We have a number of runners to watch out for this weekend, starting off on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Track, this Friday 31st January 2020. Seattle Force looks the pick of the weekend runners, when he steps out at his favourite course, the Turffontein Inside Track, on Saturday 1st February 2020, before we return to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Track on Sunday 2nd February. See more here.
Friday 31 January 2020
Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Track
Race 5 – 19:25
1900m – Garden Grove Retirement Complex MR 91 Handicap
8 – Sunny Bill Du-Toy
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Tristan Godden
Wgt: 58.5kg
Draw: 8 (8 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 12/1
After returning from that tendon injury he suffered in the middle of 2018, he has clearly needed both of his comeback runs but he has strengthened up nicely and he now steps up to a trip where he will be suited. He hasn’t been pushed too hard to reach full fitness, but he is certainly enjoying his work and should be a lot fitter now. From the widest draw, he will be looking to go a lot handier now and we expect him to go a lot closer to the winners’ box. He may still just need the run, but he should have a decent place chance in a small but competitive field.
Winning Form Comment: 3rd run after rest. Needed last two starts. Loves this course. Has peak run and can return to best form.
Race 8 – 21:10
1400m – Hollywoodbets Bright Future Merit Rated 76 Hcp (F&M)
5 – Mocha Rose
Trainer: Duncan Howells
Jockey: Athandiwe Mgudlwa
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 5 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 25/1
After going unsound after the winter last year, she is doing much better now and she gave a fair account of herself last time out over the 6-furlongs. That was a shade on the sharp side for her and she now steps up the trip where she has landed both of her career wins so far. She lands a much improved draw for her 2nd run back and we expect her to go a lot closer here.
Winning Form Comment: 2nd run after rest. Needed comeback run. Will enjoy the rise in trip. Chance on best form.
Saturday 1 February 2020
Turffontein Inside
Race 4 – 14:45
1800m – Merit Rated 112 Handicap
2 – Seattle Force
Trainer: Stuart Pettigrew
Jockey: Diego De Gouveia
Wgt: 58.0kg
Draw: 2 (6 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 2/1
He is an ultra-consistent galloper who loves this course and distance, having been unbeaten in both of his efforts over this track and trip. To add to that, he is unbeaten in all four of his outings on the Turffontein Inside course. Despite the fact that he is continuously rising in the ratings, he is handling the challenge well and he is not stopping here. With Marco van Rensburg riding at the Sun Met meeting in the Cape, Diego De Gouveia regains the ride having won on him on three prior occasions, so he knows this son of Mambo In Seattle well. He is the horse to beat and we expect him to land another victory here.
Winning Form Comment: Unbeaten in 2 starts this course & distance. Good latest behind subsequent winner. Likely to set the pace.
Sunday 2 February 2020
Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Track
Race 2 – 12:35
1400m – Maiden Plate (F&M)
1 – Arctic Princess
Trainer: Glen Kotzen
Jockey: Anton Marcus
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 1 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 3/1
Having purchased this filly in a private deal back in early December last year, she will be having her first outing for the Hollywood Syndicate this Sunday. Anton Marcus rode her in a grass gallop on Tuesday and she put up a solid effort, confirming that she is ready for this. He did, however, mention that the 1400m is a touch on the sharp side for her, but she has landed a perfect draw and the blinkers should sharpen her up enough to go right into the equation. She’ll have a good each-way chance.
Winning Form Comment: 3rd run after rest. Blinkers ON. Front-runner. Drawn pole and headgear should help.
12 – Anika The Angel
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Tristan Godden
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 12 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 5/1
She suffered a severe laceration to the bottom of her near hind last time out, which almost damaged her tendon. Lucky enough, it was just a superficial injury but it was deep enough to force us to box rest her for a lengthy spell. She has come back well and we opted to run her from the wide barrier to give her a chance to get going again. As such, she is going to be in need of the outing and won’t be tipped to feature just yet.
