David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack drained well despite heavy rain ahead of its meeting and all nine races were run without a hitch despite light rain falling continuously during the meeting.

In the first race Pinetti was fancied after some hard-knocking form and he had the advantage of the 1.5kg claim of Rachel Venniker. In the 1000m maiden plate the Dennis Bosch-trained Futura colt jumped from draw five out of seven and Venniker managed to find a beautiful spot for him in midfield. He accelerated smartly down the inside coming into the straight and ran away to win by 2.2 lengths, converting odds of 91/100.

In the second race Hamilton Hero jumped from draw two under Athandiwe Mgudlwa in the maiden under 1200m and the three-year-old Ivan and Darryl Moore-trained Act Of War gelding found the box seat behind the fancied Xiphos. He accelerated well in the straight to win by a cosy 1.5 lengths, converting odds of 13/2. The favourite Sovereign Command was a touch slowly away and faded in the straight to be unplaced and well beaten.

In the third, a maiden over 1400m for fillies and mares, the Michael Roberts-trained Futano clinched a double for both Rachel Venniker and Futura. The four-year-old had not earned in five previous starts and started at 20/1 odds. From draw two she found a nice handy position and was done a favour in the straight by the pacemaker Baltic Assayer as the latter drifted outwards across the path of the favourite Love The USA, who had to be steadied and switched inward, and thereafter she could only chase in vein and was 1,40 lengths shy at the line.

The fourth race was an open maiden over 1600m and the hard-knocking Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Canford Cliffs gelding Next Of Kin had gone close with first-time cheek pieces last time out. He had to carry topweight of 61,5kg despite being a young three-year-old. However, the 83-rated Hollywood Racing-owned grey took it in his stride and after being put in a nice handy position by Sean Veale he quickened smartly at the top of the straight before keeping going well to win by a cosy 0,90 lengths from second favourite Takeyourbestshot, a  four-year-old to whom he gave 3kg. Takeyourbestshot has run in five open maidens since being moved from the Highveld to MJ Odendaal’s yard and he has four seconds and one third from those starts.

In the fifth race, a C Stakes event over 1600m, the consistent Duncan Howells-trained William Longsword gelding El Rey Viene was backed into 9/4 favourite. The six-year-old found the front from draw three and Sean Veale dictated before stealing a march at the top of the straight. At the 200m it looked unlikely he would hold on because Run To Rio and King’s Island had closed right in. However, he gallantly found another gear and kept on to win by 0,30 lengths. The win gave Hollywood Racing a quick double.

In the sixth over 2000m Hollywood Racing made it three in a row as the seven-year-old Alyson Wright-trained Flower Alley gelding quickened well from the front, despite being in a one out position alongside the other leader King Bavarian. The 4kg claimer Damyan Pillay got enough out of him in the straight to just hold on by 0,40 lengths from the fast-finishing Spectacular. He converted odds of 16/1.

In the seventh over 1200m the Tony Rivalland-trained Querari six-year-old gelding Super Fast was coming off a run of a win and five seconds in his last six starts. He delayed the start when they battled to get a front shoe he had lost back on, but the reshodding was eventually completed. He led all the way and kicked away from them at the 300m mark to win by 3,20 lengths under 2,5kg claimer Mxolisi Mbutho.

in the eighth over 1200m the Yogas Govender-trained Potala Palace gelding Bourbon Warrior carried joint topweight of 61,5kg and was drawn nine out of nine but Tristan Godden got him over into the lead and he was yet another horse to win from the front, although he only just held on by 0,25 lengths from a flying  King Of Spin.

The ninth saw another start to finish winner as One World gelding United Nation got to the front and ran away from them in the straight to win by four lengths and it gave both Ivan and Darryl Moore and Mxolisi Mbutho respective doubles.

David Thiselton

The low draws should be favourable down the Vaal straight in today’s meeting if the course setup stays the same as advertised yesterday i.e. the outside rail is in by 12m from the 1600m to the 600m mark at which point there is a 12m spur.

