Free betting tips for all of Sunday’s races from Greyville including the Gold Cup, the Champions Cup and the Mercury Sprint
With a top quality 10 race card Sunday is going to be an extremely busy for the bookmakers and if you are opening a new online account then please register in advance. Remember with Lucky Fish you can take fixed odds win and place bets as well as bet directly into tote pools.
On we go with our take on all 10 races and we have graded each bet from 1 unit (nibble) to 5 units (being the most confident play). Note also sometimes we go win only and in other races we take 2 places (e.g. run in the first 2), 3 places (run in the first 3) or even 4 places (run in the first 4).
Note, odds quoted are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
12:15 - Race 1 - TOTE STAKES (Listed) - 1600m
The early betting for this race has Isivivane and Zeitz at the top of the boards. Both those horses ran in the Durban July earlier this month and Isivivane ran a very creditable fifth and in theory holds Zeitz but this much shorter distance could suit the latter and that also needs to be factored in. It’s by no means a two horse race though and of the seven runners that ran against each other over this trip in another race on July Day Better Man and Green Gateway both look to hold solid claims. I backed Better Man on July Day but this time I’m jumping ship and going with Green Gateway. Both were backed and finished well that day and Better Man just failed to get to the winner but at the start Green Gateway was untidy and soon found himself at the back of the field. The selection is also very lightly raced and therefore still unexposed when it comes to showing further improvement and I expect a bold run.
Bets: 3 Units win Green Gateway at 7.14/1 with Lucky Fish
3 Units Green Gateway to run in the top 4 at even money with Lucky Fish
12:55 - Race 2 - WORLD POOL WITH RACE COAST DEBUTANTE (Grade 2) - 1200m
A field of 11 2 year old fillies line up and we have an odds on favourite in the shape of No 6 Palace of Avernia. She beat three of Sunday’s rivals in winning the Golden Slipper over 1400m on July Day so it’s interesting to see her coming back in trip. Even though she is giving a bit of weight away the favourite looks hard to oppose but offers next to no value at the likely price. If pushed for a bet Sweet Green for the Snaith yard cold be worth an interest to run in the top 3 for a small stake. A course and distance winner in June on her only KZN start came against was a decent effort although the strength of the field that day is questionable. At the time of writing the fixed odds price for a place was on the skinny side at 2.33/1 so the tote place price might be a better option on race day.
Bets: 1 Unit Sweet Green to run in the top 3 (tote dividend may be bigger than the fixed odds place price)
13:45 - Race 3 - WORLD POOL BET WITH TOTE STAKES (Grade 2) - 1200m
We stay with the 2 year olds and Gauteng raider Gimme Some Luck has won all three of his starts and looks a real prospect although the current price of 13/10 looks plenty short enough. He steps up in trip as do many of this field which is made up of representatives stabled in all the countries main racing centres. Benny and Paul has improved with every start and got out of the maidens at the third attempt and those form lines have been working out well. He could be worth a nibble to win at a nice price with cover taken for a slightly larger stake to finish in the top four.
Bets: 2 Units win Benny and Paul at 14/1 with Lucky Fish
3 Units Benny and Paul to run in the first 4 at 17/10 with Lucky Fish
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14:35 - Race 4 - DOUGLAS WHYTE STAKES (Grade 2) - 1600m
Another juvenile feature but this time we step up to a mile. Eleven fillies go to post and we have an odds on favourite in the shape of Alice B Toklas who is one of three runners from the Sean Tarry yard. The favourite was runner up to Palace of Avernia who runs in Race 2 so many punters may be waiting to see whether the form line is franked by the outcome of that race, especially given this race is the first leg of a Pick 6 which has a projected pool of R8 million. Right now I’m struggling to find a bet in this race and might well sit this one out.
