pole, has done well over this trip before but would prefer further.  Timeforatiger enjoys the poly from 1600m upward but Sean Veale, who handles her temperamental quirks best, has jumped ship on to Classy Looker. Rock Of Laudium could earn if bouncing back from a tailed off run when the jockey believed something was amiss.

In the fourth over 1600m, Queen Of Credit finished only 3,8 lengths back in a Gr 1 over 1400m on July day and having not been disgraced against the boys last time over 1400m should be cherry ripe and in with a good chance off a mere 71 merit rating. The draw is only a slight concern as she likes to run from off the pace. Jive Session ran a fine race in her penultimate over course and distance and now has Marcus up from a good draw.  Off Ramp has a chance with Delpech up despite a wide draw. She should have benefitted from her last run over 1200m and will likely prefer this trip.

Le Chat D’Amour (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the fifth over 1600m Master James returns to the distance of his wins and should be cherry ripe in his third run after gelding. Buffalo Bill gets a good draw for a chancg and will go close over what now looks to be his ideal trip. Way Of Light is a progressive sort who is also course and distance suited but the handicapper might be getting to grips with him now. Gold Bank is in fine form and has a chance. Tell The Tale has ability and has a chance if reproducing his best from a good draw.

In the sixth over 1600m Petite Master is said to be in a good space by his yard and from pole position over an ideal course and distance off a reduced merit rating is the one to beat. Charles My Boy won in good style last time and the handicapper hasn’t been harsh on him. Peter Piper is always a threat if behaving himself.

In the seventh over 2000m Battle Hammer was slow away and raced wide when going close over course and distance in his penultimate start so could win from a good draw with Fortune up. Spirit Of Dover went close in his first try at this trip. Night Shadow had been a disappointing type until stepped up to 1800m and winning easily so is interesting stepped up to 2000m. Mr Winsome won well but is off a tough merit rating. Avaricious improved last time and Marcus is now up.

In the eighth over 1400m Jade Vine runs off a merit rating almost 30 points lower than her sand merit rating and is hard to oppose from a good draw over a suitable trip. Chennai Babe and Leylani make most appeal of the rest.

In the ninth over 1000m Wishful Heart runs off a merit rating 20 points lower than his sand rating and is drawn well with Marcus up over a suitable trip. Super Guppy had a sudden form return when beating a fair sort over this trip easily on the Vaal sand last time out and is running off a merit rating 18 points lower than his sand rating. Thunder Run should make a bold bid from the front.

By David Thiselton