Mass attack at Greyville
IT seems ages since the weather has allowed racegoers a dose of Greyville night racing but the forecast suggests that the odds are finally in our favour and a bumper crowd of regulars and sun tanned out-of-towners is expected to descend on the popular Durban track this evening.
A carryover-boosted Pick 6 pool, estimated to reach R1.6million, should also add to the attraction.
Jockey Warren Kennedy has been on a decent run this month and his form when combining with Mike de Kock-trained runners at KZN tracks has not gone unnoticed. Kennedy has a 50% strike rate with De Kock runners in December with four winners from eight rides and he has two rides for the stable tonight.
Massachusettes
Kennedy rides Massachusettes for De Kock in the sixth and the Trippi filly must have a huge chance in this line-up having more scope for improvement than her rivals.
The Wilgerbosdrift-owned filly looked in need of the outing when third over 1 200m at Clairwood last month and is likely to have come on since. With most of her rivals appearing to be in their place, the improving Massachussetes could be worth chancing as a banker in smaller perms.
Kennedy also represents the De Kock-stable aboard Irredeemable in the ninth, a Maiden over 1 400m, but the Captain Al filly could need a bit more time having appeared all at sea when making her debut just ten days ago.
Irredeemable is likely to show some improvement but it would have to be of a sizeable degree if she is to trouble the bang in form Lady Jade.
Alyson Wright’s filly has been unlucky in her last two over 1 200m, slow out and finding trouble in running on both occasions, and excelled at the Greyville track earlier this year.
Lady Jade has gone close in all five starts to date over this track and trip and the booking of Anton Marcus for the ride could make all the difference.
Marcus has already ridden a winner from just two rides for the Wright yard this month and has five winners from his last twelve rides at Greyville.
With the rest of the card looking a bit more complex, it could be worth taking a chance on Massachusettes as a Pick 6 banker and then pinning your hopes on Lady Jade to round off what should be a beautiful evening at the races.