Brighteyebushytail back on track
Duncan Howells once had high hopes for Brighteyebushytail, to the extent that he may have been good enough to aim for the Vodacom Durban July. However, a string of injuries and particularly hard hit by the virus that affected the yard last year, all plans were resigned to the dustbin.
It has been slow progress but Brighteyebushytail has shown signs of being back on track at recent outings although he will need to raise his game even further if he is to triumph in the seventh at Greyville today where he is on offer at a tempting 6-1.
Hero Quest
He was hard-pressed to beat stable companion Who Says (Mauritius-bound) two runs back and was given a break. In his most recent start, he was running at them late, when third behind Hero Quest.
Winners have been difficult to come-by for the Howells yard this season and although the tally stands at a healthy 29, more telling are the remarkable stats of 40 second places and 35 third placings.
Brighteyebushytail’s last win was over course and distance so if he doesn’t manage to win, he should at least finish second!
He does face a competitive field including recent maiden winner Last Of The Legend, 3-1 favourite in the ante-post market and a smart winner on debut. Sean Tarry has tossed him in at the deep end and although he only has 52kg to shoulder, it remains to be seen whether he can take the rise in class and distance in his stride. Should he manage it he will definitely be a horse for the notebook. Paul Gadsby’s mare Sarabi (5-2) is at the top of the boards in the card opener but given that the balance of the field is clustered around 5-1 in the market, bookmakers expect more than a few challengers. Missibaba is always game and Louis Goosen, whose yard is in mustard form at present, sends out recent winner Yaas and the speedy Imbali, the latter down four points in the ratings.Candice Dawson is not a regular off-season raider but saddles Captain’s Alpha (5-2) in the second and has booked Anton Marcus for good measure. NIf one ignores Captain Alpha’s last two, and there were excuses, he could prove difficult to beat.Robbie Hill, as a jockey will have ridden more odds-on chances that he would care to remember, but he saddles one in the form of 8-10 favourite Hey Jude in the third. Racing in the colours of former trainer Pat Shaw, who plied his trade in Singapore for many years and trained the now Summerhill-based stallion Ato, was no doubt swayed by Hey Jude’s breeding.
The daughter of Ato is well overdue for a victory and with Marcus staying aboard, she looks the part in the third.
Marcus rides another ante-post favourite in Final Attempt (2-1) in the fourth. Glen Kotzen’s runner has been consistent since shedding his maiden and was close up when taking on much stronger last time out.
He looks the part in a weak field. There looks to be little between stable companions L’Histoire and Sharpe’s Eagle. Riding arrangements would indicate that L’Histoire is the pick of the pair but Sharpe’s Eagle looks more progressive.
In the fifth, there was only a neck separating Collabro (7-2) and Red Shift (16-10) when the two last met behind Sea Urchin. This was Collabro’s third run after a break and he could be the more progressive of the two and can turn the tables.
Red Shift was the beaten favourite in that race. He is in hot form of late so there should again be very little to choose between the two.Josephine Baker (15-10) is another due a change of fortune when she lines up in the sixth, a handicap over 2000m. She has not been out of the money since shedding her maiden and was a close-up third against stronger opposition last time out. She should put in a bold showing for Dean Kannemeyer.
Shane Humby was content with his two seconds at Scottsville on Sunday, “they did all that was expected of them,” he said yesterday, but a win is better than second and he pins his hopes on the mare Roman Courtesan (28-10) who has her third run since a break and is back over a more suitable trip. Also strongly in the mix is Janice’s Secret (7-2) who was touched off at long odds last time out and has an undeniable chance if she can repeat that showing. This trio look to be the principal contenders.
Forethelastime
In the last, the aptly named for this meeting anyway, Forethelastime (22-10), showed up well first run out of the maidens when taking on stronger and is still improving. He does not face a strong field and should make a bold showing. Of the balance, Line Of Control (10-1) found some betting support at his last start and did show improvement while South Paw (10-1) is an old campaigner who has not been far back at recent outings.
He tries blinkers for the first time and this equipment sometimes has a sudden rejuvenating effect on older horses.