PREVIEW:GREYVILLE (DAY/NIGHT) - 7 JULY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 14h00 Thursday 5 July 2012.

RACE 1:MR 78 Hcp 1400m Bend

STUNNING GUY (Pat Lunn/Donovan) drops in class and will be running on late. COUNT THE MUSIC (Joey Ramsden/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) ran on strongly to win last time over slightly shorter. This is a bit tougher, but one to watch. JOE PIKE (Des Egdes) did run on late this C & D last time when showing improvement. The blinkers go on and he may improve. CHISLER (Deon Visser/Robbie Fradd) is improving and has placed second this C & D. LIVE CONTROVERSY has not run since April but must have a chance if fit. Ran on strongly last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - STUNNING GUY * (9); 2nd - COUNT THE MUSIC (1); 3rd - JOE PIKE (16); 4th - CHISLER (8); 5th - LIVE CONTROVERSY (3)

RACE 2:Juvenile Plate 1900m Bend

ACT FAST won his maiden last time by almost two lengths despite not striding out. Can repeat. KINDLE (Mike De Kock/Kevin Shea) also won his maiden last time despite hanging out badly. If running a straight course this afternoon he can also repeat. DUBAI DIZZY (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) won this track on debut last time despite losing ground at the start. CHEWINGGUMCHARLES (Deon Visser) improved by eleven lengths last time. Still a maiden. VICTORY CRUISE (Glen Kotzen/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) ran a moderate post maiden last time. Money chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ACT FAST * (1); 2nd - KINDLE (4); 3rd - DUBAI DIZZY (2); 4th - CHEWINGGUMCHARLES (7); 5th - VICTORY CRUISE (5)

RACE 3:Grade 3 Schweppes 2200 (R200 000) 2200m Bend

SILENT PARTNER (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) steps up in class and distance. On form neither should be of concern. He has been running on well and should be the one to beat. SOUL MASTER (Geoff Woodruff/Piere Strydom) has shown very good improvement in his last four starts. Stays on well and has run well in open company. LION IN WINTER (Joey Ramsden/Sean Cormack) has not won for many months. Has the class to win but may run on for places instead. BULSARA (Gavin Van Zyl/Keagan Latham) has not shown for a while. Is a classy sort and any form return could see him run into the money. GALILEO'S DESTINY has been scratched since the selections were made. Add BLAKE (Dean Kannemeyer/Karl Neisius). Form has been very good. The only reason why I never selected him to win is because yard has gone flat.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SILENT PARTNER * (10); 2nd - SOUL MASTER (8); 3rd - LION IN WINTER (1); 4th - BULSARA (2); 5th - BLAKE (3)

RACE 4:Grade 2 Gold Vase (R350 000) 3000m Bend
 
KOLKATA (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) has good form both over distance and shorter. He has run well at this track and will be finding extra late. The one to beat. Stable companion, ASLAN (Gavin Lerena) has won the Grade 1 Gold Cup, so stamina will not be a problem. Has been in good form and has been running on late. HEYOUNEVERKNOW is holding form well and has finished two close up places to GORONGOSA. On those two runs recently he should be right there again this afternoon. PREDESTINATION (Joey Ramsden/Glen Hatt) stumbled last time but still managed to finish fourth. Usually fades late though. BADGE OF CHOICE (Michael Roberts/Muzi Yeni) has only placed once in nine starts at this track. Runs on.

SELECTIONS: 1st - KOLKATA * (9); 2nd - ASLAN (4); 3rd - HEYOUNEVERKNOW (5); 4th - PREDESTINATION (8); 5th - BADGE OF CHOICE (16)

RACE 5:Grade 1 Golden Slipper (R500 000) 1400m Bend

DYLAN'S PROMISE (Charles Laird/Piere Strydom) won a feature last time. That was an impressive win and she looks as though she still has more improvement to come. It is not beyond her to win her third race in a row this afternoon. Sets a good pace. VALDIVIA has been scratched. LIZZY GREY (Gavin Van Zyl/Keagan Latham) just faded in a feature last time when finishing a close up second. Can go one better this afternoon. LADY DE WINTER ran a good post maiden in slightly weaker last time. Improvement still to come. ALL IS SECRET (Vaughan Marshall/Anton Marcus) has won two from three starts. Draw could be concerning. Should be running on. Add RUMYA (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) who won well on debut last time and can follow up.

