Hoodia could finally reward patient followers
Danie Toerien
IT has been 892 days since Hoodia recorded his only win, but on Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Greyville this six-year-old gelding could finally get to the top of the podium once more. He lines up in Race 4, a C Stakes race over 1600m.
Trained by Andre Nel, Hoodia was off the track for an entire year, after which he made his comeback at Greyville on the polytrack in a Class 4 handicap over 1400m in June. Despite the long absence, he was well supported in the market, shortening from 10-1 to 7-1, and he duly ran accordingly, finishing third less than a length behind Blue Steel.
Last time out, over the same course and distance, he jumped at 9-4, but fluffed his lines somewhat, losing two lengths and over-racing.
Tuesday, in his third run after the long break, he steps up to 1600m and by all accounts he should benefit from the extra 200m.
In his last two runs he was the fastest and second-fastest finisher respectively but ran out of track. Stripping fitter in his peak outing Hoodia can finally reward followers.
In Race 6, a Class 5 handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m, the Nathan Kotzen-trained One Path topped the bookmakers’ boards in early betting at around 33-10. She scored her only career win to date over the course and distance 657 days ago, so is another that seems overdue a second win.
It is, however, Praise De La Rey who gets the nod. From the yard of MJ Odendaal, this Act Of War filly has been in devastating form this calendar year, rattling off two wins and three place finishes from six runs.
Despite this excellent streak, she has only been raised seven merit rating points, so could well be ahead of the handicapper.
Praise De La Rey was not disgraced finishing fifth of seven last time out, as she was just 1.8-lengths behind winner Gold Gold Baby. That was her first run after a winter vacation and on a track she does not appreciate. With the cobwebs blown away, and back on her best surface, she will take some beating.
There are many horses in the last race, a Class 4 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, with claims.
The stand-out runner is Innerbloom, trained by Lucinda Woodruff. This filly is unbeaten since relocating to KwaZulu-Natal and could complete a hat-trick over the course and distance. She has taken to the polytrack like a proverbial duck to water, so looks a good proposition despite facing some fierce competition.
Selections:
Race 1: 3 Bellanca Viking, 2 Ayzal, 1 Mist In Maryland, 9 California Dreamer
Race 2: 4 The Flat Cat, 6 Platinum Grey, 5 Owner Of Creation, 2 In The Red
Race 3: 4 Wedding Vow, 6 Sovereign Gem, 5 Time In Paris, 8 Asgardian Queen
Race 4: 6 Hoodia, 2 Lucky Dollar, 5 Ultra Quick, 1 The Wolf
Race 5: 3 I Am Invictus, 6 Gardener’s Pride, 4 Pied Piper, 1 Slytherin
Race 6: 8 Praise De La Rey, 4 One Path, 2 Roy’s Grace, 1 Party Girl
Race 7: 4 Champagne Mac, 3 Trafalgar Square, 6 B Fiftytwo, 7 Bless Me Fred
Race 8: 5 Innerbloom, 4 Dawn Surprise, 6 Thought Control, 2 Mystique Rouge