Both horse and trainer in hot form

PIETER Both looks the obvious one to beat in race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1 800m, on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

This Dean Kannemeyer-trained runner has improved after gelding but there may be one who could topple him, which could result in a decent exotic payout boost.

Power Star has already had 24 tries to get it right but he tops of the Computaform speed ratings and appears to be looking for the distance. He could be one of a few value options on the day.

Pieter Both showed true potential in his second run after a rest when a 0.75-length third behind Phutulicious and Future Flo but that was over 1 400m. He heads the field on official merit ratings and as he is from a prominent yard, he could be heavily supported in the betting. But on pedigree, 1400m could be his best distance.

Power Star, though, was close up when giving weight to improving youngsters and has held form over shorter, but he has also twice made good progress over 1 750m and 1800m.

The Doug Campbell-trained gelding is rated 1kg inferior to Pieter Both but he may have the requisite stamina to stave off the challenge of his younger rival and also has the benefit of a 1.5kg claim courtesy of having Rachel Venniker in the irons.

Campbell has a small yard but has already had two winners in 2024.

Trainer Garth Puller’s stable is also on fire. He has already had 11 winners in the first two months of the new year and in race 4, Petit Verdot could add to the tally.

Puller and Richard Fourie are formidable when they team up with a winning strike rate of 26.6%. Petit Verdot, running over 1 800m for the first time, is the only Puller runner on the day with Fourie up and it is easy to see why. She is quite effective on the Polytrack and in her last race she took up-and-coming threeyear-olds Minogue and Celtic Beauty to the wire. And that was on her less favourite surface – turf.

Like Power Star she has given the impression she wants 1 800m. She enjoys coming from well off the pace to win on the poly and she only just got there over 1 600m in her second last win. Over 1 700m she won a bit more convincingly recently so this 1 800m she now tries could suit even more.

She meets a competitive bunch in an MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares, including Jollification who seems to be getting better as she matures but she will have her work cut out from the widest gate.

Helsinki (race 1) also rates a value propositions. He is trained by Paul Lafferty, another stable in good form and has finished ahead of early favourite Irish Luck, but the gelding needs to get his timing right. –