‘King’ to make a big return
THE Greyville polytrack meeting today is headed by an MR80 Handicap over 1 000m, which is the first leg of the Pick 6. The big six-year-old chestnut gelding Big King’s effective 16 point drop in the merit ratings since his last win was due to a sequence of five poor runs on the Highveld.
However, his record shows he much prefers running around the turn and in 15 starts at Greyville has only once failed to earn a cheque. He strode out well in a recent barrier trial and looked well, so with Anton Marcus up from a plum draw of four can win despite a layoff since last July.
On Your Life beat Yaas in November over course and distance by 2,9 lengths and is now effectively 2,5kg better off if weight for age changes are taken into account.
Winter Blues is an improving son of What A Winter who has won his last three and is well drawn.
However, he is not the biggest and must shoulder 60,5kg.
Yaas
His stablemate Yaas is a speedy three-year-old filly who jumps from pole with a 4kg claimer up, but running against older males is not going to be easy.
Panza has a chance on a favourable weight turnaround with Winter Blues, but that was at his favourite Scottsville track. They are selected in the order mentioned.
The meeting opens with a fascinating Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1 200m.
Lateral filly Bequia put up one of the most eye-catching recent barrier trials, displaying a big action, quickening well and being kept on a tight hold.
Arianos Shadow is a strongly built Querari filly who digs her toe in and she won her barrier trial over 1 000m on the poly in a time 1,84 seconds.
Cashmere Mist is a slightly built but rangy Philanthropist filly who stayed on well for second in her trial, but looks to need further.
Easy Ginger strode out well in her trial. Of those to have raced Miss Calypso is also a strongly built Querari filly and after a fair barrier trial showed good natural pace over 1 200m at Scottsville on soft ground and quickened well before finding no extra late and finishing second. However, the vote goes to Bequia.
Majestic Mary
In the second over 1 200m Majestic Mary, an impressive daughter of Dynasty, took a keen hold when restrained over 1 000m last time, but finished strongly from last for second and now from a better draw she will hopefully settle better and run on to win under Marcus.
Marcus can win the fourth on the King Of Random, whose handy-running on style is suited to the pole position draw he has.
Fonteyn should relish the 1800m trip of the fifth. Sunny Bill Du-Toy was caught wide on debut, but looks a nice type and is selected to win the sixth.
Champenois is tipped to win the seventh and Under The Stars is selected for the last, although the wide draw is a concern.