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Trainers have been clamouring for the racing operators to cater for their lower rated horses and they get their wish at Greyville on Wednesday night where Gold Circle have added an extra meeting to the calendar to compensate for two wash-outs earlier in the month.

A MR66 Handicap over 1900m is the ‘highlight’ on the eight-race card where top weight In The Moment may still be ahead of the handicapper in a field littered with landmines. Champion trainer Sean Tarry has taken a well-earned break after his record breaking season and with many of his string on the easy list after having their compulsory African Horse Sickness jabs the stable has been quiet.

In The Moment took 14 runs to shed his maiden and earn a merit rating of 62. Two races later he surprised in an MR80 Handicap and was immediately bumped up the eight-point maximum. He was back in a MR66 for his latest effort where he ‘blew-up’ inside the final furlong finishing 16 lengths behind subsequent winner Wealthy in an obviously below par performance that prompted officials to call for a post-race examination that showed nothing untoward.

In The Moment has won on the poly and with apprentice Eric Ngwane giving 2,5kg relief the gelding need only repeat his penultimate performance to have a strong chance in this line-up.

Dennis Drier has been using apprentice Diego de Gouveia and his 4kg claim to good effect and they pair up with Roya Union Jet. The gelding was two lengths back to In The Moment when last they met after over-racing early. Royal Union Jet is 2kg better off this time around courtesy of De Gouveia’s claim and as the two are drawn alongside each other there should be very little between them.

Desert Sunset makes his first appearance in KZN after recently shedding his maiden on the Highveld. He is a strong front runner who should enjoy his debut on the poly and both apprentices should be wary of letting him get away.

Candice Bass-Robinson has opened a satellite yard at Summerveld, renting a yard off limits but making use of the Summerveld tracks. The yard is under the care of long-time assistant Robert Fayd’herbe and they can have their first success with Florrick in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The scratching of Disrupt has left the way clear for the top weight, the mount of apprentice Callan Murray, who comes out of his time at the end of the year.

Florrick was pulled out of her latest race after Grant van Niekerk felt something amiss with the filly, but her form prior to that was consistent and good enough to put her in with a strong winning chance.

Florrick and In The Moment can bookend an otherwise difficult Pick 6.

In the fourth, Roy Royale is back to the rating of his last win and coupled with a drop in class should be competitive while the Tarry / Delpech combination will make Super Guppy a contender along with the lightly raced Weskus Klong who makes his poly debut.

The handicapping cliché ‘when in doubt take the top weight’ could hold true in the fifth where Brave And Bold and St Elmo’s Fire could suffice in another difficult race.

Black Jaguar has been threatening for some time now but now races off his lowest rating ever from a good draw and can surprise at a good price in the sixth where fancied top weight Nuntius is a scratching.

Pyrenees In Spain will have his supporters in the seventh. He caught the eye from a tricky draw last time out and an inside gate and a further drop in class could see him home ahead of Aramouse who makes his poly debut from the worst of the draw.

Race preview for the meeting at Greyville-All Weather on Wednesday. Selections by Andrew Harrison.

1

Preview: Open. NIGHT AT THE PROMS seems better than her last effort and with blinkers for the first time could be good enough to land a win. SCARLET LADY was a distant fourth in Kimberley last outing but has shown better on the Highveld and can feature here. SWISS NOTE showed up well first time out for her new stable and has shown some ability. JOLLERIE has been rested and is way better than her last showing. (Andrew Harrison: 11-6-2-1)

2 COURAGEOUS KING 1 STOKVEL 3 SHINE UP 5 BUCK EYE

Preview: Weak maiden. COURAGEOUS KING is much better than his last showing having gone close at his previous two starts. A return to that form could see him home here. STOKVEL has been expensive to follow and a beaten favourite on a number of occasions. He meets little of note here and may be worth another chance. SHINE UP returns from a break but is never far back and likes the poly. BUCK EYE is lightly raced and returns from a rest but looks capable of improving. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-3-5)

3

Preview: Another weak maiden field. FLORRICK ran well below her best in soft ground when tried in blinkers for the first time. Her form before that was consistent and she rates a strong chance here. DISRUPT disappointed last Wednesday but is better than that and may be worth another chance. ROY’S MONKEY has gone close in her last two over further and should make a bold showing in this company. BELARUS has run her worst race on the poly but is over her best trip and tries blinkers for the first time. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-5-4)

4

Preview: ROY ROYALE has been dropping in the ratings and takes on the weakest field that he has met for some time. He has a big weight but could prove too strong for this moderate bunch. SUPER GUPPY needed her last start. She has shown some recent improvement and has a chance in another desperate field. WESKUS KLONG is lightly raced and shed his maiden in PE. He had some fair Cape form before that and meets little of note here. NOVA made a fair handicap debut after winning a weak maiden but can still improve. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-2-5)

5

Preview: BRAVE AND BOLD has been up against stronger at recent outings and not been far back. She takes on a weak field and should be right there. ST ELMO’S FIRE shed her maiden in Cape Town and was consistent before that. She meets little of note and can follow up. B TWENTY ONE made a promising handicap debut after winning on debut on the poly. She appears to have some scope and can contest the finish. HEY GEORGIE GIRL was a beaten favourite last outing but goes well on the poly and should feature. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-5-8)

6

Preview: BLACK JAGUAR has been coming down the ratings, albeit slowly, and he should at least be competitive in another poor field. NUNTIUS was expensive to follow before shedding his maiden last time out. He meets little of note and can follow up PUTCHINI has improved on the poly and from a good draw with Delpech up can go in again. LONDON OLYMPICS found some market support last run and although under sufferance she can surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-12)

7

1 PYRENEES IN SPAIN 2 ARAMOUSE 6 BIG SI 4 HEPTAGON

Preview: Another weak field. PYRENEES IN SPAIN has been knocking at the door. He takes a further drop in class here and with Delpech up he rates the one to beat. ARAMOUSE is lightly raced but does have some ability. The switch to poly can see him improve even more. BIG SI has gone close over course and distance in his last two but jumps from a tricky draw. HEPTAGON has improved since being switched to the poly and is another down in class. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-6-4)

8

Preview: IN THE MOMENT is much better than his last effort and won to much stronger at his previous outing. He looks to be racing off a capped rating and could still be ahead of the handicappers. ROYAL UNION JET is lightly raced but has been racing against stronger at recent starts. With a four-claimer up he should be competitive. DESERT SUNSET took time to shed his maiden but showed up nicely in his handicap debut. The switch to poly could also suit. SELVAN’S JET was running on strongly at his last outing over shorter and can do better this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-7-3)