Andrew Harrison

What A Fortune can open his account in KZN when he lines up in a Middle Stakes that heads the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. The Candice Bass-trained gelding has had two starts since arriving from the Cape for the season and has finished close-up in both.

He was narrowly beaten first up on the poly last time out and although he drops back in trip from a wide draw he does have a useful 2.5kg claimer aboard.

It’s not a straight forward race with Highveld form in play as The Specialist makes his poly debut for Sean Tarry. The gelding was not far back last run in a small Turffontein feature won by stable companion Jersusalema Rain. He was coming off a hattrick of wins prior to that and is down in class. MJ Odendaal saddles Thisiswhatitmeans who was outclassed last run on the turf but had solid poly form prior to that run. He has a big weight but still looks capable. Golden Destiny is back to a sprint and although he does look narrowly held by What A Fortune he must have a chance.

In the first, What A Classic improved first run on the poly behind the progressive Green Energy. She has the best of the draw and is back against her own sex. Sei Bella was a beaten favourite last run but has done better and gets first time blinkers while Red Hot Miss has shown up well in both starts to date and stays the trip which is in her favour.

In the first leg of the Place Accumulator, Christmas Rose started at long odds on debut but was not far off the winner. The experience will count although she does take on older runners including Brightsunnyday who has improved since trying a little further. She has it all to do with top weight but does get first time blinkers. Peaceful Duchess has improved since a change of stables and a switch to the poly. She has the best of the draw and the extra will suit. Chihiro has yet to earn for Lucinda Woodruff but has not been too far back in the Cape so the poly could bring out the best.

The Michael Roberts-trained Good Omen will never get a better chance of shedding his maiden in the first leg of the Pick 6. He has been consistent and the step up in trip should not be an issue. Gimme The Truth has shown up well on both local starts and is the most likely danger and he has run well on the poly. Crimson Typhoon was narrowly beaten over course and distance last run and gets the same apprentice aboard which is in his favour. Bourbon’s Beast has been disappointing and tends to lack extra when it matters but is seldom too far back.

Garth Puller’s mare Fine Wine is a scratching given stipes permission as she lines up in the KwaZulu-Natal Breeders 1900 on Saturday. Her defection leaves the way open for Chasing Gold who was a touch disappointing last run but her form before that has been thoroughly franked and she goes well on the poly and will be a big runner. Ebisu makes her poly debut and has shown some promise. If she takes to the poly she will be a threat. Red Coral is 1kg worse off with Chasing Gold on their last meeting but the former may have run a little below her best.

The fifth is a wide open handicap but Dawn Surprise is always competitive and the Gary Rich stable is in good form. She goes well over course and distance and should be right there again. Innerbloom is way better than her last Cape effort. She has a handy galloping weight and should be competitive if taking to the poly. Ruby Rising has improved at recent outings and enjoyed the extra furlong last time out. She meets Thought Control on the same terms with little more than a neck separating them but the latter has the wider draw to contend with.

In the seventh has some tricky form to sift through but Last Margareta won well first up on the poly for Garth Puller and she faces a modest handicap field and with a light weight so can follow up. Golden Angel was a narrow winner on the poly last time out and although she has a fair weight she can follow up in this company. Quandura has run two good races in a tongue-tie and is a winner over course and distance last run in an Open Maiden.

Robbie Hill could have the key to the last in Mountainsofthemoon. The mare has run two smart recent races on the poly and that form has been franked. From a good draw with title-chasing Craig Zackey aboard she looks to be the one to beat. Got The Word has found form of late and the step up in trip should not be an issue. He has a light weight and a good draw and may be a threat. Pongola  showed up well on the poly last run and had been fairly consistent prior to that. The switch to the poly may have brought out the best.

RACE 1

1 WHAT A CLASSIC   4 SEI BELLA   7 RED HOT MISS   5 SCARLET EMPRESS

Preview: WHAT A CLASSIC (1) improved first run on the poly behind the progressive Green Energy. She has the best of the draw and back against her own sex. SEI BELLA (4) was a beaten favourite last run but has done better. She gets first time blinkers. RED HOT MISS (7) has shown up well in both starts to date and stays the trip. SCARLET EMPRESS (5) steps up in trip with a 4kg claimer aboard and is one to watch in the betting. (Andew Harrison: 1-4-7-5).

