Hawkbill’s time for Orchids
VALUE: STRYDOM PICKS UP RIDE ON HOUDALAKIS-TRAINED RUNNER IN RACE 9
Time Fo Orchids expected to win again.
The fields for the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met meeting was revealed this week and what an exciting card is in store for us. See It Again is, of course, the star attraction in the main race and although I was unable to secure a ride, I am looking forward to the day and to the rides I have got.
We will focus on that meeting next week but browsing through the card, it looks filled with quality racing and lovely fields.
Last week saw the running of the three feature races that had been postponed from the previous week and while many were quick to criticise the operators, a big well done needs to go out to them for being patient enough to get the 12-race card completed.
At one stage it looked dismal, but everything worked out in the end, and it was a fantastic day’s racing.
Main Defender proved his class and showed he is one of the best, if not the top, three-year-old in the country when winning the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes in superb fashion, considering everything went against him from the jump.
Trainer Tony Peter also mentioned a number of things went wrong in the lead up, so for him to have quickened the way he did showed he will be a leading light in the Gauteng Guineas on 3 February.
I rode Champagne Cocktail and she gave me a lovely feel. This race was very sharp for her and she will be fitter for the run. I think she will be a massive runner in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Classic and Wilgerbosdrift Oaks over the next few months.
Let’s Go Now put in a lovely performance to win the Grade 3 Mother Russia Stakes, beating top filly White Pearl.
The runner-up looked like she was going to cruise to victory at one stage but Let’s Go Now showed her run in the Fillies Mile was no fluke.
She is one for the shortlist for the upcoming features in the Joburg season.
Silver Hills won the Listed Wolf Power 1600, allowing the purple patch of Drakenstein stud to continue and as previously mentioned, it’s thoroughly deserved.
I unfortunately ran second on Unzen who ran a superb race on defeat. He gave me his all and I thought I had the race in the bag, until the very last moment.
It was an exciting race and I’m sure both horses will continue to be competitive in these minor feature races.
Racing today takes place at both Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, both offering a 10-race card.
We will be focusing on Turffontein where I will be riding, and I have six carded rides.
The headliner on the card is the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes over 1160m for three-year-old fillies.
Race 1 is a Juvenile Plate over 1000m. Filly Simply Majestic gets the sex allowance off and that will be a major benefit, so she will be the runner beat.
Dantonfromsandton ran a very good race on debut and with the expected natural improvement, he will be a massive runner.
Watch the betting on the unraced runners as this will be the best guide to their chances.
Race 2 is a Graduation Plate over 1160m and I ride French Impact who returns after a rest and drops in trip. This is a starting point for him again and I’ll be hoping he runs on into the money, but we all have Time Fo Orchids to beat, and this is my best bet on the card.
She is a high-class filly who absolutely romped home when she was dropped from feature races into Graduation company last time out.
This is a similar race and a repeat of that will see her take all the beating.
Cornwall ran a good race last time and rates the main danger on that performance.
The Africa House drops in trip and class after last week’s performance and although I always believe he is looking for further, it must be respected that Sean Tarry has opted for this race.
Race 3 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 2000m and I ride Teo Torriatte who ran a career best race in her last start when runner-up off No 1 draw. A repeat of that will see her right there at the finish and I think she is one of my best rides on the day.
I do, however, think we have Crystal Maiden to beat. The form of her last start has worked out well and she now goes 2000m which should suit her down to the ground. A massive run can be expected.
Crimson Forest’s last two starts have been decent, and she now returns to running with the fillies. On that alone she has to be the main danger.
There was very little between Perform and Play With Fire last time and both have each-way claims on their best form.
Race 4 is a Maiden Plate over 2000m and I ride Callaburn who ran a better race last time out. Although I believe he is looking for the step up in trip, he’ll have to improve further to feature.
I think we all have Thunee Playa to beat now that he steps up to 2000m.
His form sets the standard and off pole position, he has everything in his favour to shed the maiden tag.
To The Rescue has been slightly disappointing considering he hasn’t won his maiden yet after a promising first run. However, he will continue to improve with racing and I make him the main danger.
Master Tik Tok ran a very good race last time when stepped up in trip and further improvement can be expected.
Dark Silver and Festival Of Magic are unexposed and both can go into wider bets.
