Danie Toerien
Tuesday's race meeting which was originally scheduled to take place at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, has been moved to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack after the Pietermaritzburg track received 55mm of rain over the past 7 days, with further showers expected on race day.
The change of venue and racing surface resulted in a deluge of scratchings. While some races will now see only five or six runners enter the starting stalls, the day's racing is still expected to be very competitive.
In the card opener, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m, Malshana Mou looks the value option. Now trained by Louis Goosen, this daughter of Vercingetorix came within a length of victory on two occasions when still a juvenile.
Given time off to recover from a joint injury and to mature, Malshana Mou should be the one they all have to catch.
In Race 2, an Open Maiden over 1200m, Eric's Legacy appeals most after his runner-up finish on debut to Cleartherunway. This Vercingetorix colt was the fastest finisher in his soilitary outing and showed tremendous pace to come from near last at the 400m marker to mow down all but one of the field.
Now that Andre Nel's charge knows a bit more about racing, he need not improve much to get on the scoresheet.
The scratching of Lovecomesknocking was a disappointment as this Gimmethegreenlight filly set connections back R1.9-million. She is sure to make her debut pretty soon when conditions are more favourable.
Another runner expected to exit the maidens today is Greates Hit, who lines up in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1400m.
Trained by Wengesai Masawi, this Canford Cliffs gelding showed tremendous improvement when stepping up to this distance in his second outing.
Trainer Garth Puller, who saddles Major Tommie in Race 6, a Class 3 Handicap over 1100m, is probably over the moon with the fact that racing today will be on the polytrack.
Major Tommie ran a very close second last time out to Master Josh in a similar contest when trying the synthetic surface for the first time. With that experience under the belt, he is hard to oppose.
SELECTIONS
Race 1: 6 Malshana Mou, 7 Priory Terrace, 4 Mystic Dancer, 1 Coccolina
Race 2: 1 Eric's Legacy, 5 War Emperor, 3 Runthruthejungle, 4 William Of Orange
Race 3: 7 Greatest Hit, 5 Noriega, 10 Bourbon's Beast, 3 Kissing Master
Race 4: 3 Green Glow, 2 Master Du Rouvray, 6 Bad Medicine, 8 High Queue
Race 5: 7 Buttercup Baby, 1 Icy Lancaster, 5 Light Of Gabriel, 8 Golden Moment
Race 6: 8 Major Tommie, 6 Future Flo, 4 Icy Blast, 1 Maphaka
Race 7: 5 Convocation, 11 Captain's Christy, 3 Perfume Power, 4 Ruby Rising
Race 8: 5 Position Of Power, 7 Luneluck, 9 Rafa's Boy, 3 Kinshin Sha
Race 9: 2 Arverni Princess, 4 Fate Of Fortune, 6 Austrian Beauty, 3 Navajo Dancer