In the first race over 1200m Codeword improved when cheekpieces were put on over further and she ran second in her last two starts over 1800m and 1600m respectively. She is by Global View out of a Trippi mare whose only win was over 1600m. However, she quickened nicely from well off the pace over 1600m last time and was caught late after hitting the front, so she might do well here from a nice low draw. Raceway has the form to be a big runner here as she improved with blinkers last time out. She has a middle draw. Phuthi should be right there if repeating her last start when a close third over course and distance and she has the plum number one draw. Bella Boop Boop went close the last time she ran over course and distance, despite a terrible start, so she is a big runner if jumping on terms, although she does have a potentially high draw. Chilli Marmalade could earn from a low draw if producing her best.

In the second over 1200m Underdog improved with second time blinkers on and has a chance against an uninspiring field. Ubermensch has enough ability to be in the shake-up in this race. Storm Burst will be right there if able to reproduce his penultimate start.

In the third race over 1600m Universal girl was not disgraced in a decent field over 1200m on debut. The Irish-bred Saxon Warrior filly out of a Frankel mare should relish the step-up in trip on pedigree, but her draw of nine might be against her. Madame Pompadour disappointed last time when stepped up to 1800m, but before that ran a cracker over this course and distance, so she has a chance here from draw five. Amaze me is a consistent sort but does have 2.25 lengths to make up on Madame Pompadour and also has what could be a potentially tricky draw of seven.

In the fourth race over 1600m Bellerophon made a fine debut over 1400m and should handle the step-up in trip. He has the potentially advantageous number one draw too. Amazon Queen improved second time out and should be in the shake-up if able to overcome a potentially tricky draw of nine. War Summit ran a fair race on debut and will appreciate the step-up in trip. Nebraska was not disgraced on debut over 1200m and will relish the step-up in trip so could earn if able to overcome a high draw. Mystic Vision has shown some ability and has a nice low draw with Craig Zackey up, so could have a chance.

 In the fifth race over 1600m Sheets and Goggles goes for a hat-trick. She has improved since being stepped up to this trip and has a nice low draw and was raised only three points for her last win. Hopscotch won her maiden well over 1800m last time and before that did well in a 1500m race when just 3.9 lengths behind A Bit Of Class, who was subsequently placed in the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes. Mattiazo has consistent form and has 2.9 lengths to make up on Sheets and Goggles and is 3.5kg better off. Furthermore she has the advantageous number one draw. Dylan’s Champ is drawn six out of eight, which could be tricky, but under an in-form 4kg claimer he has the ability to be right there. Gamer also has a high draw, but on form could be in the shake-up.

In the sixth race over 2000m Cartagena is better than her last couple of starts and now has a good draw at last so she could be the one to beat. Kiss of Fire goes for a hat-trick and has won both of her previous 2 starts with the same 4kg climber up so she should do well from a middle draw. Lava Lamp goes for a hat-trick and is off just a three point higher mark than last time and now has a 4kg claimer aboard. Full Go has the form to be a contender, but does have a high draw to overcome. Volte Face has the ability to be right there too, but also has a high draw.

In the seventh race over 1200m Palace Prince could be the one to beat as he won by 4.25 lengths last time over this course and distance and his eight point raise might not be enough to stop him. Beamonesque was second to Palace Prince last time and is now 4.5kg better off and furthermore he has a number two draw. Biofarmer has the number one draw and has the form to be a big runner. Xenophon is drawn four out of nine and after his easy win last time he should go close considering the form has been franked. Silver Longsword was beaten 5.3 lengths by Xenophon and is only 0.5kg better off but could earn here.

In the last race over 1100m Time for Charity has hard knocking form and has a plum draw of two. Phala Millions is drawn in pole and has the form to be right there. Captain Efficient is a consistent sort and from draw three should also be right there if the low draws do turn out to be favourable. Western Wishes is capable of doing better than last time. Jet Cat is now ten years old but is still competitive and he can be in the shake up if the high draws turn out to be not too unfavourable.

