Veale aims for Greyville double on a tricky day

Danie Toerien

Punters are faced with a tricky eight-race card at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, and there seem to be a number of good value propositions on offer.

Exotic bettors looking for a banker have their work cut out, but it might just pay to follow Black Eagle in Race 7, a B Stakes contest over 1200m.

This son of Rafeef, trained by Vaughan Marshall, makes his KwaZulu-Natal debut and gets his first taste of the polytrack. He also gets to run around a right-hand turn for the first time, but despite all these unknowns, Black Eagle seems the pick of the crop as he already boasts three wins and three runner-up finishes from just nine career starts.

He will also be enjoying his third run after gelding and could follow up his last start win over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenliworth.

The three-year-old has been improving steadily and has the added advantage of jumping from gate 2 with regular rider Sean Veale in the irons.

While he faces a strong field, with many of his challengers also horses who are on the up, the biggest threat could come from Garth Puller’s Major Tommie, a four-year-old One World gelding.

Major Tommie has an excellent record on the polytrack with a win and a second-place finish from his two outings on the all-weather surface.

His last run is best ignored as he was fitted with blinkers for the first time when racing over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. The headgear comes off and he should be back to his best.

In Race 6, a Class 4 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, Qhawekazi finally gets to jump from an inside gate. This daughter of William Longsword has been exceptionally unlucky with draws, but has nevertheless acquitted herself with dignity and should be rewarded for her consistency.

The main challenger could be Dawn Surprise, who finished just 0.1-lengths behind the selection last time out.

They meet on similar weight terms, but this time Qhawekazi has the inside gate while Dawn Surprise jumps from stall 8, a major reversal from their last encounter.

Veale takes the ride aboard Qhawekazi.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1: 5 Power Of Pearls, 6 Highveld Storm, 4 Donmagoo, 1 Captain T

Race 2: 3 Prins Jaspar, 6 Sail The Horizon, 9 Owner Of Creation, 2 Winter Circle

Race 3: 5 Ubukhwebezana, 4 Back At The George, 1 Infinity Edge, 7 Sohot Sowhat

Race 4: 2 Spaarne Rivier, 7 Tam’s Knight, 6 Royal Sword, 10 Notable

Race 5: 1 Rainbow Reward, 7 Victor Rail, 6 Blast Fromthe Past, 4 Bless Me Fred

Race 6: 2 Qhawekazi, 8 Dawn Surprise, 5 Flying Fate, 6 Tequila Sky

Race 7: 2 Black Eagle, 8 Major Tommie, 1 Position Of Power, 3 United Nation

Race 8: 10 Kali Bwana, 11 Definitely Yes, 2 Ultra Quick, 12 Higher Love

Pick 6 (R675)

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5

Leg 2: 2, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 5, 8

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 2, 8, 10, 11, 12