Celtic Beauty has a flamboyant look

KwaZulu-Natal racing seem to always produce a cracker of a race meeting on Boxing Day and this year’s Hollywoodbets Greyville line up on Thursday is no different.

The eight-race programme includes a solid field of quality fillies and mares for the Listed Flamboyant Stakes where Celtic Beauty could confirm her status as best weighted runner.

The Listed Christmas Handicap has a more open look, and it could be a race where exotic bets will reward.

With a merit rating of 104, Tony Rivalland-trained Celtic Beauty is the highest rated horse in Race 6. Not long after beating Peter Muscutt’s highly rated Mascherina 1.60 lengths giving her weight she then beat second best weighted Mary’s Greenlight by 5.80 lengths when winning the Listed Scarlet Lady.

Mascherina is 2kg worse off and doesn’t appear a threat even if she has a love for the Greyville track. Mary’s Greenlight had excuses in the Scarlet Lady and has subsequently turned in strong performances against high class males at this venue.

But while Celtic Beauty has had two sparkling preps taking on the region’s best males in See It Again and Gladatorian, Mary’s Greenlight is returning from an extended break and jumps from the widest stall.

Sean Veale takes the ride

The supporting feature of the day is Race 7, the Christmas Handicap, and is wide open, typical of is a handicap after all. It must also be remembered that it is the second Christmas Handicap run this year as the 2023 running was moved to New Year’s Day.

In fact, Formagear, who produced a powerful finish to win at the start of the year, could end the year off on a high by completing a rare Christmas Handicap double. Interestingly, he finished 0.40 lengths behind Celtic Beauty, giving her 3kg, when the pair made their season returns, and that race didn’t suit as he was forced to raced handily due to there being a lack of pace.

While he is the best horse in the race and will strip fit in his third run after a rest, he won the previous version off a merit rating of 100 beating re-opposing Imilenzeyokududuma by 0.80 lengths.

Formagear, with 60kg, has more to do at the weights this time with a rating of 108, is 2.5kg worse off with Imilenzeyokududma (58kg).

Two horses who appear certain to come in for betting support are Zalta Star (Race 3) and She’s A Bomber (Race 5) who were heavily backed in recent starts. The former is facing a weak field and should be tough to beat. The latter has twice rewarded her followers and could just pull it off again as the handicapper may not have caught up with her just yet and she again has a 4kg apprentice claim to make things easier.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 The Golden Goal, 5 Deserto, 2 Little Cracker, 8 Top Gun

Race 2: 5 Hot Pearl, 4 Captain's Christy, 6 War Empress, 1 Vision To Achieve

Race 3: 3 Zalta Star, 9 Long Street, 7 Roy's Grace, 5 Umzolozolo

Race 4: 6 Johnny The Thief, 5 Lucretius, 2 The Mikado, 1 Quantifier

Race 5: 1 She's A Bomber, 6 Woodland Glade, 5 Broadway Girl, 2 Miss Paget

Race 6: 2 Celtic Beauty, 10 Mary's Greenlight, 8 Bevies Delight, 7 Perilla

Race 7: 9 Formagear, 5 Mexican Pete, 7 Imilenzeyokududuma, 4 Kitchakal

Race 8: 13 Jazz Festival, 2 Go Grayson Go, 11 Global Movement, 10 French Trip

BEST BET

Race 3: 3 Zalta Star

VALUE BET

Race 2: 5 Hot Pearl

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 3x9

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 2, 5, 7

Leg 2: 4, 5

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 2, 5, 6

Leg 5: 1, 6

Leg 6: 2, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 4, 5

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 6

Leg 5: 2, 10

Leg 6: 5, 7, 9

Leg 7: 2, 11, 13

PICK 6

R576

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2, 8, 10

Leg 5: 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 6: 2, 10, 11, 13

JACKPOT 1

R144

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 8, 10

Leg 4: 4, 5, 7, 9

JACKPOT 2

R144

Leg 1: 1, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 8, 10

Leg 3: 4, 5, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2, 10, 11, 13