SELECTIONS: 1st - DYLAN'S PROMISE * (5); 2nd - VALDIVIA (16); 3rd - LIZZY GREY (10); 4th - LADY DE WINTER (9); 5th - ALL IS SECRET (1); 6th - RUMYA (12)

RACE 6:Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe (R500 000) 1400m Bend

THE HANGMAN (Sean Tarry/Gavin Lerena) won his maiden impressively last time. This will be far tougher but the way in which he won suggests that he could be one that will pick up a few features in his career. Could be one to catch at wide odds. OTTIMO did not show in the Gold Medallion last time. The blinkers go on and that could sharpen him up. One that is also likely to improve. FLY ME OVER (Glen Kotzen/Karis Teetan) finished ahead of OTTIMO in the Gold Medallion last time, but I fancy the blinkers could do the trick for OTTIMO. ROCK OF ARTS (Weiho Marwing/Robbie Fradd) ran a decent post maiden run last time. Could need to find quite a bit more. SABADELL (Geoff Woodruff/Piere Strydom) won his maiden last time. Should also need to confirm. Won his maiden very easily. Money chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - THE HANGMAN * (13); 2nd - OTTIMO (8); 3rd - FLY ME OVER (5); 4th - ROCK OF ARTS (10); 5th - SABADELL (11)

RACE 7:Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July (R3 Million) 2200m Bend

