3-2-14-7-1

MARRON ran his best run in three last time. Can go very close if staying on again. FRIEND REQUEST showed good improvement second time out last time. Further improvement to come. TRACK-KING is a VAR first timer. Is currently ante post favourite. ROCKEFELLER is  a PHILANTHROPIST first timer. One to watch. CHAP TRAP has been making unbelievable improvement since making an unimpressive debut three runs back.

RACE 2:

8-3-2-6-7

ROY IS SECOND ran well on her debut when supported last time. Can go all the way this afternoon. JOY TO JOY also made her debut last time but drifted in the betting prior to the "off" and ran accordingly. Can improve today. ELUSIVE ILLUSION is an ELUSIVE FORT first timer. OROBLANCO raced green on debut last time. Still earned a third place cheque. Watch for improvement. QUEEN DIVA is making slow improvement.

RACE 3:

5-1-4-2-7

ROY'S SAILOR cannot be faulted on his last three runs. Does look to be ready to win soon. MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI may need to find more but respected with top jockey aboard. GOLD CHEST will be looking to get close. Needs to break on terms but will begin to improve. DESTINED DAWN has done enough to suggest that he will pick up his maiden win soon. Cannot be ignored. DARTING ARROW showed improvement last time. Can earn.

RACE 4:

10-9-4-2-1

ILANGA could cause the upset this afternoon in the first leg of the Pick Six, expected to reach around R3 million. he is never too off them. His only win and all of his placed runs have been over this C & D. DELICIOUS DAMOWIN hung badly last time. Were it not for that he may have finished closer. WISHFUL HEART did not show in his last two at Flamingo Park. He did win at this track the run before. One to be wary of. WINTER DARLING is holding form well. SHAP SHAP is unbeaten this C & D (2 from 2). Won one of them last time.

RACE 5:

11-1-4-2-17

ALGHADEER makes his course debut even though he has won on the polytrack before. he is improving and should go close. HELDERBERG BLUE is a classy sort who has run against some strong fields. Should give another good account of himself. KINGSTON MINES has won over this distance before. Much improved in his last two. Unfortunately COLTRANE has just been scratched. SMART MART should take his place as the reserve runner. Is better than reserve runner status. Add NO WORRIES for the scratched horse.

RACE 6: WOOLAVINGTON 2000 (Grade 1) - HEAPS OF FUN could heap pain on a competitive field

2-1-6-9-3-10

An exciting race is very much on the cards. Highveld trainer, Sean Tarry, currently leading the national trainer's log, will have a say in the outcome in the fillies version of the Daily News, when he sends out HEAPS OF FUN over a distance that may be a little too far for her. Her sire, VISIONAIRE, currently standing at Summerhill Stud, never won beyond 1600m. having said that, the way in which she won the Gauteng Guineas in February, suggests that she could find a way of winning this. In her last two runs she had her excuses. In her penultimate in the Fillies Classic she raced wide into the straight at Turffontein and duly faded, but also as a result of her being reported to0 be coughing. Last time, over a sprint, she ran on despite having shifted in during the last 200m. That she is talented and versatile is not under scrutiny. One cannot ignore any Sean Tarry runner, especially if  the leading jockey on the national jockey's log, S'Manga Khumalo, has the ride. She looks to be worth value. She is currently on offer at 10/1 and is fourth favourite. In terms of the betting, BELA-BELA looks to be the one to beat and is well in the red.

Justin Snaith sends out his talented filly, BELA-BELA, who really impressed when she won the Fillies Guineas after having found herself in a hopeless position in the latter stages. She is highly thought of by her connections. Two runs back she ran third, three lengths, behind SMART CALL in the Paddock Stakes. That was no mean achievement as SMART CALL went on to win the J & B Met at the end of January. On both occasions she was piloted by top jockey, Anthony Delpech. Distance will be no issue with BELA-BELA as her sire, DYNASTY, had a proven record over 2000m and further.

I have just sung the praises of both Sean Tarry and Justin Snaith, but what about veteran trainer, Mike Bass? His yard sends out NIGHTINGALE. The last time they met was in their latest starts when BELA-BELA beat her by a half-a-length in the Fillies Guineas. They meet at level weights today. Much has been written about the successes of  DYNASTY progeny. SILVANO, as a stallion, has also been excellent and the extra will also suit down to the ground. NIGHTINGALE has already won over the distance. Grant Van Niekerk, who has won on her four times from her last five runs, is in the irons once again this afternoon.