15:15 - Race 5 - WORLD POOL MOMENT OF THE DAY CHAMPION STAKES (Grade 1) - 1600m
The last of the 2yo features, again over a mile, this one has Grade 1 status and at 4/1 the field it’s a wide open betting heat. OF the 14 strong field 8 runners contested the Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on July Day. Vibe Check won that contest although there was only just over 3 lengths between the first 8 home and Vibe Check, who jumped from stall 1 and made all to win, is now drawn widest of all. This looks really tricky and a case can be made for many of the field including those who were making up ground behind Vibe Check last time out. Green Energy falls into that category having come from way back. He has been slowly away on his last two starts but would be worth an each way nibble if jumping on terms.
Bets: 1 Unit Win Green Energy at 14/1 with Lucky Fish
2 Units Green Energy to run in the first 4 at 2/1 with Lucky Fish
15:55 - Race 6 - MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1) - 1200m
Our next Grade 1 is for the speedsters and Buffalo Storm Cody won this race last year and has been laid out to make a stout defence to his title. Questioning has won his last 4 starts and is 3 from 3 at Greyville this season and there is little between the two at the top of the betting boards. Other horses in prominent in the betting include Tenango who was runner up last year, Jet Force and Taxi To The Moon who is a stablemate of Buffalo Storm Cody whilst Asiya Phambili is another in good form this season and was third in this race 12 months ago.
On Durban July Day Buffalo Storm Cody was second to Jet Force with Tenango third and there was only half a length between them. Unlike Questioning all three have drawn well and that forms part of my thinking when I suggest that my top two choices, Buffalo Storm Cody and Tenengo will battle it out. I will include the 2 and the 4 in swingers on the tote meaning I need them both to run in the first 3 places.
Bets: 2 Units Swingers No 2 Tenango and 4 Buffalo Storm Cody
16:35 - Race 7 - WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3) - 3200m
On to the Gold Cup and we have another defending champion in the shape of King Pelles who made reasonably short work of the field in this race 12 months ago. King Pelles ran a cracker to be third in the Durban July earlier this month when he was drawn 17 of 18, his record at Greyville stands up really well and he is a worthy favourite. Ahead Of The Facts is a clear second favourite and if you are looking beyond the top two then there are quite a few to consider. King Pelles looks one of the better bets on the card to me
Bets: 3.5 Units Win King Pelles at 15/10 with Lucky Fish
17:15 - Race 8 - HKJC CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1) - 1800m
The last of the Grade 1’s and although we only have a field of 8 there are some true champions in the line up. Justin Snaith hold a strong hand with Eight on Eighteen and See It Again along with Legal Counsel and also the youngster Malmesbury Missile. Twelve months ago it was Gladatorian who came home first ahead of The Real Prince and See It Again. Dave The King is another former winner of this race whilst at the peak of his powers Main Defender was top class but there are doubts about his form and he may be more effective over shorter.
This is really tricky as a few of these were below par on their most recent runs but may have had this as the main target. The Real Prince gets the vote but only narrowly.
Bets: 2 Units Win The Real Prince at 29/10 with Lucky Fish
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17:55 - Race 9 - BET WITH THE WORLD GOLD BRACELET (Grade 2) - 2000m
Over to the girls for a Grade 2 over 2000m where ECP raider Anotherdanceforme is the favourite. A winner of each of her last five races this is the first time she has run outside of her own province since November last year but she did win the Golden Slipper here as a 2yo and has since proved stamina for this sort of distance is no problem. The dangers include Summer Cup winner Mocha Blend and Minogue who both ran down the field in the July but this could be best left to the favourite.
Bets: 3.5 Units win Anotherdanceforme at 17/10 with Lucky Fish
18:35 - Race 10 - HKIR IN DECEMBER UMNGENI HANDICAP (Listed) - 1000m
Thanks for sticking with us for the 1000m dash to end the day which we hope has been profitable. This looks super competitive but the horse drawn in gate 1, African Pride is an absolute monster of a racehorse physically and the minimum trip would seem to be his game. Dangers are manyfold but hopefully we can round off the day on a high.
Bets 2.5 Units Win African Pride at 36/10 with Lucky Fish
Note, odds quoted are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change