Winning Form Comment: Rested 30 wks. Drawn wide but can win this contest with further natural progress.
Race 3 – 13:10
1400m – Maiden Plate
10 – Ralph The Rascal
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Tristan Godden
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 10 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 4/1
He followed up that impressive barrier with a solid debut run three weeks ago, when running second and the experience gained would have served him well. He now steps up to the 1400m from a tricky draw, but he will have plenty of natural improvement to come and he should relish the extra furlong. With a bit of luck in early running, Tristan Godden will have him just off the early speed and he’ll be mounting a big challenge late. We expect him to have a nice each way chance, but it may be worth opting for a better draw before he is backed for the winners’ enclosure.
Winning Form Comment: Eye-catching debut on this surface. Should enjoy the extra furlong and must be respected.
Race 5 – 14:20
1400m – Greyville Convention Centre – Merit Rated 69 Handicap
6 – Jerry The Juggler
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Dennis Schwarz
Wgt: 55.0kg
Draw: 6 (13 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 7/1
He seems to be showing better signs of going into contention since stepping up in trip and he has now dropped to a competitive mark, as far as his rating is concerned. He finally lands a useful draw and in this class of opposition, he is handicapped to be involved in the finish. We expect him to go into the first 4.
Winning Form Comment: Did best work in latest when behind number 4. Weighted to finish closer now.
Race 6 – 14:55
1400m – Track & Ball Gaming Merit Rated 69 Handicap
2 – Agent Murphy
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Tristan Godden
Wgt: 60.05kg
Draw: 2 (13 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 5/1
He received a bit of a disappointing ride by the apprentice last Sunday, when having a ton in hand as he travelled through the 200m mark at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Instead of being switched to mount his challenge, the apprentice opted to follow his lead horse for a fraction too long and once he got going, it was too late. Tristan Godden regains the ride and from a very useful draw, he will be expected to be right there at the business end and we give him a good each way chance.
Winning Form Comment: Looks held by number 4 on penultimate run but can improve to feature on best form.
Race 7 – 15:30
2000m – Durban View Restaurant Merit Rated 69 Handicap
1 – Mighty Smart
Trainer: Paul Lafferty
Jockey: Thabiso Gumede (-4kg)
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 1 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 10/1
Having suffered quite a bad muscle injury in his penultimate start, he went into a 1600m last time out to bring him back to full fitness and under the circumstances, he gave a nice account of himself. He now steps up to a trip he is bred for and lands a much better draw this time. The 4kg claiming Gumede takes the mount and he should be able to find a prominent position early on. He drops further in class here and we expect him to be fighting this one out with the leading contender. As such, he will be worth including on all bets.
Winning Form Comment: Two poor handicap runs but drops in class and pole position will help.
6 – Storm Ruler
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Craig Zackey
Wgt: 58.5kg
Draw: 6 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 25/1
Caught wide from a poor draw last time out, he had no option but to be overused early on to find a handy position. That cost him in the finish and as expected, his effort faded out tamely. He is dropping steadily in the ratings and finds a much-improved draw this time. Off his current mark of 66, he is well handicapped against this class of opposition and we expect him to have a nice place chance in this field.
Winning Form Comment: Three poor runs since 38 week break. Runs well over this course and distance.
Race 8 – 16:00
1600m – Sea Cottage Merit Rated 89 Handicap
8 – Uncle Charlie
Trainer: Garth Puller
Jockey: Eric Ngwane
Wgt: 53.0kg
Draw: 8 (11 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 20/1
He has continued to drop in the ratings and he is going to love this slight step up in trip to the mile. With this being his fourth run after that three-month rest, he will strip a much fitter horse now and he is ready for his peak run. From a mid-field draw, he will be looking to sit just off the early speed and if finding a smooth passage at the business end of the race, he should be right there. In this class of opposition, he should present some nice place value.
Winning Form Comment: Dropping in the ratings and placed in only attempt over a mile.