There is a forecast of some light rain for Cape Town on Saturday, but the track at Hollywoodbets Durbanville has reportedly dried up sufficiently over a few sunny days this week, for a 10-race programme to go ahead. There are natural concerns that the results will be affected by runners short of peak fitness following a series of abandoned meetings, but the favourites won most of the races at the last two rain-delayed meetings in the Western Cape so punters are advised to stay with exposed form. There is a chance of kitty-building on Friday with Alan Greeff and Sean Veale at Fairview, and a potential good value bet at Newbury. Two Highveld raiders could be the runners to rely upon on a tough card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. As always: Study the relevant factors, play by the form book and get the cash!
Sean Veale rode four winners for Alan Greeff when deputising for Richard Fourie on the Polytrack last Friday. The KZN-based rider will be looking for more leverage with a full book of rides on turf for the Eastern Cape’s 16-times champion trainer. Greeff, who has been spot-on with his pre-race advice to punters on Racing Today’s Track Talk (www.racingtoday.co.za), made The Mauritian a big runner in Race 7 over 1400m. He said: “He just needs some luck and the right splits to win this.” Masked Vigilante (Race 8, 1200m), could complete the last TAB Tote double for the yard and Greeff said: “He is overdue. He should’ve won already, he could’ve won, maybe he will win this time.”
The Friday feature in the UK is Race 4, the Listed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing St Hugh's Stakes over 1000m, in which a field of 14 two-year-olds will go to post. French trainer Andre Fabre pays a rare visit across the English Channel with Lady Of Andros. She is easy to back at an opening call of 6-1 but, with good Listed form to her name, looks a good value bet with Ryan Moore booked for the ride.
Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer should have a flying start with From A Distance (Race 1, 1000m) and King’s Quest (Race 2, 1000m). Both have shown winning form in respective recent runs and King’s Quest, especially, should be hard to beat from his inside draw. Bass-Robinson said that another fair form runner, Plus Four (Race 3, 1400m), is likely to need her run after a break, which will play into the hands of Vaughan Marshall’s overdue Cumbre Vieja, who has been knocking at the door and comes into the race with the benefit of two good recent seconds. Glen Kotzen’s highly regarded Holding Thumbs (Race 5, 1600m) has improved after being gelded. He was impressive in a pillar-to-post win over 1600m at Kenilworth a fortnight ago and looks well placed for a similar performance on a track that favours front-running tactics.
SUGGESTED R1440 PICK 6 (R28 for 20%):
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12
Leg 6: 4, 8
The Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes over the straight 1400m (Race 4) tops the bill at the afternoon’s Premier race meeting. The distance should be ideal for English Oak who won two of his last three races over that trip. Ed Walker’s runner disappointed in stronger company last time but jockey James Doyle stays with him, and the four-year-old colt could bounce back to his best on this occasion.
Daniel Meagher saddles three runners in the topliner, Race 5 over 2000m. Of the trio, Pacific Bao Bei and Lim’s Smythe are Singapore Gold Cup hopefuls alongside Meagher’s star performers Lim’s Kosciuszko and Lim’s Saltoro. He said: “Pacific Bao Bei is on the cusp. He’s probably two wins away from being in the mix. Lim’s Smythe has some work to do to get a start, but he has plenty of upsides given his profile. He’s only just turned four and placed in the Group 2 Singapore Guineas in May. He certainly has some ability.”
Alec Laird is raiding with a number of his Gauteng handicappers to take advantage of the weak winter fields in KZN. On a tricky card, it makes sense to side with Laird’s Quantum in Race 3 over 1600m and Command Pilot in Race 4 over 1500m. There are several runners with winning chances in Quantum’s contest, but the mare’s good second to Mascharina in the recent Off To Stud Stakes at this track looks the best recent form pointer of all. There isn’t much to choose between Command Pilot and Mike de Kock’s Officer In Command on their last encounter, but Laird’s gelding is 0.5kg better off and appears to have just a bit more scope. Peter Muscutt-trained Plaza Accord hasn’t yet fulfilled his early promise, but he is maturing well and should still win his share of races. He has a wide draw to contend with in Race 5 over 1400m, but this MR 82 Handicap looks right up his alley.