This must be one of the most open Durban July's in many years. In my selections I have largely gone for jockeys who know what it is like to win a July. Before I go any further I must add that one should not ignore the chances of the favourite JACKSON and even though I haven't included him in my PA he must be added as well as all remaining exotics. PIERRE JOURDAN (Gary Alexander/Robbie Fradd) is coming back in to form for the big race and ran a good gallop last week. Also finished second in last year's race. Will have every chance. Robbie Fradd won this race on DYNASTY (Dean Kannemeyer) from a 20 draw. TALES OF BRAVERY (Vaughan Marshall/Felix Coetzee) was only two lengths behind IGUGU in the J & B Met in January. That in itself gives him a small chance, but the distance could find him wanting late on. Jockey would be no stranger to the winners enclosure for this race. CASTLETHORPE (Mike Bass/Karl Neisius) ran into trouble in this race last year. May struggle this year. BEACH BEAUTY(Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) won the Greyville 1900 last time. That used to be the pointer to this race. Finished less than two lengths behind IGUGU (Mike De Kock) in the J & B Met despite having been bumped late. Outside chance. CHESALON (Mike Bass) has Jeff Lloyd aboard, who has flown from Australia in an attempt to win the very race that has eluded him for so long. Is coming back to form and could be running on. JACKSON (Brett Crawford/Karis Teetan) is a worthy favourite but jockey, who is really in top form, and horse may not be equipped to deal with a rough run race. Having said that, he must be included everywhere. Stable companion POLAR BOUND (Brett Crawford/Stuart Randolf) cannot be fancied on current or earlier form against weaker. SMANJEMANJE (Tyrone Zackey/Grant Van Niekerk) could also have more to find. My pick of the Mike Bass runners is ENGLISH GARDEN (Bernard Fayd'Herbe). Both trainer and jockey have won this race before and he is coming back in to form. Expect a good run from him. TOP SELLER (Vaughan Marshall/MJ Byleveld) does not have the form to win. GOLD ONYX (Sean Tarry/Gavin Lerena) ran on well to win the Cup Trial at Clairwood last time. That was a very good prep run and he will have his supporters. Both trainer and jockey are in excellent form. SOLO TRAVELLER (Mike De Kock/Muzi Yeni) did not run well in the Cup Trial last time. But one can never discount trainer Mike De Kock in almost any race, particularly a race with such a high international profile. SAGE THRONE (Colin Scott/Richard Fourie) had the best gallop of all the horses last week and even though this may not mean that much, it did show that he is well and must have a chance. POMODORO could be the pick of the Sean Tarry runners, especially with Piere "Striker" Strydom aboard. Piere knows how to win the July, having won on LONDON NEWS (Alec Laird) and TRADEMARK (Mike Bass). He fought back to share first place with ROYAL BENCHER in the Derby at Turffontein. He then disappointed in the Daily News last time, finishing almost five lengths behind JACKSON when carried out wide into the straight. Was still running on late. Do not ignore. ROYAL BENCHER (Alec Laird/Brandon Lerena) got it all wrong in the Daily News last time, losing a length, running wide and fading late. At best, a place prospect. VETTEL (Mike De Kock/Anton Marcus) could be the one to catch if Anton Marcus skips clear into the home straight with 400m to go. There is nothing wrong with his form and does have staying power and will see out this distance plus more. Stable companion GORONGOSA, with Kevin Shea aboard has won nine from twelve starts. Kevin Shea has won this race before, the most notable winner being IPITOMBE (Mike De Kock). Has yet to meet such a quality field but is so well drawn that I have to like him. She has a very good turn of foot that she could be the one. ILHA BELLA, the fourth Mike De Kock inmate. Jockey Anthony Delpech had first option as to which horse to ride and on that, ILHA BELLA must have a very good chance. Is also drawn up Marriott Road with a draw of nineteen. She is a classy filly and should not be ignored. Will be running on. WHITELINE FEVER (Sean Tarry/Raymond Danielson) may prefer the shorter trip.
ETON SQUARE (Gavin Van Zyl/Glen Hatt) takes on his toughest assignment to date. Has only run on four occasions for two wins and two seconds. Will be running on and with only 53kg on his back and a nice draw could finish closer to the front of the field than the back.

SELECTIONS: 1st - GORONGOSA * (17); 2nd - VETTEL (16); 3rd - SAGE THRONE (13); 4th - ENGLISH GARDEN (9); 5th - PIERRE JOURDAN (1); 6th - JACKSON  (6)

RACE 8:Thukela Handicap (Listed) (R125 000) 1000m Bend

DE LA DANZA (Ivan Moore/Corne Orffer) will be running on. This is tougher but the blinkers go on and the trainer did well on July Day last year. A win will make the Pick Six pay. GOLDEN CHATEAU (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) has raced against some decent sorts and she must be respected on her third behind VARIETY CLUB in the Guineas. LAKE ARTHUR also has good form against some strong fields. Bernard Fayd'Herbe has the ride for Yogas Govender. WITTENBERG (Geoff Woodruff/Piere Strydom) has placed second this C & D twice and loves the distance with three from his five wins. With a good draw cannot be ignored. BAY ROUTE (Deon Visser/Robbie Fradd) has won this C & D five times from nine starts this C & D. Must have a very good chance on that record. Has been weakening late of late. Money chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - DE LA DANZA * (16); 2nd - GOLDEN CHATEAU (5); 3rd - LAKE ARTHUR (1); 4th - WITTENBERG (3); 5th - BAY ROUTE (6)

