Muzi Yeni previews HWB Durban July meeting
Muzi Yeni
Saturday is the biggest day on the South African racing calendar, where the 12-race card is headed up by the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, and excitement is reaching fever pitch.
The supporting features have once again produced some outstanding fields. I have six carded rides but unfortunately two of them have been scratched, although I have picked up another ride in Race 10.
We’ll get straight into the day and Race 1 is a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m and I think Song To The Moon is the horse they all have to beat.
He has been running against much stronger company and if he takes to the Polytrack then I think he represents serious value in what is quite an open race and he can get punters off to a great start.
United Front was disappointing last time when pulling very hard. He returns after a rest and if he is able to settle and is close to peak fitness then he is the main danger.
Sommerstern returns after a rest following a good victory. Although he has to overcome a wide draw, he could still be well in at the weights because I don’t think we have seen the best of him.
Place Of Practice won a good race last time out but that was in maiden company. This is a definite step up in class, but I still think he is better than rated and one to include in wider bets.
Town Crier and Act Of Grace are in good form and while the latter was disappointing last time, his earlier form was solid and both can be considered for wider bets.
Race 2 is a B Stakes over 1600m and I ride Bruh who returns after a rest and also comes back as a gelding.
He has always given me a lovely feel and if close to peak fitness I think he will definitely be in the money.
However, I think we all have Please Be True to beat and I make him the best bet on the entire card. This gelding is having his third run after a rest and comes into this race cherry ripe. He has been competing in some high-quality races, gets a good draw and has so much in his favour. I think this is a perfect opportunity for him to get another win under his belt.
Rollo The Viking was disappointing last time out but has a very good record over this course and distance. Off draw No 2 he is one of the main dangers.
Green Glow is having his third run after a rest and while he was slightly disappointing last time, he can be competitive on best form.
Race 3 is the Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 over 2200m and I feel it revolves around Tintin and Magic Verse.
Tintin won a very good race last time out and is a high-quality horse who comes in at the bottom end of the weights. He still looks well handicapped and although he steps up sharply in trip, if he stays he is the horse to beat.
Magic Verse is having his first run in the province this season after a good latest effort. He jumps from a good draw and I make him the main danger.
Tenpenny has been slightly disappointing in his last two starts but if able to best form he is a definite runner.
La Pulga steps up in trip and if this is what he is looking for then he can run into the money.
Field Marshal and Otto Luyken are others to consider for wider bets.
Race 4 is the Grade 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m and I ride Vihaan’s Bomb who won a very good race last time out. While this is definitely a step up in class, he seems to be improving with racing and as one of the bottom weights I think he could run into the back end of Trifectas and Quartets.
I think we all have Ahead Of The Facts to beat. He has had a perfect preparation into this race and is having his third run after a rest. He will love the step up in trip, has plenty in his favour and definitely sets the standard.
Shoot The Rapids ran a good race last time and also steps up in trip, which should suit him perfectly. He is one of the classiest stayers in the country and looks the main danger.
Holding Thumbs was very disappointing last time after a very good seasonal return. He steps up in trip once again which should suit and if he returns to his best form then he is a contender.
Master Redoute is also having his third run after a rest so has had a good preparation. He is a classy horse and must go into all bets.
Race 5 is the Grade 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m.
I ride No Drama who has run two good seconds in her latest two starts. She jumps from a tricky draw and this is a definite step up in class, so I’ll simply be hoping for the best.
Alice B Toklas won a really good race last time out when romping to victory, beating many of these rivals. If able to reproduce that effort then she is the horse we all have to beat.
Royal Tiara finished second in that same race after having excuses from a difficult draw. She now jumps from draw No 3 which makes her the immediate danger.
Ocean Mistress ran a very good race when finishing third in a Grade 1 last time out. If she can reproduce that effort she is one for the shortlist, even from a wide draw.
Palace Of Arvernia also ran a really good race in that same Grade 1. Once again the draw is the biggest concern but if able to overcome it she has to be a contender.
Race 6 is the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and I really like the look of Vibe Check.
Since arriving in the province he remains unbeaten and now gets to jump from the best draw of all. He looks a really good horse and is the runner to beat.
The Cullinan ran a really good race last time and now steps up in trip. This is his first run in the province but he looks a horse with plenty of class and off a good draw looks the main danger.
Secretary Bird is a filly taking on the colts which makes this very interesting. She also steps up in trip, gets a good draw and has some lovely form. She must be included in wider bets.
Red Spice ran a great race last time, running on strongly from a bad draw. That showed just how much ability he has and he must be included in all bets.
The interesting horse is St Harry who returns after a lengthy break and steps up in trip. If he is close to peak fitness then he is certainly one to consider.
