Sociedad draw not too disruptive
Madrid – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane (right) said his side did not view Monday’s 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad as a missed opportunity to get back into the title race and called for calm ahead of Sunday’s clash at leaders Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid would have gone into the derby with the chance to move level on points with Atletico had they beaten Sociedad, but in the end only managed a draw after Vinicius Jr snatched a late equaliser to cancel out Portu's opening goal.
“We have to stay calm. We played well and created three or four clear chances but were up against a side that also created chances. Now we need to be patient, keep our cool and rest,” the Frenchman said.
“We deserved much more when you look at all the opportunities we created. We dominated the game, but then there have been games where we won but didn’t deserve to. That’s football.”
The draw interrupted a fivegame winning streak in all competitions but Zidane said the result would not affect preparations for the visit to Atletico, who hold a five-point lead over Real and second-placed Barca with a game in hand.
“This doesn’t condition the way we’re feeling about the derby at all. We’ll still go there with the aim of playing a great game,” the Frenchman said. –
We race on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville for the third time in four days today and once again there is a competitive card on offer.
Things did not go well for Kayson last time and the Peter Muscutt-trained three-year-old can recoup the losses in Race 2, a MR 92 Handicap over 1000m.
The Gimmethegreenlight gelding was sent off a 17-20 favourite but was reported to be jarred up in running and failed to produce the goods.
Hopefully the problem has been sorted out and Kayson can resume the kind of form which has seen him win three races in six starts.
The fact that racing is on the Polytrack will not trouble him as he not only won his only official start on the surface but had success in a barrier trial over this course and distance.
He deserves another chance and if fit and well, looks the standout bet on the card.
There are no obvious bankers in the Pick 6 races but in Race 5, a MR 73 Handicap over 1200m, one could get away with including just two runners – Theravada and Bernie’s Dream.
Theravada has notched up three successive second places in his last three starts, all on the Polytrack, but also all of them were over different distances.
His penultimate race was this course and distance where he produced the fastest 400m to finish and if Warren Kennedy times it right he should be able to go one better on Dennis Bosch’s runner.
Bernie’s Dream has only won over 1000m but is maturing and looks the only real threat to Theravada. Keagan de Melo takes the ride this time, and in a moderate field they should be competitive from No 3 draw.