David Thiselton
The Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting yesterday got off to a cracking start for punters with the two favourites winning the first two races and a fancied horse winning the third at an attractive price.
In the first over 1000m, an Open Maiden, the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained three-year-old Pathfork filly Power Of Pearls brought hard-knocking Highveld form in which she had run ten times for three seconds, six thirds and a fourth. She was set to carry 58,5kg off a 73 merit rating as she was given a 2,5kg gender allowance, but in reality she only carried 54,5kg as 4kg claimer Divesh Ramkhalawon was aboard. She bunny hopped as the stalls opened and lost a length or more but then showed fine pace and ended up in a battle for the lead between herself, Highveld Storm and Catrien. She was between that pair but in the straight she kept on finding and, under pressure, she did well to forge ahead in the final 100m under a cool Ramkhalawon to covert 7/10 odds by one length from a staying on Captain T, with Catrien, Donmagoo and Winter Miracle next best.
In the second, a Maiden over 1400m, the Andre Nel-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Prins Jaspar started 2/1 favourite having run a good third in his first start in KZN having had some fair form in Cape Town. Prins Jaspar pinged the gates and never looked back, cruising to a three length win under Serino Moodley with the rest of the field spread out like the washing.
In the third the 93 merit-rated Vaughan Marshall-trained Act Of War filly Victory In Orleans looked an absolute picture in the preliminaries, but against her was the weights in this Middle Stakes event over 1400m for fillies and mares, because she was officially 3kg under sufferance with the best-weighted Infinity Edge. However, she is progressive and won from start to finish in fine style by 1,70 lengths under Callan Murray. Infinity Edge did not settle well and was well beaten in sixth place.
In the next race over 1400m, a Class 4 handicap, the Gareth van Zyl-trained Dubai Dude relished his first outing on the poly and gave Athandiwe a welcome first victory since returning from injury on March 27, so hopefully this will buoy his confidence. Starting at 8/1, the Declarationofpeace gelding ended up sitting on he quarters of the leader Johnny Boy. He had no cover but settled well. He has plenty of substance and responded well when asked to fetch Grand Appeal who was charging down the inside rail. He got up by a shorthead. He looks like one to follow as he looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement.
In the fifth race over 1000m, a C Stakes event over 1000m, the Kumaran Naidoo-trained six-year-old Rafeef gelding Rainbow Reward relished running over this course and distance since going close over it on December 9 and as he had come down two points since then and was one of the best weighted males here he was fair value at 33/10. He pinged the gates from pole position and found the box seat and in the straight pulled away from them with ease to win by 1,70 lengths under 4kg claimer Anaas Mosaheb.
In the sixth race over 1200m Hollywood Racing claimed their 146th win of the season when the Vengi Masawi-trained William Longsword mare won the Class 4 handicap over 1200m by 0,80 lengths under Sean Veale. She also pinged the gate from pole position and was also in the box seat. She ran on well down the inside to beat the consistent Dawn Surprise by 0,80 lengths.
The seventh race over 1200, a B Stakes event, saw a third victory from he pole position-drawn horse in succession as the Alyson Wright-trained Vercingetorix gelding won by 0,70 lengths under Keagan de Melo from the favourite Black Eagle. He jumped well and from a midfield position on the rail switched out to come home full of running to convert 4/1 odds. He will pay to follow as he was 1kg under sufferance with the favourite under the conditions.
In the last race over 1200, a Class 5 event, Definitely Yes scored a deserved win having gone close at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time over the same trip. She came from a handy position and ran on well under Chad Little to beat L’Ultimo by 0,30 lengths and thus deny yet another win for a pole position-drawn runner.
