A festive week lies ahead and we will be hoping for at least one of our four runners carded this week, to land a share of the spoils. Hollywood Thunder has a nice chance to land her maiden victory in the first race at Fairview today. She drops in trip and looks perfectly set up for this. On Tuesday, Kings Road returns to Gauteng for his third outing and he can go into contention. Finally on Thursday, Alphamikefoxtrot and Mighty Smart (pictured) turn out at Hollywoodbets Greyville and both should give good accounts of themselves. See more here.
Monday 23 December 2019
Fairview Poly Track
Race 1 – 12:30
1000m – Maiden Plate (Fillies)
2 – Hollywood Thunder
Trainer: Gavin Smith
Jockey: Marco van Rensburg
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 4 (6 Runners)
Current Betting: 3/1
She showed plenty of speed, when dropping to the 1200m last time out. With that being her second start with the blinkers, she went to the front and was only collared late to go down in third by just 0,75-lengths. The blinkers stay on as she drops even further to the 1000m here and once again she will be expected to set the fractions out in front. Drawn well, Marco van Rensburg retains the ride and this daughter of Pomodoro is going to be tough to catch today.
Winning Form Comment: Good improvement under van Rensburg last time. Is a big runner if repeating that effort.
Tuesday 24 December 2019
Vaal Turf
Race 1 – 12:15
1200m – Maiden Plate
11 – Kings Road
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 3 (18 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 12/1
He was a little disappointing last time out, when making his course debut on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly. That was just his second start and he was clearly green under the lights. Back in Gauteng for his third outing, S’manga Khumalo takes the ride this time and he will hopefully get him to settle a bit better, as he has over raced in both of his starts to date. If he does settle, he should finish off his run well enough to find the first three places. Depending on how he goes this time, we may look to enter him into a 1000m next time, where he looks slightly better distance suited.
Winning Form Comment: Two moderate runs but has shown some pace. Khumalo riding well. Respect.
Thursday 26 December 2019
Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf
Race 5 – 14:57
1200m – Greyville Convention Centre MR 68 Handicap
8 – Alphamikefoxtrot
Trainer: Darryl Moore
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 59.0kg
Draw: 8 (12 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 3/1
He has followed up his third career win three starts back with two solid efforts. All three of those runs have come over the Hollywoodbets Greyville 1000m and he now steps up to the 1200m this time. S’manga Khumalo appears to be getting the best out of him and he retains the ride once again. From a trickier draw this time, he will be looking to settle just off the pace and with a little luck in running he should be right there at the business end. We give him an each way chance.
Winning Form Comment: Runner up in last two starts. Meets the right field.
Race 8 – 16:42
1900m – Durban View Restaurant MR 87 Handicap
11 – Mighty Smart
Trainer: Paul Lafferty
Jockey: Serino Moodley
Wgt: 52.0kg
Draw: 11 (11 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 7/1
He took longer than expected to win his maiden, but finally got the job done at the 7th time of asking last time out. That was the first time he wore the blinkers and they seemed to keep his eye on the prize in the closing stages, as he finished off with a strong run to land up in the winners box. Drawn wider this time, he has the gate speed to get over and find a relatively handy position at the off. If settling, he has a very handy galloping mass to shoulder and despite the rise into a stronger class now, he will be boxing on in the closing stages. With this being his handicap debut, we will be looking for a positive effort as he is the type that is going to get better and better with time and a place finish looks likely here.
Winning Form Comment: Finished strongly to win maiden last time. Form of that race has worked out well. Chance.