Upcoming Weekend Runners: 20th – 22nd December 2019

Another busy weekend on the cards, starting off at Hollywoodbets Greyville this Friday night the 20th December 2019. Lauren Of Rochelle lines up a fitter horse in the 6th race, before Agent Murphy and Binary Star go head to head in the 9th race. On Saturday, we have four more runners representing the Syndicate at Turffontein, where Blessed Rain looks the pick of the bunch, in the 2nd race. Finally, we return to Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday 22nd December, where Chief Officer (pictured) looks to be the best of our three runners carded. See more here.

Friday 20 December 2019
Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf

Race 6 – 19:20
1400m – Durban View Restaurant MR 68 Handicap

9 – Lauren Of Rochelle
Trainer: Darryl Moore
Jockey: Athandiwe Mgudlwa
Wgt: 57.5kg
Draw: 9 (17 Runners)
Current Betting: 25/1

He gave a good account of himself, when returning from a 14-week absence last time out. That run has brought him on well and the stable are very happy with the way he has been working leading up this outing. He lands another wide draw, but as we have previously mentioned, that shouldn’t be much of a concern as he likes settle off the pace. A fitter horse this time, he will be making late headway and we expect him to go into the first 4 places.

Winning Form Comment: 2nd run after a rest. Is battling to crack a good draw. Course debut.

Race 9 – 21:10
1200m – Hollywoodbets Bright Future MR 80 Handicap

2 – Agent Murphy
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 56.0kg
Draw: 2 (14 Runners)
Current Betting: 10/1

That was a very encouraging run last Sunday, when dropping back in trip. He made good progress in the closing stages and on that run, he is going to relish the extra 100m here. He jumps in class, but lands a very handy draw and S’manga Khumalo takes the ride. He is in a good place right now and we expect him to finish in the first three places.

Winning Form Comment: Decent latest in Workriders race. Well drawn and has a good chance if repeating that run.

10 – Binary Star
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Tristan Godden
Wgt: 61.5kg
Draw: 10 (14 Runners)
Current Betting: 20/1

He is back after his gelding in October, following an impressive maiden win. He now faces stronger opposition and he will need the run to get him going again. From a tricky draw, he will be settled off the speed and expected to run on over the final furlong. He is an above average sort, so despite the fact that he might not win this time, he should be right there at the finish.

Winning Form Comment: Was impressive when winning maiden. Takes on stronger, but has scope.

Saturday 21 December 2019
Turffontein Standside

Race 1 – 13:05
1000m – Maiden Plate

4 – Blow Me Down
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 13 (18 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 20/1

He stayed on well in his comeback run on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly track, back in mid-November and the run has done him the world of good. Back in his home province of Gauteng, he now has his second run after that rest and his work has been good in the lead up to this outing. S’manga Khumalo is an encouraging jockey booking and we expect them to finish in the first 6 places, with a fair chance at a place cheque.

Winning Form Comment: Fair latest on the Poly track. Khumalo rides and stable is in form.

6 – Jozi Hustle
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Callan Murray
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 10 (18 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 7/1

He has improved with every run so far and the speedy son of Great Britain now has his 4th start, where he will be expected to give his best performance yet. Had it not been for an element of greenness last time out, he may have gone a lot closer and we hope that he has learned from that outing. Callan Murray now takes the ride and from a mid-field barrier, he will be expected to ping the stall gates and find a handy position early on. The 1000m appears to be his preferred trip at this stage and if he finishes off his run as we expect him to, he will be involved in the finish. He has a nice each way chance.

Winning Form Comment: Speedy sort. Has improved with each outing. Can earn a cheque.

Race 2 – 13:05
1000m – Maiden Plate (Fillies)

1 – Blessed Rain
Trainer: Stuart Pettigrew
Jockey: Dylan R Lerena
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 18 (18 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 12/1

After that solid debut, she coughed in both of her follow up runs and is now being treated as a bleeder. Since treatment started, she has had three very impressive grass gallops of late and the stable are confident that she won’t be in need of the run. She has always been highly thought of by the stable and they are confident that if she doesn’t cough this time around, she should have the class and ability to put this field to sleep.

Winning Form Comment: Fair latest before having a lengthy break. Can improve if fit and well.

11 – Happy Together
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 6 (18 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 33/1

She was a bit disappointing in her debut run, where she played up behind the stalls and lost 2 lengths at the start. With plenty of speed on, she never managed to regain her position and she ended up finishing a long way back. The more experienced S’manga Khumalo takes the mount this time and he will be looking to get her out of the stalls on terms with the rest of the field. With the expected improvement to come, she should finish a lot closer, but we will wait for the improvement before she is tipped with any confidence.

Winning Form Comment: Had issues at the start on debut. The engaging of Khumalo is encouraging and should improve.

Sunday 22 December 2019
Hollywoodbets Scottsville

Race 2 – 12:35
1000m – The Whitehorse Function Room Maiden Plate

8 – Chief Officer
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Tristan Godden
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 8 (16 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 4/1

He gave a good account of himself on his return last time out, after an interrupted winter. The run has really brought him on nicely and he now returns to the course where he had his debut, back in February. Tristan Godden retains the ride and with the expected improvement to come, he should be involved in the finish. It does appear to be a relatively competitive field of maidens and that makes it difficult to tip him with any confidence, but he can win a race like this.

Winning Form Comment: Runner-up in comeback under Godden. Will strip fitter and should go close.

9 – Pay The Punters
Trainer: Kom Naidoo
Jockey: Thabiso Gumede (-4kg)
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 9 (16 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 50/1

He was very disappointing on debut and he will need to pick up the pieces and put in a much-improved effort this time. That was over the 1400m and we have decided to go back to the drawing board for his follow up run, where we have dropped him back in trip to the 1000m. He is not at the stage where he can go into contention just yet, but hopefully he improves.

Winning Form Comment: Setback in debut when coughing post-race. Appie claims and has scope for much better.

Race 5 – 14:20
1600m – Rockerfellas Restaurant MR 68 Handicap

18 – Storm Ruler
Trainer: Alyson Wright
Jockey: Reserve Runner
Wgt: 61.5kg
Draw: *
Predicted Betting: 10/1

An unlikely runner as he is the third reserve, but he has come on from that comeback run 3 weeks ago and he now strips a much fitter horse. This trip will be short of his best, but he should relish the outing and that will set him up for his peak run over a bit more ground, next time out.

Winning Form Comment: Fair chance on penultimate run. At best when races handy.

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