Race 5 is the Singapore Pools Trophy 2024 Pinnacle Plate over 1160m and I ride Iphiko who returns from a break and will have to be close to peak fitness to feature.
Cliff Hanger comes in with a very handy weight and I believe we all have to beat him. He has some really good form and this is a decent opportunity to get another win.
Aussenkehr ran slightly below his best last time but if he can reproduce his best form will be the main danger.
Magic Tattoo’s last run was probably a career best and on that performance he needs to be included into all bets.
Alula’s Star is best weighted due to her sex allowance, and on that she must go into all bets.
Mover And Shaker is another to consider for wider bets as he is a 1000m specialist.
Race 6 is a MR 84 Handicap over 1160m and I make MK’s Dreams the horse to beat.
He always gave me the impression he is decent and after a few slightly below-par efforts, he has been gelded.
He is having his first run for the Peter yard, so watch the betting closely because this will be a guide to what they think of his chances, but the fact Calvin Habib (stable jockey) has taken him over Siberian Steel suggests he could be ready.
Siberian Steel has some of the best form on offer and the form of his last race has been franked, so he is a definite danger.
Ampersand ran below his best last time when stepped up in trip but now drops to 1160m again and must go into all bets.
King Of Venus won a lovely race when returning after a lengthy break and if he doesn’t get affected by the second run after a rest, he will be right there.
Race 7 is the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes over 1160m and I ride Happy Analia who is going for a hat trick of wins. She steps up in class and this is her toughest test to date.
I would be happy to run into the money as this is really competitive and at the weights, we have quite a bit to find.
Cullinan Blue also goes for a hat trick of wins and she was extremely impressive when bolting up last time. That was a really competitive race and the way she did it, suggests there is way more to come and this could be a stepping stone for bigger and better things.
Troppo Veloce had a few excuses last time out when second in a feature and on that run, I think she’ll love the step up in trip, so rates the main danger.
One Fell Swoop also goes for three in a row, but this is a much stronger field, so she’ll need a career-best performance to win again, but she can go into wider bets.
I do believe Cullinan Blue and Troppe Veloce should get you through all bets.
Race 8 is a Novice Handicap over 1600m and I make this a race in two between my first selection, Ryans Boulevard, and the main danger, Presley. Both are relatively unexposed and seem to have a fair amount of potential.
The former returned from gelding to win a strong maiden last time and off draw No 2 could get the run of the race again.
The latter won a lovely race from a deep draw last time out, showing he is decent. This is a good opportunity to back that up.
He will enjoy the step up in trip and off a good draw, he too should get a lovely run in transit.
I believe these two horses should get you through all your bets.
Race 9 is a MR 84 Handicap over 1800m and my value bet comes up in the form of Hawkbill.
He had a number of excuses last time when running a very creditable race and now gets to jump from a decent draw with Piere Strydom in the irons. I believe this is the perfect opportunity to get another win under his belt and he could be a banker in a number of bets.
Youcanthurrylove finished just in front of him last time out, but he jumped from pole position while this time he jumps from a wide draw and Hawkbill from a good one.
He still remains the main danger though and has the ability to win a race of this nature.
Banha Bridge won a good race last time out when returning from a rest and if the second run after a rest doesn’t affect him, he is one for the shortlist.
Exhale comes into this handicap off bottom weight after running in a plate race last time, so can be included in wider bets.
Race 10 is a MR 70 Handicap over 2000m and I ride Carnelo who is in good form. His last start was a respectable third to a decent filly who has since won again, so on that I’m expecting a decent run.
Kudzu is having his third run after a rest and probably sets the standard. He gets to jump from a decent draw and is the horse to beat.
Copper John wasn’t far behind Kudzu last time and is a horse with a definite winning chance and must be included in all bets.
Maiden Officer In Command could be fairly rated and the fact Mike de Kock has chosen to run him in this race instead of the 2000m maiden is worth noting.
Rose Tinted gave me a fair feel last time even though she was slightly disappointing, and she could be competitive in a race of this nature, so include her in wider bets.
BEST BET
Race 2 No 2 Time Fo Orchids
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 2 Hawkbill
PICK 6
R360
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 Leg 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 Leg 3: 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 2, 3
Leg 5: 1, 2
Leg 6: 2