RACE 2

5 CHRISTMAS ROSE   3 BRIGHTSUNNYDAY   1 PEACEFUL DUCHESS   7 CHIHIRO

Preview: CHRISTMAS ROSE (5) started at long odds on debut but was not far off the winner. The experience will count although she does take on older runners. BRIGHTSUNNYDAY (3) has improved since trying a little further. She has it all to do with top weight but does get first time blinkers. PEACEFUL DUCHESS (1) has improved since a change of stables and a switch to the poly. She has the best of the draw and the extra will suit. CHIHIRO (7) has yet to earn but has not been too far back in the Cape. The poly could bring out the best. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-1-7).

RACE 3

6 GOOD OMEN   9 GIMME THE TRUTH   2 CRIMSON TYPHOON   8 BOURBON’S BEAST

Preview: GOOD OMEN (6) will never get a better chance of shedding his maiden. He has been consistent and the step up in trip should not be an issue. GIMME THE TRUTH (9) has shown up well on both local starts and is the most likely danger. He has run well on the poly. CRIMSON TYPHOON (2) was narrowly beaten over course and distance last run and gets the same apprentice aboard. BOURBON’S BEAST (8) has been disappointing and tends to lack extra when it matters but he is seldom too far back. (Andrew Harrison: 6-9-2-8).

RACE 4

8 FINE WINE   7 CHASING GOLD   5 EBISU   3 RED CORAL

Preview: FINE WINE (8) carries top weight and has the widest draw but has smart form on the poly and Michel’s 1.5kg allowance in her favour. CHASING GOLD (7) was a touch disappointing last run but her form before that has been thoroughly franked and she goes well on the poly. EBISU (5) makes her poly debut and has shown some promise. If she takes to the poly she will be a threat. RED CORAL (3) is 1kg worse off with Chasing Gold on their last meeting but the former may have run a little below her best. (Andrew Harrison: 8-7-5-3).

RACE 5

3 DAWN SURPRISE   7 INNERBLOOM   6 RUBY RISING   8 THOUGHT CONTROL

Preview: Wide open handicap but DAWN SURPRISE (3) is always competitive and the stable is in good form. She goes well over course and distance and should be right there again. INNERBLOOM (7) is way better than her last Cape effort. She has a handy galloping weight and should be competitive if taking to the poly. RUBY RISING (6) has improved at recent outings and enjoyed the extra furlong last time out. She meets THOUGHT CONTROL (8) on the same terms with little more than a neck separating them but the latter has the wider draw to contend with. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-8).

RACE 6

8 WHAT A FORTUNE   2 THE SPECIALIST   6 THISISWHATITMEANS   7 GOLDEN DESTINY

Preview: WHAT A FORTUNE (8) was narrowly beaten first up on the poly last time out. He drops back in trip from a wide draw but does have a 2.5kg claimer aboard. THE SPECIALIST (2) makes his poly debut and was not far back last run on the Highveld. He was coming off a hattrick of wins prior to that and is down in class here. THISISWHATITMEANS (6) was outclassed last run on the turf but had solid poly form prior to that run. He has a big weight but looks capable. GOLDEN DESTINY (7) is back to a sprint and although he does look narrowly held by What A Fortune he must have a chance. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-6-7).

RACE 7

4 LAST MARGARITA   3 GOLDEN ANGEL   6 QUANDURA   2 KMV RETROFIT

Preview: Open. LAST MARGARITA (4) won well first up on the poly. She takes on a modest handicap field and with a light weight can follow up. GOLDEN ANGEL (3) was a narrow winner on the poly last time out. She has a fair weight but can follow up in this company. QUANDURA (6) has run two good races in a tongue-tie and a winner over course and distance last run in an Open Maiden. KMV RETROFIT (2) goes well on the poly and has not been far back at recent outing. She can feature form a good draw. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-6-2).

RACE 8

2 MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON   4 GOT THE WORD   6 PONGOLA   7 WILLIAM OF ORANGE

Preview: MOUNTAINSOFTHEMOON (2) has run two smart recent races on the poly. Her form has been franked and from a good draw with title-chasing Craig Zackey aboard she looks to be the one to beat. GOT THE WORD (4) has found form of late and the step up in trip should not be an issue. He has a light weight and a good draw. PONGOLA (6) showed up well on the poly last run. He had been fairly consistent prior to that and the switch to the poly may have brought out the best. WILLIAM OF ORANGE (7) showed up well first run out of the maidens. He has improved on the poly and can feature again. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-6-7).

