Poly will suit Sunday Island
SMALL fields are the order of the day for the Greyville poly meeting today but that does not make things any easier as the adage goes, ‘the smaller the field the bigger the upset’.
However, punters can fatten their wallets for the balance of the card with Sunday Island in the first. Andre Nel’s runner is way better than his last effort on the turf as he has good form on the poly and looks well weighted here.
Mike Miller sends out Aerial Display who has only missed a payday once and has won his last two. He was a comfortable winner on this course last time out, his first run out of the maidens and looks the biggest threat to the selection.
Famous And Rich
Surprise package could be Famous And Rich who has been racing against the best around during the Cape summer but badly beaten. This is a big drop in class so one to watch in the market.
Cup Of Magic could start at good odds for the second but he appears to be back over a more suitable trip and he showed up well in his recent sprint. This is his third run after a break. Rafiki also has his third run after a break.
He made no show on his poly debut but did improve next time out on the turf and he looks primed for this. Uncle Lucky has made steady improvement and this looks to be the right race for him although he could still struggle.
The third is a tricky handicap but the filly My Cherie Amour has some fair Cape form during their summer season. However, she had smart poly form before that and can put one over her male rivals. Paul Lafferty, whose stable has hit good form, sends out Ice Kingdom who has been up against a little weaker at recent outings but is in good form. With a claiming apprentice up looks to have the right credentials.
Ibutho was due to run last Sunday but probably given permission scratch to keep this race alive.
Caesura
Stable companion Caesura could prove to be the stable elect and has been close-up in useful company of late. (
Visiting trainer Clinton Binda has a strong hand in the fourth with Fish Eagle and Dontshootthebarman. The former has come good in blinkers and was well supported in the market last time out. The switch to the poly could see him home ahead of his stable companion who make marked improvement in a compression mask last outing.
He started at long odds but gets the country’s leading jockey aboard. Variety Fair is seldom far back and although taking on males should have a strong winning chance as her best effort has been on the poly.
At time of writing, trainer Kom Naidoo was still stuck in a hospital bed but is still on top of his yard and sends out the mare Magicallee in the fifth who is over her best course and distance and is much better off at the weights with Our Emily who has improved back in blinkers and looking for a winning hat-trick for Michael Roberts.
These two could fight it out.
Roberts could have a better chance of a winner in the next with Bless Me Fred. The gelding has the widest draw but is long overdue his second win.
Bosch
With his 1.5kg allowance he could be the one to beat but Dennis Bosch could have other ideas with Hallerbos who gets first time blinkers and has been in good form over course and distance. He is struggling for his second win but should go close in this field. Life Goes On makes the trip from the Highveld for Binda and his best recent effort has been over course and distance.
In the seventh, Eau De Vie caught the eye behind the well fancied Maris Corolina last time out when dropped to this trip on the poly. She should feature prominently. Mark Dickson will have been pulling out his already receding that with Shell Seeker who has been costly to follow. She could well start favourite again as she has ability – she just needs to get it all together. Noble Storm has the widest draw but is down in class and with her 1.5kg allowance will be a big runner while Red Rosa improved in blinkers last run and with only 52kg to shoulder she is not out of the mix.
The last is a tricky low-class handicap but Hatta made the required improvement to win last time out and could round off a possible fine day for Roberts. She got a four-point raise in the handicap for her last success but that may not be enough to stop back-to-back wins.
Garth Puller’s mare Miss Lialah could spoil the party as she has been knocking on the door for some time now and takes a further drop in trip but is never far back. Of the balance, Agressivo returns from a break but has De Melo up and has done well in his two handicap efforts since his maiden win with the blinkers on. Vengeance Forever has his first run for a new stable can could be worth watching in the market.