Race 7 is the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m.
I ride Gladiatorian, one of the older horses in the race who has won at Grade 1 level, which tells you plenty about his class. I am extremely happy with his preparation and I loved the way he galloped during the week.
My biggest concern is the weight he has to give away but he is in a really good space, is a definite runner and must go into all bets.
After the scratching of Star Major, I really think we all have Wish List to beat. This top-class three-year-old filly has already won two Grade 1 races together with multiple Grade 2 victories. She has an ideal weight, has had a very good preparation and ticks all the boxes. She sets the standard.
Note To Self is having his third run after a rest and was the major talking horse for this race earlier in the season. While he was slightly disappointing last time, he has huge amounts of class and needs to be included.
Viva’s Liberte ran a really good race in the Daily News and I was very impressed with his gallop during the week. If he settles in the running then he comes into this race much better off at the weights than many of the other three-year-olds and is definitely one for the shortlist.
Regulation was disappointing last time out but is now having his third run after a rest. He steps up in trip, gets a very good draw and of the older horses I think he could be one of the best-weighted runners.
Native Ruler, Mocha Blend and Isivivane are others to consider for wider bets.
Race 8 is the Grade 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.
I ride Callmegetrix who was disappointing in her latest effort but there were excuses. She gets blinkers fitted again and from draw No 2 I make her a massive runner. Although we all have Double Grand Slam to beat, I would be very disappointed if I’m not in the money.
Double Grand Slam, the champion older filly, has to overcome draw No 10 but she is the defending champion and is having her third run after a rest. This looks another perfect opportunity for her to add another Grade 1 victory.
Quickstepgal won a good race last time out. While she steps up in trip, which is a slight concern, she is a classy three-year-old.
Mon Petit Cherie finished second behind Quickstepgal last time where there was some bumping in the race. If the second run after a rest doesn’t affect her then she must be considered for wider bets.
Race 9 is the Grade 3 Post Merchants over 1200m, and champion sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody takes his chances giving plenty of weight away.
While I believe top sprinters can often give weight away successfully, this is not going to be easy. Even so, I still make him the horse to beat.
Speedman is a promising young horse that looks well handicapped. Although he returns after a small break, I think he is the main danger.
Princess Of Gaul is having her third run after a rest and jumps from a very good draw. She must be considered for all bets.
Cafe Culture was just touched off last time and while he does have a difficult draw he needs to go into all bets.
One Eye On Vegas ran a lovely race last time and I believe he will be much better suited to the 1200m around the bend. Although drawn slightly wide he is a definite contender.
Race 10 is the Listed International Handicap over 1600m.
Green Gateway won a good race last time out fitted with blinkers for the first time. Based on that effort he should enjoy the step up in trip and if that is the case he is the horse to beat. Better Man is also having his third run after a rest so should be cherry ripe. He has a good draw and some very good earlier form so could be a threat.
Captain West is having his first run for the De Kock team but returns after a rest. He is a classy horse and if close to peak fitness must be included in all bets.
Three-year-old Pay The Palace is having his first run in the province but has some really nice form. Although drawn wide, he is one to consider for wider bets.
Race 11 is a Middle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m.
This is a very open race. Anchorage is having her first run on the Polytrack but her running style suggests she may enjoy it. From draw No 1 I think she sets the standard and could be the one to beat.
Serengetti Sun ran a fair race last time and based should enjoy the step up in trip. She is better than her recent form suggests and is one of the main dangers.
Buttercup Baby absolutely enjoys this Polytrack and jumps from No 3 draw. Her latest two starts on this surface have produced victories and she represents nice value.
Captain Selvie is having her third run after a rest and should be cherry ripe for this assignment. She too has her first run on the Polytrack but must be respected.
Race 12 is a Class 4 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m.
I think we all have Claire De Lune to beat and I make her one of the better bets on the card and a banker in most bets. She is having her first run on the Polytrack but has been running very well in the Cape.
If she handles the surface she has been racing against much stronger company and will be a very hard to beat.
Siberian Winter won a good race last time out and while she drops in trip, which is not ideal, she jumps from a good draw and looks the main danger.
Scarlet Starlet is having her second run after a rest and if that hasn’t come too soon, from a good draw she should be included in wider bets.
Sign Of Fate won a good race last time out and received only a small penalty, so she can run into the money.
Thought Control has run two good races in her latest starts and another honest effort can be expected.
BEST BET
Race 2 No 3 Please Be True
VALUE BET
Race 1 No 8 Song To The Moon
PICK 6
R1600
Leg 1: 3, 4, 8, 10
Leg 2: 3, 7, 10, 13
Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 7, 8, 9, 11
Leg 5: 10
Leg 6: 3, 8, 9, 11, 13