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Alistair Cohen

Easily one of the most handsome horses around, Major Master until recently had a reputation that preceded him. He has commenced into the swing of things and started to look like he can salute in a few races as he works his merit rating up towards some feature races in the coming months. He looks to have the credentials to win race 6 over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Youth Day Tuesday.

To suggest that Major Master has underachieved would sound harsh to be a five-time winner from 16 starts with six places to show for his troubles but when his career started, hopes were high. It looks like he is heading towards being effective this summer in feature races for above average handicappers like he is.

Three starts back in January he ran in the Premiers Trophy over 1800m at this course and he was not disgraced behind I Salute You who has become a Hollywoodbets Durban July hopeful. He was only 5,4 lengths behind. He followed up finishing just over two lengths behind subsequent winner Chasingtherainbow in what was not a disgraceful performance.

He was given a mini two-month break, and he returned to the course with a commanding victory at this course over 1600m in late April. He beat Boogiefied by an easy 1,75 lengths. To beat Boogiefied on a soft track in the middle-distance range takes a big performance. There is no argument that Major Master has enough talent to turn over Boogiefied but that setup is safely within his wheelhouse.

Aldo Domeyer is carded to take the ride for Candice Bass. The combination has been in good form over the last few months possibly being one of the most consistent teams in the country.

Handsome Prince looks like he is popping for a big performance. His rating gradually slides from the high mark he was given as a youngster and his performance has backed up that he could be ready to show. This trip also suits well. His last run came over this course and distance and he finished fourth behind Chasingtherainbow. There is no reason to underestimate his chances. Corne Orffer rides for Michelle Rix.

Stable companion to Major Master, Roccapina will have every opportunity from gate No 1. The structure of the conditions of this race also suits fillies and mares. She is not easy to trust because she has the capability of being wayward at times. When she is at her best like running places at Grade 1 level, she would have a top chance. Her last excellent run came in the Grade 3 SplashOut Prix Du Cap over this course and distance when she finished third behind Princess Of Gaul. She followed up with being runner-up in the Listed Ladies Mile behind Queen Regent before a headscratcher last time she was seen.

Peace Garland looks set to exit the maidens in race 1 over 1400m. Her four career runs have produced four placings. She acquitted herself well in her last run which came over this course and distance when she finished second behind Before Sunrise. There is no form to match the standard that she sets in this race and she should win under Mickaelle Michel. Vaughan Marshall trains Peace Garland.

Marshall trains the horse to beat in race 2. It’sgood It’snice has filled the second box in his two runs to date. Both starts came over 1400m, the trip he is over again. He ran into trouble on debut when he aimed for a small gap on the inside and the far more experienced From The Island kept him at bay. His two excellent runs should get him promoted to the winner’s box. Sean Veale rides.

Madra Rua ran his career best last time when he was five lengths behind Witch Hazel finishing second behind the impressive winner. He is given the verdict in race 3 over 1000m. There has been a feeling for a while that he is waiting for a soft track this winter. He should get everything in his favour. His main danger is Swift Serenity who keeps running second. She is given a good shout being a filly receiving weight plus Mickaelle Michel claims 1,5kg so she should run another good race. Keep an eye on the first timer Sierra Nevada who is very well bred and will not need to be special to feature.

Jewel Mule gets another chance. She was carded to run last Tuesday in the abandoned meeting and she is back a week later in race 4 over 1200m. Her debut came over 1000m and she ran a pleasing race when third behind Sparkling Star who looks to have wins to come. Just a step of improvement should see her account for some professional maidens who should have their respective days soon. Scandalize and Piteraq being those in question.

Master Coiner was confidently tipped to up his game last time and he did so when he finished second behind Glenalmond at this course over 1950m. He interestingly drops to 1600m in race 5 but he could get the job done. Nothing went right for him in his penultimate start and he stuck around to finish fourth albeit well beaten. If the drop in trip does not undo him, he could get his maiden win. Keagan de Melo rides for Des McLachlan.

Signor Dante took advantage of a drop in class last time and he hacked up to beat Devil A Saint by 2,5 lengths over 1400m. He runs in race 7 over the same course and distance. He had run to some serious company a few months back but he was short of confidence in the wins department. He seems to be back on track and he could go back-to-back.