RACE 1

1 CODEWORD 2 RACEWAY 3 PHUTHI 6 BELLA BOOP BOOP

Preview: 1 CODEWORD was knocking hard over further at the end of last season, but running fresh here with a 4kg claimer up she should go close. 2 RACEWAY has the form t be a big runner here as she should be improving.  3 PHUTHI should be right there if repeating her last start. 6 BELLA BOOP BOOP should run another honest race over what has proved to be a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-6)

RACE 2

7 UNDERDOG 1 UBERMENSCH 3 STORM BURST

7 UNDERDOG improved with second time blinkers and has a chance against an uninspiring field. 1 UBERMENSCH is capable of running a place here. 3 STORM BURST has the ability to be in the shake up in this field. (David Thiselton 7-1-3)

RACE 3

4 UNIVERSAL GIRL 2 MADAME POMPADOUR 5 AMAZE ME

Preview: 4 UNIVERSAL GIRL was not disgraced in a decent field over 1200m on debut and should relish the step up in trip. 2 MADAME POMPADOUR disappointed last time but stepped back to this trip she has a chance. 5 AMAZE ME has a form chance in this line up.(David Thiselton 4-2-5)

RACE 4

8 BELLEROPHON 13 AMAZON QUEEN 12 WAR SUMMIT 10 NEBRASKA

Preview: 8 BELLEROPHON made a good debut and should enjoy the step up in trip. 13 AMAZON QUEEN improved second time out and should be in the shake up. 12 WAR SUMMIT was not disgraced on debut and should enjoy the step up in trip. 10 NEBRASKA made a fair debut over 1200m and shoul enjoy the step up in trip. (David Thiselton 8-13-12-10)

RACE 5

3 SHEETS AND GOGGLES 5 HOPSCOTCH 4 MATTIAZO 1 DYLAN’S CHAMP

Preview: 3 SHEETS AND GOGGLES is a progressive sort and can run on again to score a hattrick. 5 HOPSCOTCH won well in her seventh start and could be a contender here off a reasonable 82 merit rating. 4 MATTIAZO is 3,5kg better off with Sheets And Goggles for a 2,90 length beating so could be right there. 1 DYLAN’S CHAMP can go close if repeating his last start. (David Thiselton 3-5-4-1)

RACE 6

5 CARTAGENA 7 KISS OF FIRE 1 LAVA LAMP 11 FULL GO

Preview: 5 CARTAGENA was hampered late last time but made up some ground afterwards and could bounce back here from a plum draw.  7 KISS OF FIRE goes for a hatttrick over a suitable trip and the same 4kg claimer who won on her for those two races is aboard. 1 LAVA LAMP also goes for a hattrick and has just a three point higher mark. 11 FULL GO can go close if repeating his last start. (David Thiselton 5-7-1-11)

RACE 7

2 PALACE PRINCE 9 BEAMONESQUE 3 BIOFARMER 6 XENOPHON

Preview: 2 PALACE PRINCE won well last time and the eight point raise might not be enough to stop him. 9 BEAMONESQUE is talented and showed signs of a form return last time. 3 BIOFARMER has the form to be a contender. 6 XENOPHON has shown ability before and could be a threat. (David Thiselton 2-9-3-6)

RACE 8

5 TIME FOR CHARITY 6 PHALA MILLIONS 3 CAPTAIN EFFICIENT 2 WESTERN WISHES

Preview: 5 TIME FOR CHARITY is knocking on the door and should go close. 6 PHALA MILLIONS is distance suited and should be right there. 3 CAPTAIN EFFICIENT is consistent on the Highveld and has a chance. 2 WESTERN WISHES disappointed last time but could do better. (David Thiselton 5-6-3-2)

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