Vardy gets the green light at Greyville

Jack Milner

Top three-year-olds and brilliant milers permeate tomorrow’s Hollywoodbets Greyville card with the running of three Grade 1 races – The Daily News 2000, the Woolavington 2000 and the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

The Daily News 2000 brings together some of the best in the age-group from all over the country and the top two in the betting – Golden Ducat and Got The Greenlight – are both Grade 1 winners. They are supported by two Grade 2 champions in Dingaans winner Shango and Guineas winner Wild Coast.

Got The Greenlight has a lot on his favour in that he has won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes last season from a very wide draw at Greyville and his style of running is very suited to the course. He teams up again up with Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who rode him to victory in the Grade 1 SA Classic at Turffontein in March and he will be a tough horse to beat.

Shango did touch him off in the SA Derby over 2450m but Joe Soma’s runner did not have the best of passages and probably did not really see out the distance. Shango did enough in that race to show he has a lot more to offer and it would be surprise if he did not contest the finish.

While a lot of people are expressing confidence about Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat’s chances after his third in the Guineas at Greyville, it is worth noting that Wild Coast came from behind him at the 400m and was actually going away.

This son of much-loved mare Beach Beauty could do so again.

On paper, the Woolavington 2000 looks a match between SA Triple Tiara champion Summer Pudding and Lady Of Steel. Both are unbeaten and it will be sad that at least one of them will loose that record.

Trainer Paul Peter admits that Greyville is a concern for Summer Pudding. “Ideally, we would prefer Turffontein as she does take time to get going. Warren (Kennedy) knows her and Greyville well. We are just hoping for a fast pace.”

The Gold Challenge is going to be cracker with Do It Again, Rainbow Bridge, Vardy, Cirillo, Twist Of Fate and filly Clouds Unfold all top 1600m runners.

It could go to L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Vardy, who also has the advantage of having a run on the course when third in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Candyman, 9 Naval Secret, 6 Purple Powahouse, 11 Winter Guard

Race 2: 6 Rio Querari, 7 We Light The Fire, 1 Binoche, 8 African Warrior

Race 3: 4 Caralluma, 3 Due Diligence, 10 Trickster, 5 Jasmine

Race 4: 2 Master Of Disguise, 3 Kayson, 11 Fast Love, 4 Gold Season

Race 5: 8 Temple Grafin, 7 Gabor, 5 Querari Ferrari, 1 Silvano's Pride

Race 6: 2 Vardy, 5 Do It Again, 7 Rainbow Bridge, 8 Cirillo

Race 7: 3 Summer Pudding, 2 Lady Of Steel, 1 Driving Miss Daisy, 11 Pomander

Race 8: 5 Got The Greenlight, 3 Shango, 2 Wild Coast, 4 Golden Ducat

Race 9: 8 Guru's Pride, 3 Pearl Of Asia, 5 Vikram, 6 Noble Joshua

Race 10: 1 In Auro (best Win bet), 8 Chewbaca, 3 Declaration Of War, 11 El Ballero