Winter Pearl is an unconfident selection in race 8 over 1200m. Craig Zackey has been booked to ride. He has been on the boards in most of his recent starts so there is no reason to believe he will suddenly run below par. There are endless winning chances.

David Thiselton

Peter Muscutt has engaged the Australian-based Zimbabwean Mark du Plessis to ride I Salute You in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and this will be a reunion of a partnership which has had success in both Zimbabwe and Singapore.

Peter has never had a runner under his own name in South Africa’s greatest race, but this year he looks a virtual certainty to have two runners as his pair of entries, Isivivane and I Salute You, were in 15^th and 16^th position on the last Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

Peter said about top jockey Mark du Plessis, who was Zimbabwe’s Apprentice Champion in the 1994/95 season and their overall champion in 1997/98, “He rode for me in Zimbabwe and in Singapore and in fact he rode my first winner in Singapore. He has been very successful in Asia and very successful in New Zealand. He actually had to forego the New Zealand championship the one season, because he landed a contract in Hong Kong. He would have won it, he was a long way clear. He did very well in Hong Kong (in two stints). He is a natural light weight and apart from his current residence (Australia) and all of those other places mentioned he has also ridden winners in Japan, very good rider.”

Mark has never ridden in the July before, but has ridden at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Peter elaborated, “He did well in Hong Kong, whose two tracks are not unlike Greyville (both are tight, right-handed tracks), and he has got a lot of experience on tight-turning tracks in both New Zealand and Australia.”

Mark has ridden 36 wins in Queenland this season, which puts him in 32^nd place on the Queensland table. However, that gives a bit of a skewed picture, because in the statistics limited to the metro racetracks he is in 12^th position with 18 wins.

Although these are Peter’s first July runners under his name he has had a lot of experience in preparing July horses as the former Summerveld assistant to both Joey Ramsden and Brett Crawford.

As far as big race preparation goes, he has also learnt from one of the best trainers in the world, having spent seven years working with Australian legend Chris Waller.

The Hollywood Racing-owned four-year-old Erupt gelding Isivivane booked his berth in the July by winning the Gr 3 WSB 1900 on May 9, beating the fancied July entry Regulation by 0,60 lengths at level weights. Sean Veale rode him in the 1900 and will stay aboard for the July.

I Salute You, a four-year-old gelding by Soqrat, booked his place by finishing a 0,70 length second to Zeitz in the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m on June 6.

Peter said, “Isivivane has a 2,5kg advantage over I Salute You, but I Salute You is a very good horse and I have no hesitation in suggesting that both horses are going to see out the trip very well, they are both very fit horses.”

I Salute You will be 1kg better off with Zeitz for a 0,70 length beating and Peter said, “I can’t see him beating us again.”

He added, “I Salute You was also a touch slowly away in the Cup Trial and if he hadn’t missed the break I think he would have taken a lot of beating. He was a fair way further back than I had wanted him and had he been in front of Zeitz turning in I don’t think he would have beaten us.”

He continued, “I Salute You has not jumped well in his last two starts, but we will do some work on that.”

He concluded, “They both came out of their races very well. They seem to be horses who are on the improve and they are both in really good form. Now we wait for the draws.”

Isivivane won’t have run for nearly two months by the time of the July, but Peter does not see that as a problem and reiterated that he was a very fit horse.

Both horses will work on their own at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops.

Peter added, “According to their schedule they will probably both work from the 1400m and pick it up from the 1000m.”

I Salute You is owned by Messrs E C Abraham, Mayesh Chetty, T Herdon, K Nattar, Tony Zackey, Advocate W A J Nicholson & Miss Trinisha Pillay. It will be an exciting build up to the big day for all of them.

Peter said about the draws he would prefer, “Anything from 5 to 10 would be ideal.”

Isivivane is a half-brother to the Gr 1 SA Classic winner Red Saxon (Red Ray). He is out of Casey Tibbs mare Rodeo Sioux, whose three wins included a minor feature over 2600m, so that coupled with Erupt being by Dubawi and having won two Gr 1s over 2400m augurs well for his capacity to handle the testing July trip.

I Salute You’s sire Soqrat’s three Gr 1 wins were all over a mile, but he was a flying second with topweight in the Gr 1 Summer Cup over the tough Turffontein 2000m. I Salute You,  is out of a mare by speed influence Var, but that mare is in turn out of a mare by stamina influence Silvano.

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