CHRISTMAS CAROL took an almighty jump in class three runs back. She was not disgraced in her three runs at the top level. Even though she failed to win any of them, she has been improving so rapidly that she could find her way into the first four. Highveld trainer, Geoff Woodruff and Chase Maujean will be looking to cause an upset.

The Highveld trainer of NEGROAMARO, Johan Janse Van Rensburg, will be looking for graded success in Durban. NEGROAMARO, will be one to consider, despite not having won any of her last five runs. She has run quality races in which she has tried her utmost to get to the line first. That could have taken its toll. She was beaten by BELLA-BELA last time by just over two lengths. Will have to go some to reverse that deficit. Weichong Marwing, former champion jockey, has the ride again.

FORTISSIMA finished second in the Oaks at Turffontein last time. She won her two previous starts. and with Anton Marcus aboard, could earn something decent. It is good to see Gauteng trainer Joe Soma in Durban.

RACE 7: DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1) - Beware the NEW PREDATOR on the block

1-2-3-4-11

Highveld trainer, Johan Janse Van Rensburg, has a strong hand in this race as well. NEW PREDATOR, son of NEW APPROACH, was well supported in the Drill Hall Stakes at this track when making his KZN debut last time. He won well over the 1400m distance last time. His sire won from 1400m to 2400m. He has only been as far as 1600m. He should get the extra distance without any trouble. The way in which he handled his first run at this track last time suggests that he will enjoy the extra distance. After all, he is bred to get this far. Expect to see him running on. He is well enough drawn to be a huge runner and is currently priced up at 4/1 and is joint second favourite to RABADA, who looks to be his main threat along with SAMURAI BLADE.

SAMURAI BLADE ran an excellent race when flying late in the Derby over 2450m at Turffontein. He finished less than a length behind the Triple Crown winner, ABASHIRI. Trained by Sean Tarry and to be ridden by S'Manga Khumalo, expect to see the son of WHERE'S THAT TIGER running on at the end, something he does particularly well. He may be only a one time winner, but he has shown enough to suggest that he will be running another very good race.

Michael Azzie, fresh from his great triumph with ABASHIRI in winning the Triple Crown, he has another top class sort in RABADA who made an impressive debut in Johannesburg last season and then followed that up with two wins and a Grade 1 win when he won the Premier's at this track over 1600m. Anton Marcus has ridden him in all seven of his starts for four wins and two seconds. He does tend to labour though over distances further than the "mile". His last run which was in the Guineas over this C & D was a particularly good one in which he ran on when finishing second to the ante post favourite for the Vodacom July, BLACK ARTHUR.

ROCKETBALL ran the race of his life last time in the Triple Crown decider when he finished desperately close behind ABASHIRI four weeks ago. At one stage it looked as though he was going to cause a major upset, but that wasn't to be and he had to be content with second. He was unfancied that day. Will need to confirm that sudden improvement. He returns to his home town after a long stint on the Highveld. Warren Kennedy rides again.

STEBBINS was not disgraced last time in the SA Derby and can find a place at best.

RACE 8:

3-12-8-4-1

SEEK THE SUMMIT has the form to win. Is C & D suited. WANDIE'S disappointed last time. Has a chance on previous two runs. PSALM has yet to run a bad race. Blinkers on. OSTENTATION is another with good form. Will be finishing well. VICTORY TAKEOVER drops in class and will be giving his all late on.

RACE 9:

1-4-8-13-9

GAMBOL won at Scottsville last time. Can follow up. Loves this distance. Should go close. KOLINSKY may improve with blinkers. Good post maiden form and should challenge for the win. LET'S GO WEST needs a better finish but is never too far away. ROCKY BAY ran an improved race last time. Reserve runner and may not get to participate. PHOEBUS could be improving.

RACE 10:

1-14-4-7-2

ROY’S STRIKE FORCE will be finishing well. Won with ease last time. MAACHAAN is a reserve runner. Disappointed last time. Give a chance if getting to run. SON OF SILVER was slow away in his posdt maiden last time but did not finish too badly. BURRA BOY has been most consistent and is not out of winning this evening. IN TRIBUTE was running on well last time. yet to show at this track. Add BLUNDERBUSS should MAACHAN not run.

BEST BET: RACE 9 NUMBER 1 GAMBOL