RACE 9:MR 80 Hcp (F & M) 1600m Bend

ARTISTICALLY DONE won very nicely last time. That win was against slightly stronger. Apprentice claim of 2.5kg should help. Drawn wide. SILENT CALL (Deon Visser/Anton Marcus) has improved in her last two starts. May prefer this distance now. PARADISE SQUARE (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) ran a good post maiden against slightly weaker last time. Has still got improvement to come. One to consider.  WINGS OVER SKYE (Glen Kotzen/Grant van Niekerk) ran well against stronger last time. Could be hampered by a wide draw. For the scratching add BLACK IS BLACK (Alistair Gordon/Piere Strydom) who was an unlucky loser last time after rearing at the start. Produced a good finish though. ENCHANTED KINGDOM has been scratched.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ARTISTICALLY DONE * (11); 2nd - SILENT CALL (10); 3rd - PARADISE SQUARE (14); 4th - WINGS OVER SKYE (3); 5th - BLACK IS BLACK (7)

RACE 10:Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes (R500 000) 1600m Bend

HAPPY ARCHER (Sean Tarry/Gavin Lerena) stayed on to win over the distance at Clairwood. Has won two from four starts this C & D. PRINCESS VICTORIA (Glen Kotzen/Anton Marcus) made amends for a poor run in the worst of the going in the SA Fillies Sprint two runs back. Overall she has won eight from eleven starts to date and the word is out that she should be hard to beat in this race. EBONY FLYER (Justin Snaith/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) is also top class and has, like PRINCESS VICTORIA, won eight from eleven. The only reason I haven't tipped her to win is because she has as yet not seen this track. FELIX THE CAT (Duncan Howells/MJ Byleveld) did not show in the Woolavington over further last time. Should run better this distance. Yard is back in form. SECRET BABE (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) has the widest draw and also takes on stronger. Could have a money chance but not one to throw all your money onto.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HAPPY ARCHER * (5); 2nd - PRINCESS VICTORIA (11); 3rd - EBONY FLYER (1); 4th - FELIX THE CAT (12); 5th - SECRET BABE (10)

RACE 11:eThekwini Sprint (Non-Black Type) (R110 000) 1200m Bend

PINOT NOIR (Duncan Howells/Donovan Dillon) takes on stronger this evening. Showed good pace last time. Has only won this track and should prefer this distance. SHE'S A STUNNER (Deon Visser/Robbie Fradd) has top class form and should go close to winning. TIPO TINTO (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) has yet to race at this track but has consistent form and should be running on. GENERAL SHERMAN (Sean Tarry/Richard Fourie) has good post maiden form and will be doing his best work late. First time at this track. SHANGHAI KID (Mike Bass/Raymond Danielson) is inconsistent and has more to find this league.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PINOT NOIR * (8); 2nd - SHE'S A STUNNER (3); 3rd - TIPO TINTO (6); 4th - GENERAL SHERMAN (9); 5th - SHANGHAI KID (11)

RACE 12:MR 102 Hcp 1000m Bend

After his poor run at this track on Sunday I am going to relegate FURIOUS DANCER to my fifth choice. Chance if repeating his best form. All six wins over this distance. MONSIEUR DUPONT (mike Bass/Anton Marcus) has the form to win. Could be even better back over the 1000m. NEVER FOREVER (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) also come back to his more favoured distance. Chance if running on as he did before his last two starts. DAUNTLESS DELANCE (Michael Roberts/Corne Orffer) ran an encouraging fourth behind GUANTANAMERA last Sunday at this track. Must have a shout on that run. TETELESTAI (Duncan Howells/Donovan Dillon) is ideally C & D suited. In eight starts this C & D he has won four of them and placed either second or third in three. Went missing in the fourth in a Conditions Plate.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MONSIEUR DUPONT (5); 2nd - NEVER FOREVER (6); 3rd - DAUNTLESS DELANCE (10); 4th - TETELESTAI (1); 5th - FURIOUS DANCER (4) 

BEST BET:                RACE 4 - NUMBER 9 KOLKATA (286/100)

VALUE BET:            RACE 7 - NUMBER 17 GORONGOSA (8/1)

BEST OUTSIDER:    RACE 1 - NUMBER 9 STUNNING GUY (25/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9